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Birch Paper Co Case Study Solution

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Birch Paper Co Case Study Solution

Business is currently one of the most significant food chains worldwide. It was founded by Henri Birch Paper Co in 1866, a German Pharmacist who initially released "FarineLactee"; a mix of flour and milk to feed babies and reduce death rate.
Business is now a transnational company. Unlike other international companies, it has senior executives from different countries and attempts to make decisions considering the entire world. Birch Paper Co currently has more than 500 factories around the world and a network spread throughout 86 countries.

Purpose

The purpose of Birch Paper Co Corporation is to enhance the quality of life of individuals by playing its part and providing healthy food. It wishes to help the world in shaping a healthy and much better future for it. It also wishes to motivate people to live a healthy life. While making certain that the business is prospering in the long run, that's how it plays its part for a much better and healthy future

Vision

Birch Paper Co's vision is to offer its customers with food that is healthy, high in quality and safe to consume. It wants to be innovative and concurrently comprehend the requirements and requirements of its clients. Its vision is to grow quickly and provide products that would satisfy the requirements of each age group. Birch Paper Co envisions to establish a well-trained workforce which would help the company to grow
.

Mission

Birch Paper Co's objective is that as presently, it is the leading company in the food market, it believes in 'Excellent Food, Good Life". Its mission is to provide its consumers with a range of options that are healthy and finest in taste as well. It is focused on supplying the very best food to its customers throughout the day and night.

Products.

Business has a large range of items that it uses to its consumers. Its items include food for babies, cereals, dairy products, treats, chocolates, food for family pet and mineral water. It has around 4 hundred and fifty (450) factories around the globe and around 328,000 employees. In 2011, Business was noted as the most rewarding company.

Goals and Objectives

• Remembering the vision and mission of the corporation, the business has actually laid down its objectives and objectives. These goals and objectives are noted below.
• One objective of the company is to reach absolutely no land fill status. (Business, aboutus, 2017).
• Another goal of Birch Paper Co is to waste minimum food throughout production. Frequently, the food produced is lost even prior to it reaches the clients.
• Another thing that Business is dealing with is to improve its packaging in such a way that it would help it to minimize those complications and would likewise ensure the delivery of high quality of its items to its customers.
• Meet global standards of the environment.
• Build a relationship based upon trust with its customers, service partners, staff members, and government.

Critical Issues

Recently, Business Business is focusing more towards the technique of NHW and investing more of its earnings on the R&D innovation. The country is investing more on acquisitions and mergers to support its NHW method. The target of the company is not attained as the sales were expected to grow higher at the rate of 10% per year and the operating margins to increase by 20%, provided in Exhibit H.

Situational Analysis.

Analysis of Current Strategy, Vision and Goals

The present Business technique is based on the idea of Nutritious, Health and Health (NHW). This technique deals with the concept to bringing change in the client choices about food and making the food things much healthier worrying about the health issues.
The vision of this method is based on the secret method i.e. 60/40+ which just suggests that the items will have a score of 60% on the basis of taste and 40% is based on its dietary value. The items will be produced with extra dietary worth in contrast to all other items in market acquiring it a plus on its nutritional material.
This method was adopted to bring more yummy plus nutritious foods and drinks in market than ever. In competitors with other companies, with an intent of keeping its trust over clients as Business Company has acquired more trusted by clients.

Quantitative Analysis.

R&D Costs as a percentage of sales are declining with increasing actual amount of costs shows that the sales are increasing at a greater rate than its R&D spending, and permit the business to more spend on R&D.
Net Profit Margin is increasing while R&D as a percentage of sales is decreasing. This sign also reveals a thumbs-up to the R&D spending, mergers and acquisitions.
Debt ratio of the company is increasing due to its spending on mergers, acquisitions and R&D development rather than payment of debts. This increasing financial obligation ratio present a threat of default of Business to its financiers and might lead a decreasing share costs. In terms of increasing financial obligation ratio, the company needs to not invest much on R&D and ought to pay its present financial obligations to reduce the risk for financiers.
The increasing threat of investors with increasing financial obligation ratio and decreasing share prices can be observed by substantial decrease of EPS of Birch Paper Co stocks.
The sales development of company is likewise low as compare to its mergers and acquisitions due to slow perception structure of consumers. This slow development likewise hinder company to more invest in its mergers and acquisitions.( Business, Business Financial Reports, 2006-2010).
Keep in mind: All the above analysis is done on the basis of estimations and Charts given up the Displays D and E.

