Grolsch Case Study
PANKAJ GHEMAWAT JORDAN MITCHELL
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Grolsch: Growing Globally
In November 2007, SAB Miller, the world´s second largest brewer,1 announced the friendly takeover of the world’s 51st largest, Royal Grolsch N.V. of the Netherlands, for €816m in cash - 84% more than Grolsch’s value over the previous month. Nick Fell, SABMiller’s Marketing Director, explained the logic of the deal: “[Grolsch is] a fantastic brand. It’s North European, it’s a fantastic product, it’s got unimpeachable brewing credentials and authenticity and credibility. And it’s a damn good product. So for anybody interested in developing their premium beer business, this is an absolute peach of a brand to get hold of… we see huge potential for it in our global footprint, particularly in markets like Latin America and Africa where we’ve got a strong route to market but where the premium beer business is still in its infancy.”2 Grolsch had hitherto focused on developed markets, particularly the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France, in pursuit of its goal of becoming one of the world’s top 10 global beer brands. Groslch was already the world’s 21st largest global brand, measured by international (nondomestic) volume (see Exhibit 1). International volume had grown to account for slightly over onehalf of total volume and, going forward, seemed to offer much more potential. Drinkers often rated Grolsch higher than larger brands, including Heineken, the top global brand as well as the leader in Grolsch’s home market (see Exhibit 2). And Grolsch had started up a state-of-the art brewery in 2004 that could be expanded at little incremental cost. The acquisition closed and in February 2008, Grolsch became an independent subsidiary of SABMiller. Rob Snel, head of Grolsch International since 1999 and an employee since 1984, was named Grolsch’s new CEO shortly thereafter. He had to decide what changes, if any, to recommend to its global strategy.
1 This compares the
SM – 1529 – E O – 308 - 029
Grolsch: Growing Globally
In November 2007, SAB Miller, the world´s second largest brewer,1 announced the friendly takeover of the world’s 51st largest, Royal Grolsch N.V. of the Netherlands, for €816m in cash - 84% more than Grolsch’s value over the previous month. Nick Fell, SABMiller’s Marketing Director, explained the logic of the deal: “[Grolsch is] a fantastic brand. It’s North European, it’s a fantastic product, it’s got unimpeachable brewing credentials and authenticity and credibility. And it’s a damn good product. So for anybody interested in developing their premium beer business, this is an absolute peach of a brand to get hold of… we see huge potential for it in our global footprint, particularly in markets like Latin America and Africa where we’ve got a strong route to market but where the premium beer business is still in its infancy.”2 Grolsch had hitherto focused on developed markets, particularly the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France, in pursuit of its goal of becoming one of the world’s top 10 global beer brands. Groslch was already the world’s 21st largest global brand, measured by international (nondomestic) volume (see Exhibit 1). International volume had grown to account for slightly over onehalf of total volume and, going forward, seemed to offer much more potential. Drinkers often rated Grolsch higher than larger brands, including Heineken, the top global brand as well as the leader in Grolsch’s home market (see Exhibit 2). And Grolsch had started up a state-of-the art brewery in 2004 that could be expanded at little incremental cost. The acquisition closed and in February 2008, Grolsch became an independent subsidiary of SABMiller. Rob Snel, head of Grolsch International since 1999 and an employee since 1984, was named Grolsch’s new CEO shortly thereafter. He had to decide what changes, if any, to recommend to its global strategy.
1 This compares the