Unilever: shrewd investment should aid recovery from Q1 profit decline

Consumer packaged goods company Unilever has announced an overall decline in sales and profits for the first three months of 2009. The firm has been hit by falling sales in developed countries, although growth has been seen in emerging markets. Many consumers have traded down as their disposable income shrinks, but investment from Unilever should ensure that it remains in a strong position.

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Starbucks: taking coffee back to its roots

Starbucks' internationalization continues apace: it will open its first store in Mexico this year, followed by ambitious expansion throughout the Latin American region. But while coffee shop culture is said to be sweeping Latin America, it remains to be seen whether Starbucks' premium strategy can succeed while economic hardship is rife.

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Reebok: from sportswear to New Age drinks

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McDonald's: capitalizing on the downturn with an even greater presence

McDonald's has announced plans to open 1,000 new restaurants in 2009, even though the recession is starting to impact on its results. The company could succeed in its gamble by encouraging more consumers to downsize to its cheaper food offering, but it must not completely forget the importance of health and premium trends.

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Kuehne & Nagel: taking over the world, with minimal risk

K&N can now fully integrate the unit's activities into its network, controlling the subsidiary's operations for the benefit of its global network. Setting up joint ventures and turning the successful ones into wholly owned subsidiaries is a wise strategy for K&N. It can test the waters in each market before putting forward full capital and resource commitment.

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Kuehne & Nagel: positive moves

Kuehne & Nagel is continuing its growth strategy with another acquisition in Central America. As economic slowdown keeps freight growth down in the developed world, it makes sense for K&N to focus on less exploited markets to maintain its profit growth. At the same time, the move expands the Swiss firm's worldwide network still further.

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Kraft: down Mexico way

Kraft looks set to succeed where Coke and Pepsi failed, taking over Mexican juice giant Jugos del Valle. The Mexican economy is on the rise, Kraft has a strong history of targeting Spanish speakers in the US, and Jugos del Valle will significantly improve the company's distribution network south of the border. In short, es muy buena.

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IOCs: facing difficult strategic choices

International oil companies (IOCs) are facing increasingly difficult challenges in the pursuit of sustainable development. Threatened by mounting pressure from shareholders and environmental groups, and restrained by limited access to high potential areas in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, IOCs must address these concerns while still offering value to their investors.

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Heineken: has successfully offset declining sales volumes but must now explore new strategies

An expected drop in revenues for Heineken has been more than canceled out through cost-cutting measures and a shrewd pricing strategy. While beer volumes have suffered during the recession, this can be seen as the continuation of a more established trend. Plant closures have helped Heineken to reduce costs, but future profits will need to be driven by alternative methods.

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Goldman Sachs: commitment to asset management does not herald wider change in sector trends

Goldman Sachs intends not just to hold on to its asset management business, but to actively grow it going forward. Its plans stand in contrast to the global trend of large universal banks exiting, dividing or reducing their asset management businesses. While the argument for retention is not without merit, there is unlikely to be any let-up in the trend away from asset managers any time soon.

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