RONA Inc. (RONA), a Canadian giant in home improvement retail, received an unsolicited offer of CA$1.76 billion from Lowe’s Companies, Inc., (Lowe’s) in 2012. Lowe’s, a U.S. company, was already operating in the Canadian market through a subsidiary, and its goal in acquiring RONA was to rapidly upscale its operations. RONA’s board of directors declined the offer. Lowe’s came back in February 2016 with a second offer worth $3.2 billion. Negotiations followed, the deal was completed in March 2016, and RONA officially became part of Lowe’s Canada in May 2016. One year later, the debate re-ignited. In October 2017, Lowe’s Canada’s president stated that he hoped to demonstrate within five years that this was the best option for RONA. Was it?

RONA Inc. (RONA), a Canadian giant in home improvement retail, received an unsolicited offer of CA$1.76 billion from Lowe's Companies, Inc., (Lowe's) in 2012. Lowe's, a U.S. company, was already operating in the Canadian market through a subsidiary, and its goal in acquiring RONA was to rapidly upscale its operations. RONA's board of directors declined the offer. Lowe's came back in February 2016 with a second offer worth $3.2 billion. Negotiations followed, the deal was completed in March 2016, and RONA officially became part of Lowe's Canada in May 2016. One year later, the debate re-ignited. In October 2017, Lowe's Canada's president stated that he hoped to demonstrate within five years that this was the best option for RONA. Was it?

This case describes a major food fraud scandal that resulted in a much-publicized product recall. The episode was dubbed "Horsegate" by the national and international press. In early 2013, a scandal broke out in Ireland and the UK when horsemeat was found in frozen prepared meals sold as containing 100% beef. Findus Nordic, the company involved in the scandal, sold the same products in France. The press launched an investigation, and there were numerous media reports. A French company, Picard Surgelés, was found to have two products tainted with horsemeat. Both companies had to recall their products. Politicians got involved and carefully followed the crisis. Organizations in the supply chain implicated in the scandal struggled to defend themselves and blamed each other. French consumers reacted, and sales of frozen meat products dropped sharply. Findus Nordic and Picard Surgelés's brands were the most heavily impacted in France. This case focuses on Picard Surgelés, an integrated food processor that sells its store brand (private label) products in a company-owned chain of retail stores. The company needs help, and brand managers and marketing communications specialists must assess the situation and make recommendations to address the aftermath of the food fraud/product recall.

In the 1980s, Serge Belair founded Traductions Serge Belair. In the early days, he worked from home, translating documents for a number of Quebec companies in his basement office. Over a period of almost thirty years, Traductions Serge Belair, now operating under the name TRSB, grew from a small business to a company of 150 employees, with sales of close to $20 million and national ambitions. TRSB provides customized business solutions in translation and terminology management that are fully integrated with its clients' brand image and marketing efforts. Two-part case: TRSB (A): Strengthening a Service Brand in Business-to-Business (B2B) Marketing With this case, students will decide how to strengthen the brand of this business-to-business (B2B) service company to ensure its survival. TRSB (B): 360° Marketing and Communications for a World-Class Translation Company TRSB's objective is to double its sales over the next five years. To achieve this goal, the company has earmarked $250,000 for its marketing efforts next year, a significant increase over the previous year. The members of the communication and marketing team are wondering how to promote this new brand image, making it better known and respected in Canadian business communities. TRSB's marketing personnel will be working to enhance the organization's presence across all media to increase the company's visibility and stimulate interest in its services, but they need some advice.

In the 1980s, Serge Bélair founded Traductions Serge Bélair. In the early days, he worked from home, translating documents for a number of Quebec companies in his basement office. Over a period of almost thirty years, Traductions Serge Bélair, now operating under the name TRSB, grew from a small business to a company of 150 employees, with sales of close to $20 million and national ambitions. TRSB provides customized business solutions in translation and terminology management that are fully integrated with its clients' brand image and marketing efforts. Two-part case: TRSB (A): Strengthening a Service Brand in Business-to-Business (B2B) Marketing With this case, students will decide how to strengthen the brand of this business-to-business (B2B) service company to ensure its survival. TRSB (B): 360° Marketing and Communications for a World-Class Translation Company TRSB's objective is to double its sales over the next five years. To achieve this goal, the company has earmarked $250,000 for its marketing efforts next year, a significant increase over the previous year. The members of the communication and marketing team are wondering how to promote this new brand image, making it better known and respected in Canadian business communities. TRSB's marketing personnel will be working to enhance the organization's presence across all media to increase the company's visibility and stimulate interest in its services, but they need some advice.

The Just Us! worker cooperative has been in business since the mid-1990s. Founded by Jeff and Debra Moore, this company with an economic and social mission has sought to make its mark in the business world by trumpeting its "humanitarian" positioning through the slogan: "People and the planet before profits." In addition to operating four coffeehouses (two in Halifax, one in Wolfville and one in its Grand-Pré headquarters), Just Us! sells its products (mainly fair trade and organic coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar) via a distribution network. Although the company was prospering, the financial crisis of fall 2008, which triggered an economic recession, quickly prompted the management committee to consider producing a marketing plan for the coming year, to optimize the use of the organization's resources. Pauline, hired by Just Us! slightly more than two years earlier, was assigned this task. Her work at the co-op was so impressive that she had recently been promoted to director of marketing and sales.

Jeff and Debra Moore are the founders of Just Us!, a fair trade coffee cooperative, retailer and wholesaler. Just Us!’s mission is to actively promote fair trade and its benefits for producers in developing countries. The Moores have maintained a strong commitment to educating consumers while building strong brand identity and upholding constant growth. To support the main distribution channel in grocery stores, management opened four cafés (two each in Wolfville and Halifax) and distributed products on university campuses. Just Us!’s overall sales continued to grow, but sales were leveling off. In addition, the prevailing economic climate in Canada and increasing competition were worrying the founders. Recently, the Moores hired a new marketing director who was required to incorporate unique knowledge of fair trade practices, ethical purchasing and social entrepreneurship, combine it with typical growth-driven marketing decisions and ultimately propose a marketing plan that would consolidate coffee shop operations.

Jeff and Debra Moore are the founders of Just Us!, a fair trade coffee cooperative, retailer and wholesaler. Just Us!'s mission is to actively promote fair trade and its benefits for producers in developing countries. The Moores have maintained a strong commitment to educating consumers while building strong brand identity and upholding constant growth. To support the main distribution channel in grocery stores, management opened four cafés (two each in Wolfville and Halifax) and distributed products on university campuses. Just Us!'s overall sales continued to grow, but sales were leveling off. In addition, the prevailing economic climate in Canada and increasing competition were worrying the founders. Recently, the Moores hired a new marketing director who was required to incorporate unique knowledge of fair trade practices, ethical purchasing and social entrepreneurship, combine it with typical growth-driven marketing decisions and ultimately propose a marketing plan that would consolidate coffee shop operations.