Third Wave Coffee (TWC) was established Bengaluru, India, in 2016. In 2024, the company had 114 outlets in different regions of India. Though TWC increased its revenue manifold due to rapid expansion, the operational efficiency remained poor compared to the competition. Most stores lost money, and investors were concerned about the firm’s future. The founders roped in a professional CEO, Rajat Luthra, a quick-service restaurants industry veteran, .....more

Los Borrachos was a specialty bar in Seoul, South Korea, with the unique vision of creating an intimate gathering place that celebrated sparkling wines and European-style dishes. While the bar generated enough revenue to cover its monthly expenses, it fell short of providing significant income for its co-founders. To fulfill their vision for Los Borrachos, the co-founders need to determine how to attract more of Los Borrachos’ target clientele and .....more

The small Filipino Canadian family business Frontier Foods Canada Ltd. was started in Calgary, Alberta with deep roots and a strong commitment to the family’s cultural heritage. By 2024, the business had grown from its start in the family’s garage into a successful and renowned food producer in Canada and was considering expansion. The company was facing critical operational challenges such as production management and a high employee turnover rate. .....more

Carlsberg Breweries A/S, a global brewing leader based in Denmark, aimed to reduce the environmental impact of traditional draught beer systems, which contributed to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through the use of CO2 tanks and the transportation of heavy steel kegs. Carlsberg developed the DraughtMaster system, which replaced CO2 tanks with recyclable plastic kegs, reducing emissions but raising concerns about plastic waste. In late 2021, Carlsberg’s .....more

<p align="justify">Cooperativa Agricola Pisquera Elqui Limitada (Capel) produced Pisco Capel, Chile’s leading pisco brand, but sales of the product were declining. By 2022, the co-operative, a symbol of tradition and social responsibility, had suffered a significant drop in consumer trust and loyalty toward its flagship product. Francisco Valdebenito, the newly appointed marketing manager, needs to evaluate potential strategies for .....more

Taco Bell Corporation first entered the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market in 2008, but due to strategic misalignments and fierce competition from established brands, Taco Bell withdrew in 2012. Since that exit, the UAE market experienced significant changes, notably a substantial increase in the expatriate population, which led to rapid growth in the consumption of Mexican cuisine. <br><br>In June 2024, considering its recent success in .....more

Presentation for teaching note W39854.

The owners of BTRMLK Inc. (BTRMLK) were reviewing the company’s performance in fiscal 2024. They had just returned from a meeting with a landlord in the up-and-coming West 5 neighbourhood in London, Ontario, where they had discussed a potential future second location for the restaurant. BTRMLK was a popular fast-food restaurant in London that specialized in large, aesthetic, fried-chicken sandwiches. Although customers were happy and eager to endure .....more

Haidilao, a restaurant brand specialized in hot pot, a specific type of family-style dining experience, listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in 2024. Founded in 1994 in the town of Jianyang in Sichuan Province, China, Haidilao grew from a four-table local restaurant to a global chain with over 1,300 locations across 13 countries as of 2024. In locations from Sichuan to New York, Haidilao’s persistence and success over the previous three decades could .....more

In July 2024, McDonald’s Corporation (McDonald’s) faced a strategic dilemma amid rising inflation and interest rates. The introduction of a $5 Meal Deal, designed to attract cost-sensitive customers, sparked concerns among franchisees about shrinking profit margins in the context of McDonald’s franchise-heavy model, which relied on revenue from rent and royalties. McDonald’s had also made substantial real estate investment a core part of its business .....more