Micro distribution in emerging markets– key issues to consider

There is increased interest in micro distributors and the potential they hold within an inclusive business model. Well documented micro distribution models include the Coca-Cola MDC (Micro-distribution centre) in Africa and Unilever’s Shakti model in India. Micro distributors can be found in emerging markets where markets are fragmented and modern trade (e.g. Walmart, Tesco) is [...]

Humanitarian Logistics and the Transformational Agenda after an Emergency

There is more to any Humanitarian disaster than an immediate RESPONSE. It is not earthquakes that kill people – it is buildings; and so, many countries make themselves more RESILIENT to disaster ensuring that building standards can withstand geo-meterological threats and, that logistics procedures are in place to deal with worst case scenarios and facilitate [...]

Reasons distributors in emerging markets fail

Implementing a 3rd party distribution system in emerging markets can be a challenging undertaking.  Below are a number reasons why distributors in emerging markets fail, and warning sign to look for. Financial management – A few years back we ran a project in for a consumer packaged goods company in Sri Lanka. During our assessments [...]

Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) for SMEs in emerging markets

Where information and visibility is lacking, inventory often takes the place,  all at a cost. Emerging market operations are a case and point. Even though Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), also known as a continuous replenishment process, has been around since the 1980s, popularized by Wal-Mart and Proctor & Gamble, it has yet to take off [...]

Two-tier distribution in emerging markets – telecom and electronics

What is a two-tier distributor? They buy from manufacturers and sell to resellers. What are their competitive advantages? Two-tier distributors can expand the retail footprint in emerging markets. They normally sell a diverse range of brands and control a large percentage of the local distribution in the telecom and the computer industry. Two-tier distributors understand [...]

Slums – Beyond the perception

Personally, I am not very fond of the term, slums. I think it is loosely defined term for a type of informal market. However, with all their problems and challenges there is a lot to learn from slums from a business perspective. Entrepreneurism – slum areas are highly entrepreneurial, with a high degree of business [...]

House of Sampoerna

I made a stop last week in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city. The city is also home to Sampoerna, the well known Indonesian tobacco and cloves company. The company was founded in 1913 and was the first publicly listed kretek cigarette company on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. The visit included a stop at the House [...]

Cold Chain in Emerging Markets: The Heat is On

For many Chinese and Vietnamese consumers, frozen food is still a foreign concept. Large retailers in China and Vietnam continue to focus on fresh food options such as live chickens and in-store fish tanks. However, consumer shopping and buying patterns are changing. Chilled products, including juice and frozen foods are increasingly becoming popular in emerging [...]

Tsukiji fish market

I recently visited the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. It is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and is also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo. The market handles more than 450 different types of seafood at the [...]

Vietnam’s intellectual property (IP) law

I recently spoke to Patsy Day, an intellectual property attorney from Rouse Legal based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Rouse is a leading global intellectual property firm, with offices in more than twenty countries. Rouse has been handling IP cases in Vietnam since 1997. TN: Which sectors are most infringed? PD: The sectors where [...]

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