MBACSA

< All Topics

IIBMS – Coke’s European Scare

CASE  1:  Coke’s European Scare

\"IIBMS\"

IIBMS – Coke’s European Scare 

What seemed like an isolated incident of a few bad cans of Coca-Cola at a school in Belgium turned into near disaster for the soft drink giant’s European operations. In June 1999, Coke experienced its worst nightmare—a contamination scare resulting in the recall of 14 million cases of Coke products in five European countries and a huge blow to consumer confidence in the quality and safety of the world’s most recognizable brand.

            After the initial scare in Bornem, Belgium, Coke and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), a bottler 40 per cent owned by Coca-Cola, thought they isolated the problem. Scientists at the CCE bottling plant in Antwerp found that lapses in quality control had led to contaminated carbon dioxide that were used in the bottling of a recent batch of Coke. Company officials saw the contamination as minor problem and they issued an apology to the school.

            At the same time that the problems were being dealt with an Antwerp, things were breaking down at Coke’s Dunkirk, France, bottling plant. In Belsele, 10 miles from Bornem, children and teachers were complaining of illnesses related to drinking Coke products. The vending machines at the school were stocked with Coke from the company’s Dunkirk plant and were thought to be safe. Now a second bottling plant’s practices were being questioned. What initially seemed like an isolated incident was now a crisis.

            Immediately following the second scare, Belgium’s health minister banned the sale of all products produced in the Antwerp and Dunkirk plants. Things got worse when Coke gave an incomplete set of recall codes to a school in Lochristi, Belgium, resulting in 38 children being rushed to the hospital. Immediately following this incident, French officials banned the sale of soft drinks produced in the Dunkirk plant. It was believed that fungicide on wooden shipping pallets were the cause of the illnesses at the Dunkirk plant.

            On June 15, 1999, 11 days after the initial scare in Bornem, Coke finally issued an explanation to the public. Most Europeans were not satisfied. Coca-Cola officials used vague language and often contradicted one another when making statements. France’s health minister, Bernard Kouchner, stated, “That a company so very expert in advertising and marketing should be so poor in communicating on this matter is astonishing”

            After three weeks of testing by both Coke officials and French government scientists, it was concluded that the plants were safe and that there was no immediate threat to the health of consumers. Coke has destroyed all of the pallets in Dunkirk and tightened quality control on co2.

            How could this happen to the company that is revered worldwide for its quality control and the superiority of its products? Coke has spent decades building its reputation overseas and the European market now represent 73 per cent of total profits. While the scare has had some effect on Coke’s profits in Europe, the company is more concerned with damages to its reputation and consumer confidence in its products.

            Many critics say that Coke’s slow response time, insisting that no real problem existed and belated apology have severely damaged the company’s reputation in Europe. Some would disagree and feel that Coke handled the situation as best it could. “I think that Coke acted in a responsible, diligent way,” says John Sitcher, editor of Beverage Digest. “Their first responsibility was to ascertain the facts in a clear and unequivocal way. And as soon as Coke knew what the facts were, they put out a statement to the Belgium people.”

            The character and quality of a company can often be measured by how it responds to adversity. Coca-Cola believes that this crisis has forced the company to re-examine both its marketing and management strategies in Europe. Coke executives in Brussels are predicting that the company will double its European sales in the next decade and that this setback will only make the company stronger. Wall Street analysts seem to agree. Only time will tell.

Question:

  1. What are the management issues in this case?
  2. What did Coke do and what could have been done differently?
  3. What are the key factors that were or should have been considered by management?
\"IIBMS\"

IIBMS – Coke’s European Scare

At Global Study Solutions, we take immense pride in our ability to offer specialized support to students pursuing various programs at IIBMS (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies). Our dedicated team comprises experienced professionals who excel in crafting precise and well-researched solutions for assignments and case studies across different disciplines and courses.

Our commitment to aiding students in achieving academic success aligns perfectly with the educational standards upheld by IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies). We understand the importance of delivering high-quality, customized solutions that meet the unique requirements of assignments and case studies within the institute\’s curriculum.

