This week Kellogg revealed the new corporate names for its soon to be split snacks business – Kellanova, and the legacy North American cereal business – WK Kellogg company. Kellogg has been in a world of pain for some time. The root cause has been breakfast, simply put people aren’t spending the time on breakfast …
Is there more to the spin-off of Kellogg’s US cereal business than meets the eye? Read More »
Beyond Meat’s shares took another pounding last week closing below $15, a massive drop from their peak of $239 in 2019. The company is now forecasting revenues of $400-425m for 2022 versus $465m in 2021. Management is cutting 19% of the workforce; that’s never a good sign. In a statement the company acknowledged it had …
In five year’s time will we acknowledge that plant meats were a one-time fad? Read More »
Revlon is blushingly close to bankcruptcy according to the WSJ. It’s a salutary tale of a legacy cosmetics business with somewhat jaded brands that’s failed to adjust fast enough to a new paradigm: selling to the Instagram consumer. Amongst Revlon’s core portfolio of brands it’s noticeable that neither Elizabeth Arden nor Elizabeth Taylor are no …
Revlon’s most dazzling cheek blush cannot conceal its reddening debt Read More »
Founded in 1978 in Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream was sold to FMCG giant Unilever in 2000. Under Unilever’s stewardship the business has grown, and dig deep into the 2021 annual report, has sales over Euros 1 billion (US$1.13bn). Export has been a large growth contributor. The brand is sold in over 35 countries, …
Most of us know Tupperware. It’s an iconic brand marketing storage and serving containers for use in the kitchen and around the home. The company is well diversified. Although it’s a US business, Asia-Pacific was the biggest region in 2021 accounting for 28% of revenue. North America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) are …
Tupperware party’s cancelled. Management pulls full year guidance; analysts wrong footed Read More »
Shiseido makes and markets cosmetics, toiletries and beauty products and has revenues exceeding $9b. It’s listed on the first board of the Tokyo stock exchange and has over 39,000 employees. Shiseido is in the midst of a transformation. In 2020 it suffered an operating loss, in 2021 it recovered and is seeking to change its …
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 »
Unilever is not currently a stock market darling. In 2021 its shares fell 9% whilst the broader London market rose 11%. Compared to peers like Nestlé and J&J, Unilever’s stock price has underperformed significantly. For two consecutive years its pre-tax profits have fallen, Unilever also missed another key goal: 3-5% sales growth. There are growing …
Not many people know that the Japanese breadcrumb category is worth around $350m. Breadcrumbs are an every day part of life and used to make batter for fried foods like Tonkasu and fish, they also coat many types of vegetable dishes. Panko as it’s called here, is a combination of the word ‘Pan’ (‘Le pain’, …
Beyond Meat is not having a stellar 2021. Full year revenue guidance has been cut to just over $100m down from $120-140m, a forecast issued just 3 months ago. The company has come up with what I consider to be lame excuses. One is ‘Delta coronavirus in the US’ and another is ‘retail labour shortages.’ …
Beyond Meat is fast running out of excuses to tame investors Read More »
