More Than a Name: Japanese Super-brands Diversify

Brandchannel.com, August 22, 2008 — Before addressing these questions, let’s consider the way in which Japanese super-brands evolved. After World War II, Japan reinvented itself and developed into a global economic powerhouse. Some believe a primary reason for this growth was the Japanese keiretsu system. Essentially, keiretsu were major families of affiliated corporations that had ties to a key bank, which both controlled and provided security to the companies.

What It Takes to Really Win Globally†

A Global Brand CEO Looks Beyond Typical Focus on Insights, Innovation and Communication

Advertising Age, May 19, 2008 — If they aren't already losing sleep over this question, global brand marketers have more than enough right to: How must we leverage our global brands?

Studying more than 50 global brands over the last five years, among them global superstars Starbucks and Unilever's Dove, it's clear that the winning leadership mind-set is one that looks beyond typical focus on insights, innovation and communication. Those are a start, but focusing on them won't get you far enough in today's highly competitive global economy. Rather, the leaders I call true global brand CEOs forcefully build long-term global marketing capability by driving a single global strategy, forcing organizational alignment, improving speed-to-market and building brand expertise across geographies.

Tesco reinvents the 7-Eleven

The British retail giant is out to break the mold with gourmet mini-supermarkets in Southern California,

FORTUNE, November 26, 2007 — Convenience stores have long been a place to pick up beer and pork rinds. Earlier this month Tesco launched a $2 billion, five-year plan to change that. The British retailing giant just opened the first gourmet mini-supermarket in Hemet, Calif. Dozens more of these Fresh & Easys are scheduled to open over the next three months throughout California and the Southwest. Analysts think Tesco could grow their ranks to more than 1,000 in the next five years.

Jack Daniel's International Appeal

By sticking to its homespun, down-home story, the Tennessee sour mash whiskey has increased sales at home and abroad

BusinessWeek, October 10, 2007 — For Pok Rui Bin, 29, drinking Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 after 12-hour workdays in Beijing means mixing it with green tea. The advertising copywriter's cocktail of choice is just one of many regional recipes that Global Managing Director Mike Keyes is getting used to now that his brand is available in 135 countries. What appeals to Pok about the Tennessee whiskey, he says, is the smooth smoky flavor, "and how it's hand-crafted and all comes from this one special place…I love that American West stuff."