Smuckers Case Essay

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Case Questions 1. What is J. M. Smucker Company’s corporate strategy? What common strategy elements are shared across its brands? Did it make sense for Smucker to expand its business lineup beyond jams, jellies, and preserves? Why or why not? J.M. Smuckers corporate strategy is to grow its existing brands, introduce new products, and make strategic acquisitions. These three goals are focused on the North American market. Across its brands Smuckers aims to be the number one product in all of the product lines in which they compete. Smuckers expanded beyond jams, and jellies to protect it from becoming an acquisition of a larger firm. By expanding Smuckers has made itself less likely to be acquired by increasing its cash flow and size. Smuckers has been very successful so far in expanding purchasing number one brands and increasing both revenues and profits by large margins along with an increase in stock price. Smuckers decision to expand the business has been a successful one. 2. What is your evaluation of Smucker’s business lineup and its acquisitions since 2002? How strongly positioned are the company’s brands in each segment of the industry? Smuckers list of acquisitions and brands reads off like an all star team, Pillsbury, Smuckers, Jif, Folgers, Dunkin Donuts, Hungry Jack, Crisco… Smuckers has been careful to purchase only well established and successful brands and focused on leading brand names. Smuckers has decided it is better to acquire already established brands than to build a new brand from scratch. Smuckers brands are positioned as the leading brands in many of the processed foods segments in which they compete. Folgers is the leading coffee, Crisco is the leading cooking oil, Smuckers leads in fruit spreads, Knudsen leads in health and natural beverages, and Jif leads in peanut butter. 3. Does J. M. Smucker’s lineup of

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