Publications
Publications
- December 2020 (Revised February 2021)
- HBS Case Collection
Kerry Group: Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life
By: Forest L. Reinhardt, José B. Alvarez, Damien McLoughlin, Tonia Labruyere and Tonia Junker
Abstract
The Irish company Kerry Group, one of the leading global players in the taste and nutrition industry, wants to ensure its future growth in developing and developed markets. Founded in 1972 as a dairy cooperative, it had grown into a provider of taste and nutrition solutions through many acquisitions, but also through organic growth. In 2020, Kerry rolled out its new sustainability strategy, "Beyond the Horizon", with the goal of reaching 2 billion people a day with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030. In order to reach that goal, Kerry had identified channels where it could grow and that were compatible with environmental sustainability, namely food waste reduction, plant-based protein, and proactive health products. Kerry's customer base was changing as well, with many FMCG companies losing market share to new, innovative market entrants in the food and nutrition space. Kerry was looking for ways to attract those new customers, while helping its existing customers shift to more sustainable solutions as well. Kerry had already adapted its recruitment strategy to meet its changing needs, but it still had to simplify its organization to better integrate new acquisitions and talent. Would this be enough to reach the 2030 goal of 2 billion people reached daily?
Keywords
Agribusiness; Environmental Sustainability; Food; Nutrition; Growth and Development Strategy; Global Range; Market Entry and Exit; Customer Relationship Management; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry
Citation
Reinhardt, Forest L., José B. Alvarez, Damien McLoughlin, and Tonia Labruyere. "Kerry Group: Inspiring Food, Nourishing Life." Harvard Business School Case 721-019, December 2020. (Revised February 2021.)