TWOS Analysis


TWOS analysis can be used to derive different methods based upon the SWOT Analysis provided above. A short summary of TWOS Analysis is given in Exhibition H.

Strategies to exploit Opportunities using Strengths

Business needs to introduce more innovative items by big quantity of R&D Spending and mergers and acquisitions. It could increase the marketplace share of Business and increase the earnings margins for the business. It might likewise offer Business a long term competitive benefit over its rivals.
The worldwide growth of Business ought to be focused on market catching of developing countries by expansion, drawing in more consumers through customer's loyalty. As establishing countries are more populous than industrialized countries, it might increase the customer circle of Business.

Strategies to Overcome Weaknesses to Exploit Opportunities

Swot AnalysisBirch Paper Co must do mindful acquisition and merger of companies, as it could impact the customer's and society's perceptions about Business. It needs to obtain and combine with those business which have a market reputation of healthy and healthy business. It would improve the perceptions of consumers about Business.
Business must not just spend its R&D on development, instead of it must also concentrate on the R&D costs over evaluation of expense of different nutritious items. This would increase expense effectiveness of its items, which will lead to increasing its sales, due to decreasing costs, and margins.

Strategies to use strengths to overcome threats

Business ought to move to not just establishing however likewise to industrialized countries. It should widens its geographical expansion. This large geographical growth towards developing and established nations would lower the risk of prospective losses in times of instability in various countries. It ought to widen its circle to various nations like Unilever which operates in about 170 plus countries.

Strategies to overcome weaknesses to avoid threats

It ought to get and merge with those nations having a goodwill of being a healthy business in the market. It would likewise make it possible for the company to use its possible resources efficiently on its other operations rather than acquisitions of those companies slowing the NHW method growth.

Segmentation Analysis

Demographic Segmentation

The group segmentation of Business is based upon 4 elements; age, gender, income and profession. Business produces several products related to babies i.e. Cerelac, Nido, and so on and associated to adults i.e. confectionary products. Birch Paper Co products are quite inexpensive by practically all levels, however its major targeted customers, in regards to income level are middle and upper middle level customers.

Geographical Segmentation

Geographical segmentation of Business is made up of its presence in almost 86 countries. Its geographical segmentation is based upon 2 primary factors i.e. average income level of the consumer as well as the environment of the region. For instance, Singapore Business Business's division is done on the basis of the weather condition of the region i.e. hot, warm or cold.

Psychographic Segmentation

Psychographic division of Business is based upon the character and life style of the customer. For instance, Business 3 in 1 Coffee target those consumers whose lifestyle is quite busy and don't have much time.

Behavioral Segmentation

Birch Paper Co behavioral division is based upon the attitude understanding and awareness of the client. Its extremely nutritious products target those customers who have a health conscious mindset towards their intakes.

