Asahi Breweries

Assignment 2 Asahi Breweries exercise Analysis Anonymous Student 2 Professor John Stockmyer MKT517 electronic network/Tuesdays 700-930 Asahi Breweries (Dry Beer Implementation) Introduction Asahi Breweries, Ltd. has been in the Japanese beer commercialise since its opening in 1949 where it originated finished the mark-war breakup of beer conglomerate Dai Nippon, which at the condemnation had a 75% marketplaceplaceplace persona. The only other existing Japanese beer keep company prior to the post-war era was Kirin, holding the remaining 25% market destiny. Asahi is one(a) of four main beer manu particularurers along with its competitors Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory companies.Kirin, being the oldest and largest company of beer producers has historically been the draw in production, sales, and market sh be at 60% primarily through its experience enabling the company to identify market dashs and develop epic distribution centers. The Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory companies have generally remained competitive for the remaining 40% market share. Traditionally, laager beer as been the choice of Japanese beer drinkers and Kirin has capitalized on that tradition for decades by producing lager as its primary beer product.However, by the early 1980s consumer relishs began to heighten and they desired more than flesh in beer choices. To meet the demand, the three smaller companies developed and marketed their own brands of drawing beer which in turn enabled the market share for that specific product piece to even out. Karin reluctantly followed while maintaining its sight that lager was still the beer of choice. In order to differentiate itself from its competitors and create a niche for itself, Asahi has created a innovative change beer to offer consumers hoping to capitalize on the changing tastes of beer drinkers.Asahis president, Hirotaro Higuchi, has decided to deck in the implementation of the impertinently product. The decision must be anal yzed whether to support the investment in the strategic development, production, and marketing of Asahis young dry beer. Asahis juvenile Strategies Asahi prides itself on its long history of beer production with continued fiber and brotherly commitment to its customers, employee relationships, business partners, postholders, and local communities.Until 1982 turn was al roughly nonexistent as the company continued to operate in the traditional modus of producing lager beer and was on the verge of becoming extinct in the market due to declining sales, pressure early retirements, and low team spirit. At that time, Tsutomu Murai became the president bringing a new horizontal communication philosophy to the company. He implemented cross operable teams to improve the companys image both internally and externally as well as improve quality within the organization. It was decided from research that consumer beer taste was changing and Asahi needed to respond.Risking backlash from traditionalists, the Asahi trademark was changed in parallel with the libe balancen of the new Asahi Draft product, demonstrating managements baron to identify and the volitionness to respond to the changing market environment. This gave the companys morale a sustained boost, but a short lived increase in market share and soon it declined. In 1986, Hirotaro Higuchi became the new president with a top down management philosophy and very hands on style decision making with the sole mission to increase profit.Riding the curve of the new rough drawing beer product release and improved organizational functionality, Higuchi was willing to spend money to ensure the new product was a supremacy and he implemented three drastic policy changes at the peril of erasing the companys 1985 net profit margin of 1. 4 zillion long Remove all old products from circulation at a freeing to show commitment to the new product. Change raw material (malted milk) suppliers to German suppliers to improve quality at change magnitude expense. Spend as some(prenominal) money on advertising and promotion until operating profit equaled zero.As quality improved and the advertising and promotional blitz increased, distributors realized Asahi was serious a contender and retailers started to push the draft product resulting in a 9. 7% increase in sales from the previous year. With the direction of its strong lead and strategic vision, Asahis management and workers were willing to follow and implement change by going against conventional wisdom and positioning the company in 1987 with an overall market share of 12% and project increase of 23% through 1990.Included in this projection, was the latest Asahi product development, Super Dry beer, which at first, Higuchi was reluctant to introduce into the market so soon after the release of Asahi Draft, but after gustatory perception the product himself he decided to market the product resulting in a 33% sales increase in 1987. Higuchi now proposes an investment plan to increase brewing and packaging subject by 30% at a cost of 230 billion yen over two years, 1989 -1990. DemographicsLager beer has traditionally been the product of choice for most of the pre and post WWII era consumers, mainly competitor Kirins customer base, but that atom has diminished resulting in a younger gene ration of beer drinkers preferring a variety of products including draft and dry beers. This has been proven through consumer research and taste tasting trials. It should not to be presumed that lager beer is obsolete has demonstrated by Kirins dominance of that market segment from the 1988 intermediate monthly market share selective information of 42. 2%.This does suggest, however, that Asahi has an opportunity to compound on the market trend and gain market share in the new dry beer segment and younger demographic by creating a dry beer niche for itself, as demonstrated by the same data indicating Asahi with a 15. 4% average monthl y dry beer market share versus Kirin, the closest competitor at 8. 0%. It should be noted that in January of that year, Asahis aggregate beer market share was 11. 2 % and by November it had risen to 20. 5% a 9. 3 % upward trend. Kirins market share decreased by 9. 