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Abstract
Guntar Prangel founded the Mountain Man Beer Company (MMBC) in 1925. By the
1960s, Mountain Man Lagers reputation as a quality beer was well entrenched
throughout the East Central region of the United States. Mountain Man Lager was a
legacy brew in a mature business. By 2005 Mountain Man was generating revenues
just over $50 million and selling over 520,000 barrels of Mountain Man Lager beer
primarily to distributors in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and its native West
Virginia. Mountain Man Lager was priced similarly to premium domestic brands such
as Miller and Budweiser and below specialty brands such as Sam Adams. Its price
was typically $2.25 for a 12-ounce serving of draft beer in a bar and $4.99 for a sixpack in a local convenience store.
MMBC relied on its history and its status as an independent, family owned
brewery to create an aura of authenticity and to position the beer with its core
drinkersblue collar, middle-to-lower income men over age 45.In 2006 Oscar
Prangel was the president and owner of MMBC and after 5 years Chris Prangel will
take over the business.
Objective
The key objectives of the case study are:
To understand how MMBC positioned its Mountain Man Lager among stiff
competition in the market.
To analyse how it maintains its market share
To suggest whether the company should go ahead with the launch of Mountain
Man Light, a lighter version of the core lager beer.
Conclusion
The launch of a new product is always going to be a risk, but banking on the withering
demand for a single offering is surely not going to alter the fortunes of the Mountain
Man Beer Company. Light beer is the largest sales opportunity for a reason; it is what
the market demands. Light beer is the gateway necessary to attract new consumers,
and a stepping stone to introduce them to Mountain Man Lager. Where the product
association with Mountain Man Lager may be too strong in terms of flavour, directly
attracting affluent light beer drinkers can broaden the identity of Mountain Man Beer
Company as a quality brewer within their region.
Traditional Advertising was not to promote its product, instead the company focussed
on grassroots marketing as a means of advertising its brand. The brand focussed on
local marketing activities, thus making the brand more personable to the consumer.
3. What about these factors enabled MMBC to create such a strong brand?
Factors that have enabled MMBC to create a strong brand are taste, quality, image,
tradition and authenticity. MMBC has a high brand loyalty rate of 53% in comparison
to their competitors who have a lower brand loyalty rate. It has also distinguished
itself from competitors by Mountain Man Lager being produced and distributed by an
in-house marketing team in West Virginia.
(a) What is a brand? What is brand equity? How is it created?
A brand is a name, term, design or symbol or any of the features that identifies one
sellers good or service as distinct from those of other sellers.
Brand Equity describes the value of having a well-known brand name based on the
idea that the owner of the brand can generate more money from the product with that
brand name than from products with a less-known name. Brand Equity is created
through strategic investments in communication channels in market education.
4. What has caused MMBCs decline in spite of its strong brand?
Reasons for decline:
Company in its market. Together, these companies accounted for 74% of 2005 beer
shipments in Mountain Mans region. Its threats are the changing preferences of
consumers, emerging new brands and introducing a new product while maintaining
the originality of its core product.
(c) What is the likely future of competitive brewers? What is MMBCS
market/competitive position?
Most industry observers agree that the key consumer segment for beer companies are
young drinkers, 2127 years of age. This group represents the first-time drinker
demographic that has not yet established loyalty to any particular brand of beer.
MMBCs market position is good as compared to its competitors as it has served a
large market with a very strong brand, and it therefore could continue to compete
against national players with deep pockets such as Anheuser Busch, the companys
most significant competitor.
Facing an aging demographic in the shrinking premium segment of the beer market,
the company struggled to maintain a steady share of its market segment against the
large domestic brewers, which were spending heavily to maintain their own sales
levels in the premium segment.
5. Should MMBC introduce a light beer?
Yes, MMBC should introduce light beer because entering new markets will lead to
stronger relationships with distributors and hence increased sales. Its need of the hour
as we can see four percent compound growth in this new segment and on the same
time decline in lager consumption.
(a) What are the pros and cons of doing so?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Product cannibalization
Brand erosion
Product may not be perceived well
6. Is Mountain Man Light feasible for MMBC?
Yes, MMBC should introduce light beer because entering new markets will lead to
stronger relationships with distributors and hence increased sales. Its need of the hour
as we can see four percent compound growth in this new segment and on the same
time decline in lager consumption. Existing Mountain Man customers do not want a
change while young generation wouldnt mind a lighter version.
7. Should MMBC launch Mountain Man Light?
MMBC should launch Mountain Man Light because brand extension is necessary for
its growth. Light beer appeals to younger drinkers overall and to female, it accounts
for 42% which is an appreciable figure. Launching light beer would not harm Lager
image because its target segment is completely different. In the short term, it doesnt
require major capital expenditure and equipments.
(a) What other strategic options for growth?
Promotions in West Virginia
Promotional offers at Corporate Parties and get-togethers.
Going with a different or slightly modified name or going with a private
labelling can be a good option in this case when you dont want to put your
present in ultimate risk
Introduction of Light Beer at bars and restaurants.
Launching it at untapped markets where majority of population is youth.
Linking the brands with national and local teams, providing sponsorships for
the team.
Promoting the brand among beer and liquor stores by getting a significant
shelf space.