Market entry

How Onitsuka Tiger Became a Japanese Fashion Powerhouse – Outpacing Global Giants

Fashion, Market entry / By

A Lesson in Branding: Onitsuka Tiger Defies Expectations I’ve always harboured a degree of scepticism when it comes to brand management in Japan—especially in the food and beverage sector, where structured marketing departments are often lacking or non-existent. But fashion brand Onitsuka Tiger breaks the mould entirely. From Kobe Origins to Global Expansion Originally founded in Kobe […]

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Japan’s Love for Belgian Chocolate – Insights from Expo 2025

Belgium, Japan, Market entry / By

Whilst Expo 2025 Osaka is largely an event for the general public, business and trade discussions play a crucial role.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be a VIP guest at the Belgian Pavilion, exploring key industries that are core to Belgium’s export engine—Chocolate, Biscuits, and Coffee. The event featured presentations from four leading Belgian

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Korea’s Queen of Beauty Olive Young bets big on Japan. Will this K-Drama have a dramatic twist?

Cosmetics, Korea, Market entry / By

Olive Young is an icon in Korea’s beauty industry. It operates over 1300 stores and sells both manufacturer brands plus in house developed marques. Founded in 1999, Olive Young now has a commanding 15% of Korea’s beauty market.  K-Beauty has extraordinary global influence. One reason is innovation, think sheet masks or cushion compacts, another the

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coffee market korea

Is there a tipping point when Koreans say they’ve drunk too much latte or espresso?

Korea, Market entry, Marketing / By

I was in Seoul, South Korea last week for an innovation workshop. It had nothing to do with coffee, but whilst there I couldn’t fail to notice the huge number of coffee shops. One figure I saw referenced 75,000 coffee shops in the country, around one for every 700 people. The number of stores has

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Smuckers splurges big time on Twinkies. Has the global hype for ‘healthy alternatives’ been over baked?

Market entry, Route to Market / By

J.M. Smucker otherwise known as ‘Smuckers’ is an American food juggernaut with revenue of $8.5b. However, the business has a weak international footprint, 96% of revenue is in the US (5% of sales are in Canada and only 1% elsewhere). Smuckers last week agreed to buy Hostess brands, famous for Twinkies, for a total value

Smuckers splurges big time on Twinkies. Has the global hype for ‘healthy alternatives’ been over baked? Read More »

Food exhibition

Food companies leave FHA on full stomachs as the industry rebounds from Covid

Ethnic food, Export, Market entry / By

I spent 2 full days at Food and Hotel Asia Singapore this week (FHA) and it was packed full of exhibitors and visitors alike. There were over 2000 companies present, mostly packaged food, beverage and agricultural firms plus a fair number of packaging equipment and a cluster of wine and spirits companies. The majority were

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Japan bakery market

Piping hot Japanese pâtisserie market has momentum! Time for investors to savour the taste

Bakery, Export, Market entry / By

Life is what you bake it, runs the adage. There is a dietary shift in Japan. Historically rice was the main staple, but its per capita consumption is declining year on year. There are more single person households; preparing rice is a hassle especially if you a busy 20 year-something. Rice consumption is also dropping

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Ricky Gervais

Gervais’s ‘The Office’ eyes Saudi Arabian expansion

Market entry, Media, Other / By

A Saudi version of hit comedy show The Office is reportedly in the works. I tend to blog about consumer goods businesses but this example of a creative product expanding internationally caught my eye. It is also an interesting case study in adapting a winning formula to diverse cultures. Branded El Maktab, the Saudi version

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