Birch Paper Co Alternatives

In order to sustain the brand name in the market and keep the client intact with the brand name, there are two options:
Option: 1
The Business must invest more on acquisitions than on the R&D.
Pros:
1. Acquisitions would increase overall assets of the business, increasing the wealth of the company. However, spending on R&D would be sunk cost.
2. The business can resell the gotten units in the market, if it fails to implement its method. Amount invest on the R&D might not be restored, and it will be considered entirely sunk expense, if it do not provide possible outcomes.
3. Spending on R&D offer sluggish development in sales, as it takes very long time to present a product. Nevertheless, acquisitions provide fast outcomes, as it offer the business already established product, which can be marketed soon after the acquisition.
Cons:
1. Acquisition of company's which do not fit with the company's worths like Kraftz foods can lead the business to deal with misunderstanding of consumers about Business core worths of healthy and nutritious items.
2 Big spending on acquisitions than R&D would send out a signal of company's inefficiency of establishing innovative items, and would outcomes in customer's discontentment.
3. Big acquisitions than R&D would extend the line of product of the business by the items which are currently present in the market, making business not able to introduce brand-new ingenious items.
Option: 2.
The Company needs to spend more on its R&D rather than acquisitions.
Pros:
1. It would enable the business to produce more innovative items.
2. It would supply the company a strong competitive position in the market.
3. It would make it possible for the business to increase its targeted clients by presenting those products which can be used to a totally brand-new market segment.
4. Innovative products will provide long term advantages and high market share in long term.
Cons:
1. It would reduce the profit margins of the company.
2. In case of failure, the whole spending on R&D would be considered as sunk cost, and would impact the company at big. The danger is not when it comes to acquisitions.
3. It would not increase the wealth of company, which could supply an unfavorable signal to the financiers, and might result I decreasing stock prices.
Alternative 3:
Continue its acquisitions and mergers with considerable spending on in R&D Program.
Vrio AnalysisPros:
1. It would enable the company to introduce new innovative products with less danger of converting the costs on R&D into sunk cost.
2. It would offer a favorable signal to the investors, as the total assets of the business would increase with its substantial R&D spending.
3. It would not impact the earnings margins of the business at a large rate as compare to alternative 2.
4. It would provide the business a strong long term market position in regards to the company's total wealth as well as in regards to ingenious products.
Cons:
1. Danger of conversion of R&D spending into sunk cost, greater than option 1 lesser than alternative 2.
2. Danger of misunderstanding about the acquisitions, higher than alternative 2 and lower than option 1.
3. Intro of less number of innovative products than alternative 2 and high number of ingenious items than alternative 1.

Birch Paper Co Conclusion

RecommendationsBusiness has stayed the leading market gamer for more than a years. It has institutionalised its strategies and culture to align itself with the marketplace changes and customer habits, which has ultimately allowed it to sustain its market share. Business has actually developed substantial market share and brand name identity in the metropolitan markets, it is advised that the company must focus on the rural locations in terms of developing brand name loyalty, awareness, and equity, such can be done by developing a particular brand allotment method through trade marketing methods, that draw clear distinction between Birch Paper Co products and other rival items. Additionally, Business should take advantage of its brand name image of safe and healthy food in catering the rural markets and likewise to upscale the offerings in other classifications such as nutrition. This will permit the company to establish brand equity for recently introduced and currently produced items on a greater platform, making the reliable usage of resources and brand name image in the market.

Birch Paper Co Exhibits

PESTEL Analysis
P
Political
E
Economic
S
Social
T
Technology
L
Legal
E
Environment
Governmental assistance

Changing criteria of global food.
Enhanced market share. Altering understanding in the direction of healthier items Improvements in R&D and also QA divisions.

Introduction of E-marketing.
No such effect as it is favourable. Issues over recycling.

Use sources.

Competitor Analysis
Business Unilever PLC Kraft Foods Incorporation DANONE
Sales Growth Greatest since 3000 Highest after Company with less development than Organisation 4th Lowest
R&D Spending Highest possible since 2001 Highest possible after Service 1st Cheapest
Net Profit Margin Highest possible considering that 2002 with quick development from 2008 to 2014 Because of sale of Alcon in 2011. Virtually equal to Kraft Foods Incorporation Nearly equal to Unilever N/A
Competitive Advantage Food with Nutrition as well as wellness factor Highest number of brands with lasting methods Biggest confectionary and processed foods brand on the planet Biggest dairy products and also bottled water brand in the world
Segmentation Middle and top middle degree customers worldwide Specific consumers together with household team Every age as well as Revenue Consumer Groups Middle and upper center level consumers worldwide
Number of Brands 1st 7th 2nd 2nd

Quantitative Analysis​
Analysis of Financial Statements (In Millions of CHF)
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Sales Revenue 16992 363162 954137 223654 987336
Net Profit Margin 8.55% 3.69% 75.27% 8.12% 24.91%
EPS (Earning Per Share) 92.21 5.14 5.68 4.19 39.44
Total Asset 284674 512135 962918 769727 62356
Total Debt 98771 72342 67678 44726 56517
Debt Ratio 71% 26% 12% 84% 56%
R&D Spending 5289 1684 9879 2972 7263
R&D Spending as % of Sales 4.47% 4.54% 6.44% 9.22% 5.47%

Executive Summary Swot Analysis Vrio Analysis Pestel Analysis
Porters Analysis Recommendations