Growth - 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 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.

by Dr. Derrick Daye

Brand Strategy

Rebranding: When The Business Outgrows The Brand

September 17, 20268 min

The clearest sign a company may need to rebrand isn’t an outdated identity. It is a growing distance between what the business has become and what the market still believes it to be.