Aguas Danone de Argentina (ADA) faced an adverse scenario. Argentina was undergoing its worst economic crisis in history, and bottled water sales were dwindling (replaced by utility network running water). The company needed to boost its revenues through new, innovative, more value-added product development. Argentina displayed a significant interest in fitness. By means of several market research studies, ADA managed to identify a segment whose needs were unmet by existing products and brands. New product launches were planned to target that segment. This case describes the dilemmas faced by ADA and the decisions required to formulate and pursue a strategy for new product launching and brand extension in adverse scenarios. More specifically, this case provides an opportunity to discuss how a new product category can be created to address market downturns. This case describes events that took place in 2002. Research interviews were started in 2004, but the case was published in 2009-12, because Danone delayed its disclosure permission for strategic and competitive reasons. On account of its richness and original contents, the authors decided to write the case despite this delay. This case is also available in Portuguese and Spanish

In 2002, Brazilian-based Petrobras joined the Argentine fuel retail (gas stations) market. The venture faced several challenges. On the one hand, Argentina was undergoing one of the most severe economic and social crises in history. On the other, the local fuel market was dominated by a few players with brands that held significant consumer mindshare over many years. Additionally, employee morale at Eg3, the company acquired by Petrobras to enter the local market, was besieged by uncertainty and disillusionment as a result of a string of mergers and acquisitions and underlying H.R. management remoteness. Finally, the company's Brazilian origin could jeopardize its appeal for Argentine consumers, given the cultural and sports-based (soccer) rivalry between these neighboring countries. The case presents this scenario and calls for decisions as to which market segment(s) it should target, how it should brand its stations, and what other related marketing decisions it should make given it domestic and international ambitions. This case received the 2007 Curtis E. Tate Jr. Award for the best case published in Case Research Journal and is also available in Spanish and Portuguese versions.