HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeEntrepreneurshipback to Research & KnowledgeDrinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (A): Daring to changeback to Entrepreneurship

Case Study

Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (A): Daring to change

By Jim Pulcrano, Giancarlo Luchetta Bedin, Srinivas Reddy (Srini) Mamidi, Anton Rozhkovskiy and Bakel Walden

7 pages

August 2023

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-7-2459

Franck-Erik Flegbo and Cyril Le Terrien were already successful executives in a major multinational when they decided that it was time to dream, and to build their own company, with a culture that delivered performance, created a culture where everyone wanted to work, used the latest technologies, and did its part to save the planet. The opportunity to acquire 40-year-old Drinkotec came to them, and with it, they saw the vehicle for their dreams

Learning Objective

Evaluating life choices
Finding a business to acquire

Keywords

Business to Business, Digital Transformation, Beverage, Digital, Transformation, Risk, Scaling, Internet of Things, Industry Infrastructure, Industry Innovation, Sustainable City, Sustainable Community, Responsible Consumption, Responsible Production

Settings

Europe, Switzerland
Drinkotec, Consumer Goods, Food and Beverage, Travel and Leisure, Hotels and Restaurants, Catering
2015-2023

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

Related material

Teaching note

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

This case study is part of a series

Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (A): Daring to change
Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (B): Taking the leap
Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (C): Dream big or go home

This case study is part of a series

Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (A): Daring to change
Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (B): Taking the leap
Drinkotec: Changing a company, changing a life (C): Dream big or go home

Keep reading

Case Study

Should Unilever pivot from being purpose-led?

The case study delves into strategic transformation and leadership transitions at Unilever since 2009. Unilever has been an industry leader of busi...

Strategy Marketing Purpose Sustainability Diversity and Equity and Inclusion

By Goutam Challagalla and Samaja Penumaka

Article

CHANEL Mission 1.5°: A sustainability journey

A series of watershed events forced CHANEL out of its comfort zone, culminating in the launch of CHANEL Mission 1.5° in 2020. This strategy saw the...

Sustainability Luxury

By Stéphane J. G. Girod

in I by IMD

11 July 2024

Article

How the stories you tell can have a real impact

Creative industries have a key role to play in creating positive social change. Here are six key insights to help them achieve their goals.

Organizational Design Purpose Sustainability

By Avni Shah

in I by IMD

5 July 2024

Article

Bridging the culture gap

Sam, European Head of Operations for a multinational organization, arrived in Southeast Asia with a clear mandate: streamline regional processes. H...

Coaching Organizational Culture Leadership

By Robyn Wilson

in I by IMD

5 July 2024

Article

From algorithmic management to data- driven labour organising: A trade union approach to workplace datafication

The increasing datafication of the workplace is often cast as a means of imposing organisational and managerial control on workers. This reflection...

Digital Technology Management General Management

By Stig Nyman, Olivia Benfeldt, Marlen Gierlich-Joas, José Parra Moyano and et al.

in Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems

July 2024, vol. 36, no. 1, article 2

Article

Concerns over impact of new EU reporting rules on M&A

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will impose comprehensive and standardized sustainability reporting responsibilities on ...

Sustainability Mergers and Acquisitions

By Richard Baldwin and Salvatore Cantale

in I by IMD

3 July 2024

Article

How part-time senior leaders can help your business

Technological innovation, advances in remote work, and reshaped post-pandemic priorities have led to companies hiring fractional leaders, or part-t...

Technology Management Leadership Human Resources

By Tomoko Yokoi and Amy Bonsall

in HBR.org

2 July 2024

Article

Decision-making under pressure

The world’s most famous referee Pierluigi Collina shares his insights into how to make decision making under pressure

Leadership Decision Making

By Pierluigi Collina

in I by IMD

28 June 2024

Article

Technology is not only for the young

Too many organizations assume late-career workers can't keep up with new technology. In doing so, they are ignoring a hugely important labor pool.

Digital

By Tomoko Yokoi

in I by IMD

27 June 2024

Should Unilever pivot from being purpose-led?

By Goutam Challagalla and Samaja Penumaka
Case reference: IMD-7-2578 ©2024

Summary

The case study delves into strategic transformation and leadership transitions at Unilever since 2009. Unilever has been an industry leader of business sustainability. Paul Polman was a pioneer who introduced the idea that, by addressing social and environmental problems, a company can unlock new growth opportunities. Polman launched a 10-year Sustainable Living Plan with three objectives: to enhance health and well-being, livelihoods and environmental sustainability. Alan Jope followed in Polman’s path and launched a novel plan for the new decade called The Unilever Compass, focused on sustainability. Unilever took a strategic turn during Jope’s tenure and asked the brands to use their products to solve social issues. He called this “purpose-led branding,” which confused investors. They believed social branding would take the company’s focus away from growth. Tensions were high at Unilever and resulted in a change in leadership. The company wants to focus on growth, which raises questions about the future of corporate sustainability at Unilever.

Reference IMD-7-2578

Organization Unilever

Industry Consumer Goods

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Marketing

Purpose

Sustainability

Diversity and Equity and Inclusion

Browse all topics

How the stories you tell can have a real impact

By Avni Shah
in I by IMD 5 July 2024

Summary

Creative industries have a key role to play in creating positive social change. Here are six key insights to help them achieve their goals.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Organizational Design

Purpose

Sustainability

Browse all topics

Bridging the culture gap

By Robyn Wilson
in I by IMD 5 July 2024

Summary

Sam, European Head of Operations for a multinational organization, arrived in Southeast Asia with a clear mandate: streamline regional processes. H...

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Coaching

Organizational Culture

Leadership

Browse all topics

From algorithmic management to data- driven labour organising: A trade union approach to workplace datafication

By Stig Nyman Olivia Benfeldt Marlen Gierlich-Joas José Parra Moyano and et al.
in Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems July 2024, vol. 36, no. 1, article 2

Summary

The increasing datafication of the workplace is often cast as a means of imposing organisational and managerial control on workers. This reflection...

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Digital

Technology Management

General Management

Browse all topics

How part-time senior leaders can help your business

By Tomoko Yokoi and Amy Bonsall
in HBR.org 2 July 2024

Summary

Technological innovation, advances in remote work, and reshaped post-pandemic priorities have led to companies hiring fractional leaders, or part-t...

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Technology Management

Leadership

Human Resources

Browse all topics