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Dan Featherstone was an entrepreneur and founder of Made For Drink, a premium bar snacks company he launched in the UK in 2016 to provide food lovers with a perfect snack to accompany alcoholic drinks. Whilst at first enjoying rapid success, winning awards in several different categories and supplying over 300 of the world's leading food & drink establishments, mid-2022 found Featherstone worrying about the future of his business. Having taken a hit in the pandemic, he was preparing to enter a crowdfunding raise for £600,000 and he knew he needed to articulate the fundamental elements of his business clearly to investors. Scrambling to get his pitch and investor pack ready, he found himself in need of a clear brand positioning strategy to communicate to investors. He was considering three positioning options which were aligned with the brand's values and had to choose one.

Student spreadsheet to case W19331

On January 20, 2017, Moody's Investors Service, an American credit rating agency, downgraded the Corporate Family Rating for Sears Holdings Corporation from Caa1 to Caa2, stating that the company did not have enough money to stay in business and was relying on outside funding or sale of assets to sustain operations. The leading US retail chain had a revenue turnover of US$22.14 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17. However, beginning in FY 2011-12, it had suffered losses year after year. Its stock had fallen 38 per cent between April 2016 and April 2017. The retail chain's majority shareholder, chair, and chief executive officer was making some changes, but critics questioned his motives and retail acumen. With falling share prices, continuous losses, decreasing assets, and a decided shift in the industry away from traditional retail, it seemed that it would be only a matter of time before Sears Holdings Corporation reached its end. In light of its poor financial performance and consecutive losses on a yearly basis, a new Master of Business Administration graduate and junior analyst was assigned the task of analyzing the retail chain's financial status and assessing the possibility of its bankruptcy.

Spreadsheet for product 8B19B008.

On January 20, 2017, Moody’s Investors Service, an American credit rating agency, downgraded the Corporate Family Rating for Sears Holdings Corporation from Caa1 to Caa2, stating that the company did not have enough money to stay in business and was relying on outside funding or sale of assets to sustain operations. The leading US retail chain had a revenue turnover of US$22.14 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016–17. However, beginning in FY 2011–12, it had suffered losses year after year. Its stock had fallen 38 per cent between April 2016 and April 2017. The retail chain’s majority shareholder, chair, and chief executive officer was making some changes, but critics questioned his motives and retail acumen. With falling share prices, continuous losses, decreasing assets, and a decided shift in the industry away from traditional retail, it seemed that it would be only a matter of time before Sears Holdings Corporation reached its end. In light of its poor financial performance and consecutive losses on a yearly basis, a new Master of Business Administration graduate and junior analyst was assigned the task of analyzing the retail chain’s financial status and assessing the possibility of its bankruptcy.

Spreadsheet for product 9B19B008.

In June 2018, an intern at an investment firm was given the task of assessing the financial condition of Bon-Ton Holdings, Inc. (Bon-Ton), a leading US department store chain. In January 2018, it had entered into forbearance agreements with some of its lenders and announced store closures at 42 locations as part of its rationalization program. On February 4, 2018, it filed a voluntary petition for protection against bankruptcy and for reorganization. With the US retail industry already having witnessed more than 15 bankruptcies in 2017-the most in the last six years-would Bon-Ton survive? What measures could the company take to fight bankruptcy? What actions might put the company back on track?

In June 2018, an intern at an investment firm was given the task of assessing the financial condition of Bon-Ton Holdings, Inc. (Bon-Ton), a leading US department store chain. In January 2018, it had entered into forbearance agreements with some of its lenders and announced store closures at 42 locations as part of its rationalization program. On February 4, 2018, it filed a voluntary petition for protection against bankruptcy and for reorganization. With the US retail industry already having witnessed more than 15 bankruptcies in 2017—the most in the last six years—would Bon-Ton survive? What measures could the company take to fight bankruptcy? What actions might put the company back on track?

In 2015, the owner and the founder of a restaurant business in Dubai was concerned about the company's future expansion and growth. Although it was doing well in terms of profitability, a financial forecast was required for the following year, particularly in light of tough competition in the restaurant business in Dubai.

In 2015, the owner and the founder of a restaurant business in Dubai was concerned about the company's future expansion and growth. Although it was doing well in terms of profitability, a financial forecast was required for the following year, particularly in light of tough competition in the restaurant business in Dubai.

