Slimfast

BA 410 Business Policy - Make-up Case

Case #26

Unilever's Path to Growth Strategy: Is It Working?

Instructions to the student:

1. Prepare a typewritten response to each Assignment Question below. Type the question, then the answer.

2. Double space your document using 12 point Times New Roman Fonts and 1 inch margins on all four sides.

3. Each page should be numbered in the upper right hand corner.

4. This make-up case document should be about 5-7 pages in length

5. Include a cover page with your name, case name, and date. Do not number the title page.

Assignment Questions

1. What are the chief elements of Unilever's diversification strategy? Is Unilever pursuing a multicountry or a global strategy? What aspects of the strategy do you like? What aspects of the strategy are you skeptical about and why?

2. Did Unilever pay too much to acquire SlimFast? Is there any reason to believe that SlimFast might be a better performer as part of Unilever than it would be a standalone enterprise? Explain. Is SlimFast a good strategic fit, given that there are no other important diet products in Unilever's product/brand portfolio?

3. What is going on at SlimFast in 2003? Why are sales nose-diving? What can be done to get things turned around? Should the SlimFast business be sold? Was the acquisition a mistake? Why did things look so good at the time of the acquisition and so dismal now?

4. Did Unilever pay too much to acquire Ben & Jerry's? Is there any reason to believe that Ben & Jerry's might be a better performer as part of Unilever than it would be a standalone enterprise? What problems will Unilever be likely to encounter with its Ben & Jerry's