Business - Branding Strategy Insider

Albertsons’ Real Problem: It Hasn’t Defined Its Market

October 19, 202610 min

Albertsons, the grocery chain, is in trouble. In December 2024, federal and Washington state court rulings blocked its proposed $24.6 billion merger with Kroger, leaving Albertsons to compete on its own in a highly competitive, volatile business. Nearly two years later, the problems have not disappeared. In its October 13, 2026 earnings release, Albertsons reported a 0.8% decline in identical sales, $52 million in quarterly net income and a comprehensive business review intended to accelerate...

by Joan Kiddon

Brand Management

Mattel Is More Than The Sum Of Its Brands

October 13, 20267 min

Mattel, the owner of Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, UNO, Thomas & Friends, MEGA, Polly Pocket, Masters of the Universe, Monster High and Matchbox, may be up for sale. Or, some of Mattel’s individual brands may be sold off. There is a difference between selling a brand and understanding what makes that brand valuable.

by Joan Kiddon

Brand Culture

Brand Leadership Is Global. Brand Management Is Local.

October 5, 202611 min

Internal politics is detrimental to brands. Sounds like a business cliché. But brands struggling with internal politics — geography, silos, command and control, accountability, responsibility and leadership — can lose sight of their real goal: developing and consistently delivering relevant, differentiated, trustworthy experiences that customers value.

by Guest Author

Brand Culture

Employer Brand Mistakes That Undermine International Growth

September 30, 20265 min

International hiring has moved beyond being primarily a cost play. For many companies, it is now a talent strategy. When the people you need are not in your city, you look beyond the city. When they are not in your country, you look beyond the border.

by Joan Kiddon

Brand Loyalty

PepsiCo, Frito-Lay And The Price Of Customer Loyalty

September 29, 20269 min

Pricing should not be a tactic. Pricing is a strategy. Raising prices, lowering prices, then raising prices again may make sense when the end goal is growing margins and, hopefully, profitability. But these can become knee-jerk reactions. From a brand standpoint, the consequences of fluctuating prices are huge. Raising, lowering and then raising prices again may indicate that there is an organic, inherent problem with the brand’s management.

Older Posts

October 19, 2026Albertsons’ Real Problem: It Hasn’t Defined Its Market

October 13, 2026Mattel Is More Than The Sum Of Its Brands

October 5, 2026Brand Leadership Is Global. Brand Management Is Local.

September 30, 2026Employer Brand Mistakes That Undermine International Growth

September 29, 2026PepsiCo, Frito-Lay And The Price Of Customer Loyalty

Business - Branding Strategy Insider

Albertsons’ Real Problem: It Hasn’t Defined Its Market

Mattel Is More Than The Sum Of Its Brands

Brand Leadership Is Global. Brand Management Is Local.

Employer Brand Mistakes That Undermine International Growth

PepsiCo, Frito-Lay And The Price Of Customer Loyalty

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