Yalla Momos was a restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that served momos, which were Nepal’s answer to the Chinese dumpling. Yalla Momos’ sales have grown exponentially since brothers Prashant and Ishan Goel founded the restaurant in 2012. Recently, in order to safeguard their share of the market, the Goels have been considering how to take their venture forward in the face of competition from both the organized (big retail outlets) and unorganized (individually managed) food sectors. The founders want to secure a position as market leaders in providing nutritious, affordable restaurant food to the expatriate (expat) community in Dubai. How could they communicate with the public and persuade a wider target audience of South Asian expats to adopt this healthy food choice? Should they diversify the menu to attract more customers, or would that cause the restaurant to lose its core competitive advantage of serving healthy, nutritious food? Would harnessing social media attract the expats?

Yalla Momos was a restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that served momos, which were Nepal's answer to the Chinese dumpling. Yalla Momos' sales have grown exponentially since brothers Prashant and Ishan Goel founded the restaurant in 2012. Recently, in order to safeguard their share of the market, the Goels have been considering how to take their venture forward in the face of competition from both the organized (big retail outlets) and unorganized (individually managed) food sectors. The founders want to secure a position as market leaders in providing nutritious, affordable restaurant food to the expatriate (expat) community in Dubai. How could they communicate with the public and persuade a wider target audience of South Asian expats to adopt this healthy food choice? Should they diversify the menu to attract more customers, or would that cause the restaurant to lose its core competitive advantage of serving healthy, nutritious food? Would harnessing social media attract the expats?

In 2016, Tesco PLC, a leading U.K. retail chain, had undergone tremendous financial turmoil. Profitability had been decreasing since 2013 with heavy losses registered during fiscal year (FY) 2014/15. Net profit had decreased by 304 per cent from 2012 to 2015. However, after the appointment of a new chief executive officer in 2014, Tesco managed to register a net profit of £138 million in FY 2015/16: an astonishing turnaround. Evidently, Tesco was recovering from its losses, but the share price of the company had fallen by more than 20 per cent from 2015 to 2016. What course of action would enable Tesco to maintain and improve its value for shareholders? What areas should the chief executive officer focus on in order to change Tesco’s financial performance?

Instructor Spreadsheet for product 8B17B004.

Student spreadsheet for product 9B17B004.

In 2016, Tesco PLC, a leading U.K. retail chain, had undergone tremendous financial turmoil. Profitability had been decreasing since 2013 with heavy losses registered during fiscal year (FY) 2014/15. Net profit had decreased by 304 per cent from 2012 to 2015. However, after the appointment of a new chief executive officer in 2014, Tesco managed to register a net profit of £138 million in FY 2015/16: an astonishing turnaround. Evidently, Tesco was recovering from its losses, but the share price of the company had fallen by more than 20 per cent from 2015 to 2016. What course of action would enable Tesco to maintain and improve its value for shareholders? What areas should the chief executive officer focus on in order to change Tesco's financial performance?

Student spreadsheet for case W17163.

In July 2015, the chief executive officer of Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba) resigned over the revelation of a JP¥151.8 billion accounting scandal that shocked the world. Toshiba, a Japanese multinational conglomerate with net sales of JP¥6.5 trillion and total assets of ¥6.2 trillion, had been widely criticized in the news for the multi-billion-dollar accounting fraud. The company’s stock prices declined by 38 per cent after the accounting probe was announced, and the company withdrew the dividend that had been declared earlier. These setbacks challenged company investors, who had always regarded Toshiba as a reputable company. The investors were wondering the same thing as everyone else watching the scandal unfold: How could a company with a 140-year history do this, and why? What were the consequences? What should Toshiba do in response to this crisis?

In July 2015, the chief executive officer of Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba) resigned over the revelation of a JPÂ¥151.8 billion accounting scandal that shocked the world. Toshiba, a Japanese multinational conglomerate with net sales of JPÂ¥6.5 trillion and total assets of JPÂ¥6.2 trillion, had been widely criticized in the news for the multi-billion-dollar accounting fraud. The company's stock prices declined by 38% after the accounting probe was announced, and the company withdrew the dividend that had been declared earlier. These setbacks challenged company investors, who had always regarded Toshiba as a reputable company. The investors were wondering the same thing as everyone else watching the scandal unfold: how could a company with a 140-year history do this, and why? What were the consequences? What should Toshiba do in response to this crisis?

The American clothing retailer American Apparel recently experienced a loss of $106 million and faced huge debt repayments. In addition, the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder was dismissed because of personal misconduct. Students must evaluate the financial status of the company and address the impact of the CEO’s termination on the financial performance of the company.