Register and Join us in 2015 to discuss the role of strategy in managing the array of market expectations -- customers, employees, suppliers and investors.

Where

Sopraffina Marketcaffe
222 W. Adams
Chicago, Illinois

Event Details

Last summer, McDonald's reported$7.2 billion in second quarter sales, a 1% improvement over the same time in 2013 but $100 million shy of the Street's $7.3 billion estimate. The news that this giant's Net income was down and its miss in earnings rocked the market. In July 2014, Chief Executive Don Thompson vowed to fix the fundamentals exuding confidence in his leadership and ability to handle the problems.

By the third quarter, joining McDonald's in reporting disappointing profits, Coca Cola cited slowdowns in global sales growth. Coca-Cola earnings fell 14% compared to 2013 as sales in US for carbonated drinks softened. McDonald's suffered from similar pain posting lower US sales for a 4th consecutive quarter and 3rdquater profits dropped 30%.

According to one of the iron laws of strategy, all Growth ends. Fundamentally, every business must understand wider trends and changes that impact directly and indirectly its own key revenue drivers. When and how to respond to the inevitable change in consumer preferences proves far more challenging for established brands with a broad customer base. Innovation rarely touches the core, unless key consumers shown signs of defecting? A former CMO for McDonalds remarks in Fortune summed up the challenge to be mindful are of the customer and their continuing evolution. Momentum may be covering a lot of errors that will catch up with you, or it appears that what may have made the previous McDonald's CEO a hero and forced the present CEO to catch up.

Register and Join us in 2015 to discuss the role of strategy in managing the array of market expectations -- customers, employees, suppliers and investors. Please read in advance the following short articles offering lessons in managing growth from McDonald's and Coca Cola. Be prepared to share your thoughts on a prudent recovery strategy.

http://fortune.com/2014/11/12/can-mcdonalds-get-its-mojo-back/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/06/23/how-the-fast-casual-segment-is-gaining-market-share-in-the-restaurant-industry/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-18/coca-cola-profit-falls-8-4-as-cost-cuts-announced.html

http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/Business_News/2014/12/Coca-Cola_2015__More_of_the_sa.aspx?ID=%7BBC8559E9-F736-42AE-9040-919121D2F073%7D&cck=1

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/can-soda-survive-americas-anti-pop-culture-n238921

Cost

No Charge

Registration

Register Online

Deadline: 1/15/2015

Questions

Rachel Kaberon