Branding

Royce cocoa bean

How a Privately Owned Japanese Chocolate Brand Built US$220m in Revenue — Quietly

Branding, Japan, Other / By

Royce’: Hokkaido’s chocolate star From cocoa farms in Colombia to advanced manufacturing across Hokkaido During a recent visit to the Royce’ Chocolate shop and factory in Sapporo, I was reminded how premium food brands are rarely built on product alone. They are built through story, place, engineering discipline, and restraint. Royce is a masterclass in how Japanese […]

How a Privately Owned Japanese Chocolate Brand Built US$220m in Revenue — Quietly Read More »

Beyond Tradition: Modern Branding Fuels Japan’s Tea Export Boom

Branding, Retail / By

Japan’s tea exports have skyrocketed from under US$20 million fifteen years ago to nearly US$200 million today. Behind this tenfold surge lies more than global fascination with sushi and ramen—it’s the result of savvy marketing, design-forward packaging, health positioning, and a renewed focus on consumer education. Riding the Wave of Japanese Culture The global appetite

Beyond Tradition: Modern Branding Fuels Japan’s Tea Export Boom Read More »

Lavazza Australia

Lavazza’s think global, act local journey: will Mosaic transform Australia’s coffee scene?

Australia, Branding, Foodservice / By

Australian’s love their coffee, according to one statistic, 84% of Aussies buy coffee at least once a week. Italy’s Lavazza was an early International brand to enter Australia and 10 years ago was a dominant No 2 on the retail shelf behind the Cantarella Bros Vittoria brand. However Lavazza’s share has dropped as more foreign

Lavazza’s think global, act local journey: will Mosaic transform Australia’s coffee scene? Read More »

Durian marketing

Suddenly everyone in China is obsessed with durian. Fancy the challenge of promoting this pungent tropical fruit globally?

Agriculture, Branding, Marketing / By

I’ll start with a confession, I don’t like durian. In marketing terms I am a rejector, neither am I a considerer (someone who may buy but doesn’t currently) and of course I am not a user. I have my former colleagues in Malaysia to blame. I will not name and shame here as many of

Suddenly everyone in China is obsessed with durian. Fancy the challenge of promoting this pungent tropical fruit globally? Read More »

Tokyu Hands flagship store

Tokyu Hands changes hands; enter stage left Home Centre giant Cainz

Branding, Japan, Retail / By

Tokyu Hands was one of the first stores I visited when I came to Japan. I vividly recall their store in Tokyo with many more floors (and staircases) than I can remember; and then there’s the eclectic range of premium merchandise. Want something you can’t find elsewhere? Go to Tokyu Hands, said my colleagues. Founded

Tokyu Hands changes hands; enter stage left Home Centre giant Cainz Read More »

Inspired by Ekiden, Asics eyes North American turn around to challenge Nike

Branding, Marketing, Turnaround / By

Unless you live in Japan you probably don’t know the Ekiden (literally ‘station to station’). It’s an inter university relay race held early in the New Year from Hakone near Mt Fuji right into the centre of Tokyo. This January, Aoyama Gakuin won the 98th Ekiden with a record time. In my mind, it’s a

Inspired by Ekiden, Asics eyes North American turn around to challenge Nike Read More »

Hermès, NFTs and MetaBirkins. Who will handbag the cyber squatters?

Branding, IP, Trademarks / By

How can you protect your IP in the Meta-verse? Hermès is a brand worth over $2b with a portfolio that covers scarves, shoes, bags, belts and fashion jewellery.  The Birkin bag is a Hermès signature item, handmade from leather and named after Jane broken, an English actress. Leather is a core brand attribute. Scarcity has

Hermès, NFTs and MetaBirkins. Who will handbag the cyber squatters? Read More »

Huel, an edgy food nutrition start-up, going global advocate, puts itself on the IPO dinner table

Branding, Health, Innovation / By

Huel is an acronym for HUman FuEL. The company sells powder based meal replacements diluted with water. The ingredients are 100% vegan and include oats, pea, rice, flaxseed, coconut, and sunflower. It’s a brand for active and wealthy millennials, a target group similar to Peleton or even Go-Pro. Like the latter, it has a similar

Huel, an edgy food nutrition start-up, going global advocate, puts itself on the IPO dinner table Read More »