I have just finished two excellent books. The first is Angela Duckworth's Grit which explains the winning combination of passion and perseverance (or "grit") that powers high achievers. The second, is Daniel Coyle's Culture Code which reveals "the secrets of highly successful groups." Together these books offer learning to both nurture high achievers and create... Continue Reading →
I have been exploring how organisations successfully drive innovation across horizons and deliver more than just incremental core growth. Alongside some clever consultants I listened to innovation leaders from LEGO, bp, Essity, Hitachi, Nissan and Unilever. Their generous input supported some detailed findings and from this I have picked out six key core elements which... Continue Reading →
The appreciation and sense of loss following the passing of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch is visibly shared by most of the British public and was very evident in our recent trip to Sandringham. Queen Elizabeth II has been consistently the most popular member of the royal family. For those older than 65 there is almost universal... Continue Reading →
Alpro this Summer launched It’s Not Mlk brand as the "perfect" plant-based replacement for the cow's milk that half of UK households remain attached to. Creating the closest possible replica of everyday milk and explicitly positioning it as the go-to alternative is obviously a solid marketing approach. But, it does make you wonder about the... Continue Reading →
I need to declare an interest. I am a Ben & Jerry's fan. That said, the brand's collaboration with Tony’s to address the inequalities of chocolate sourcing and specifically slave labour is, I think, objectively brilliant. About a year ago I listened to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's recommendations for the "great food redesign" which called... Continue Reading →
Congratulations to the Lionesses for grabbing their unique moment with the most inspirational of wins. Alongside millions, I have been absolutely hooked by the Women's Euro Championship and England's progress. Watched by an unprecedented TV audience the Lionesses have set a record for tournament goals and won in a Wembley Stadium with the biggest ever... Continue Reading →
It might seem a little discourteous to say but the Royal Family is a major brand. They add something distinctive to our national identity, they attract tourists and as global ambassadors present a welcoming impression of the UK that even our politicians can't completely undo. The power behind this brand is, of course, the Queen... Continue Reading →
Wegovy is a brand getting a lot of attention. It is one of a new generation of obesity treatments which employ a hormone to regulate appetite and based on their clinical trials claims to contribute to a weight loss of c15%. Owner Novo Nordisk gained FDA approval only a year ago (June 2021) and is... Continue Reading →
Pret a Manger has returned to profit after 2 years of substantial losses. It shows the business has learnt to adapt. Almost 3 years ago the fresh food and coffee chain was purchasing rival Eat with the aim of faster store expansion. Quick to expand vegan and gluten-free choices it capitalised on the growing appeal... Continue Reading →
Patrick Radden Keefe's Empire of Pain is a compelling read for anyone, but especially those involved in marketing. Extensively researched it explores the history of the Sackler family, their private company Purdue Pharma and the introduction of OxyContin. It highlights greed, corruption, failures in regulation and unrestrained, ruthless marketing among the contributors to the opioid crisis in... Continue Reading →
Brand Universe Blog 