|
|
Cos Go Global With India Biz Mode
The Times of India (TOI)
When Unilever was challenged by a low-cost competitor in laundry in Africa, it took a leaf out of its India experience to protect the company's turf. Unilever, which had a share of around 75% in the African laundry market, risked losing share to a low-cost competitor had it not been quick to build a portfolio of brands at the mass and lower-end of the segment. This was something which its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), had mastered over the years. Unilever also repeated the India model in Vietnam, where, unlike other markets, it did not have a 100 years' experience. Unilever Vietnam had an 80% market share in laundry, but it was vulnerable at the mass-end of the market. Based on its Indian learning that another player could enter the bottom-end and change the paradigm - a bitter lesson that the multinational learnt in India three decades ago - Unilever Vietnam proactively introduced a brand at the mass-end.
| Editor's Comments:INDIA/AFRICA/CONSUMER INSIGHTS/TRANSFERRING INSIGHTS FOR CATEGORY SUCCESS |
Rising Inequality Poses Risk to Country's Growth Prospects,
Business Daily (Nairobi), April 22, 2010 Thursday, 1564 words, Mwaura Kimani
At the end of the day, the measure of success of Kenya's growth interventions anchored in its development blueprint Vision 2030 is bound to be judged on one data point--their ability to shove aside deepening inequality and poverty, perhaps the only return on the billions of shillings in investment spent to address gender, education and income disparities. This return would be compared to other countries which have had similar experiences of topping the global charts on inequality and have fought disparity aggressively. But this achievement seems to be fading away, at least going with two recent studies which show the gap between the rich and the poor in Kenya is quickly widening---and in crucial areas such as income, education and gender, things are only getting worse.
| Editor's Comments:AFRICA/CONSUMER INSIGHTS/RESEARCH SHOWS OBSTACLES TO ECONOMIC GAINS IN KENYA |
Having a glocal mindset is crucial: Vijay Subramaniam, CEO, Marico IBG,
With six global acquisitions in the last five years and another likely soon, the Rs 2,300-crore Marico group's global arm, International Business group (IBG), contributes to more than 20% of the group's overall turnover, growing about 40% a year for the past four years. Vijay Subramaniam, CEO of Marico IBG, attributes its international success to the 'glocal' mindset that the company has adopted. Marico IBG, which international hair care brands such as Code 10, Hair Code and Fiancee, will continue to focus on Africa, Middle East and South Asia rather than going West, he told ET in an interview. Excerpts: How critical international operations are for local companies and why Africa, South East Asia and Middle East seem to be the favourite markets for almost all FMCG companies?
| Editor's Comments:ASIA/INDIA/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA/HAIR CARE CEO GIVES PERSPECTIVE ON EMERGING MARKETS |
Nike Aims for World Cup Score
Women's Wear Daily(WWD)
Nike is kick-starting its global soccer marketing for the FIFA World Cup. The athleticwear giant has unveiled a lineup of products that it will push through social media and underground blogs in preparation for soccer's greatest spectacle. New items include jerseys made of 100 percent recycled polyester and footwear. Nike, which has developed software that works in conjunction with social media, has taken a functional and subtle approach to social networks as a marketing tool in the run-up to the monthlong event that starts June 11 in South Africa.
| Editor's Comments:SHOPPER MARKETING/SOUTH AFRICA/NIKE LOOKS TO SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR MARKETING |
Competition Grows with Scangroup's Entry into Research
Business Daily (Nairobi)
The Sh2 billion research sector is set to become more competitive with the entry of marketing services giant, Scangroup. Scangroup's move is informed by the growing need by Kenyan companies for comprehensive market intelligence solutions and changing social trends that have seen a new class of consumer gain dominance.
| Editor's Comments:SOUTH AFRICA/SMOLLAN GROUP PARTNERS WITH SCANGROUP FOR KENYAN MARKET INTELLIGENCE |
|