Whether in MBA, EMBA, GMS, DMS, or any other programs offered at IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies), our team is equipped to provide expert guidance and meticulously crafted solutions. We prioritize accuracy, originality, and timely delivery; ensuring students receive the necessary assistance to excel academically.

We are dedicated to fostering an environment of academic excellence and providing dependable support to the esteemed students of IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies).

IIBMS Answer Sheets

IIBMS Mumbai

IIBMS Bangalore

Customized Answer Solutions

MBA Assignment Solutions

EMBA Case Study Solutions

GMS Answer Sheets

DMS Assignment Help

Professional Writing Assistance

Tailored Academic Solutions

Comprehensive Answer Sheets

Specialized IIBMS Support

Academic Writing Services

Timely Submission Support

Expertly Crafted Answers

Personalized Guidance

Reliable IIBMS Assistance

Get expert assistance with your IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies) assignments and answer sheets from our professional academic writing services.

Our team specializes in supporting students with IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies) coursework, ensuring top-notch answer sheets and comprehensive solutions.

Ace, with our tailored assistance, your IIBMS Institute exams, offering precise guidance and accurate answer sheet preparation.

Seeking reliable help for your IIBMS Institute studies? Trust our academic writing services for meticulously crafted answer sheets and exceptional support.

Score high in your IIBMS Institute assessments by availing our expert aid in preparing comprehensive and well-structured answer sheets.

IIBMS Institute Project Report Writing Services

IIBMS Institute Customized Project Reports

IIBMS Institute Project Support

IIBMS Institute Professional Project Report Assistance

Tailored Solutions for Project Reports

IIBMS Institute Quality Project Documentation

IIBMS Institute Expert Project Report Writers

IIBMS Institute Comprehensive Project Analysis

IIBMS Institute Structured Project Report Services

IIBMS Institute Detailed Project Documentation

IIBMS Project Evaluation Support

IIBMS Institute Custom Project Report Formats

IIBMS Institute Project Research and Analysis

MBA/EMBA/GMS/DMS Project Reports

IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies) assignments, solved papers, and study materials are available through our academic writing services.

Seeking assistance with IIBMS Institute coursework? Our professional team delivers accurate and timely solutions for all your academic needs.

Our specialized academic writing support simplifies access to IIBMS Institute (Institute Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies) question papers and model answers.

Need expert guidance for your IIBMS Institute assessments? Our service offers comprehensive solutions for students seeking assistance.

Our academic writing services ensure precise and high-quality answers for IIBMS Institute assignments, aiding students in their educational journey.

Academic writing professionals play a crucial role in assisting students with their university assignments, striving to achieve several key goals:

Quality Assurance: Their primary aim is to deliver high-quality content that meets academic standards and fulfills the requirements of the university assignments. This involves thorough research, proper structuring, and adherence to guidelines provided by the educational institution.

Originality and Plagiarism-Free Content: Professionals in this field emphasize originality by creating authentic content free from plagiarism. To maintain academic integrity, they ensure that all information is appropriately cited and referenced.

Meeting Deadlines: Timely submission is a significant goal for academic writing professionals. They work within specified deadlines to provide students with completed assignments, enabling them to submit their work punctually.

Clear and Coherent Communication: Professionals strive to convey complex ideas in a clear, coherent, and academically appropriate manner. They focus on effective communication to ensure the content is easily understandable to the target audience.

Supporting Learning and Comprehension: Beyond completing assignments, academic writing professionals aim to support students\’ learning by providing explanations, analysis, and additional resources that help students grasp the subject matter more comprehensively.

Customization and Client Satisfaction: They tailor their services to individual student needs, providing personalized assistance and ensuring client satisfaction by addressing specific requirements and preferences.

Continuous Improvement: Academic writing professionals continuously update their knowledge base, research techniques, and writing skills to adapt to evolving academic standards and deliver the best possible support to students.