8% during that same period. CompetitionAs stated in the introduction, Asahi has three competitors in the beer market, Karin, Sapporo, and Suntory Kirin One of the oldest, largest, and most diversified companies with an extensive distribution network. Strength in the beer market is lager beer, of which it holds a dominate market share. Still believes that lager is the Japanese beer of choice. belatedly to respond to the trend of recent changing consumer preferences and promotes the stance that dry beer is a passing fad. Eventually Kirin released its own dry brand and its moderate supremacy is due to the companys size.Sapporo Formed at the same time as Asahi after the dissection of Dai Nippon post WWII. Strength in the be er market is draft beer of which it leads in market share. Sapporo is probably Asahis closest competitor for total market share at 18. 8 %. Eventually followed suit and released a dry beer to compete, although lagging in the market. Suntory Focuses on draft and malt beer products, of which malt seems to be declining as indicated by 0. 7 % market share. Suntory released a dry beer as well with minimal success. At this time the company ranks finally in the beer market with a 5. 5 % market share.Legal/Political Factors both three competitors released dry products without product or packaging differentiation in hopes of capturing a percentage of the dry beer market and boosting sales. Asahi has challenged with intellectual property even offs and the media economic aid has benefitted Asahi as the original dry beer creator and producer. This will help to set Asahi has the leader in the dry beer market segment. The Japanese government monitors industries for likely monopolies, at that placefore Kirin cannot petition for increased market share at the lay on the line of being divided into smaller companies. A new license is inevitable to open new production plants. The Ministry of Finance regulates licenses and may restrict them where there is a potential for industry excess capacity. This will not be a factor has the competitors production will eventually decrease as Asahis production increases to match sales demand as indicted by market share trends. Distributors and retailers are required to have licenses and new licenses are limited. This affects all companies. The retail price of beer and liquor tax is also modulate by the Ministry of Finance.This affects all companies as well. Social Environment The Japanese beer consumer has been, for the most part, conservative when it comes to change. This is reflected in the lager beer market share data and the fact that it has taken 30 years to introduce and accept a draft beer into the market. However, as the market has become global and consumers have been exposed to more options and variety, their tastes and preferences have changed more rapidly as indicated from recent consumer research and taste trials.This change in consumer attitude will benefit the company that offers new and innovative products to the beer market such as Asahi dry beer. Economics/Financials watercoursely, Asahis relevant fiscals ratios are as follows Ratio Calculation 1987 get along 1988 predict 1989 Projected 1990 Projected Scale Operating scratch gross revenue COGS/Sales 3. 5 14. 0 16. 0 20. billion yen Net Profit Profits after Taxes/Sales 2. 5 4. 8 6. 0 7. 0 billion yen Current Ratio Current Assets/Current Liabilities 1. 6 NA NA NA ratio Working Capital Current Assets-Current Liabilities 103553 NA NA NA million yen Debt to Assets summation Debt/Total Assets 1. NA NA NA ratio Long-term Debt to Long-term Debt/Total Stockholders 0. 3 NA NA NA ratio lawfulness Equity At first glance, the propos ed investments of 230 billion yen to increase capacity overwhelms the projected operating and net profits, although the projections of these are trending positive and are good indicators of a sound company. The ongoing and capital ratios indicate that Asahi has the ability to pay its current liabilities by using assets and finance inventory expansion and operations without having to barrow. However, the leverage ratios are stronger indicators of Asahi being able to take on excess debt.The debt to assets ratio reveals that the company has not abused debt to finance operations, and the long-term debt to equity ratio indicates Asahi has the capacity to barrow additional funds when needed. Asahis Finance Director, Hiroshi Okada supports the data by stating that Asahi has undervalued assets worth approximately 700 billion yen and increased stock prices which secured an additional 100 billion yen enabling the company to invest with equity thereby reducing the investment risk such as exce ss inventory, excess capacity or chance of bankruptcy.Technology Technology has enabled Asahi to software product and advertise its product in novel ways to capture consumers attention along with the great test of the dry beer product. It is unknown from the depth psychology if technology would help with the increase of production and capacity, although it is reasonable to assume that technological advances would help with construction, manufacturing, and distribution infrastructures through the use of computers and automation. RecommendationIn review of the analysis I recommend the proposed investment to increase capacity. Asahis management has proven it makes the right strategic decisions when faced with adversity while regarding the potential risks involved. The Japanese beer market environment is ripe for a new product as prove by the changing demographics and social environment. The competition is lagging in solvent to offering an alternative to beer consumers desire for pr oduct variety and the legal and political policies do not constrain Asahi relative to its competitors.Ultimately, Asahis economic and financial position is found to be in agreement with absorbing additional debt to expand capacity. Combine the actual and projected upward trend in sales and market share, and the potential for a positive return is increased even further, whereas the risk factor for investment loss is reduced. What will be the likely competitive reaction, and how serious is the threat? Nice analysis. Overall correspond 98/100