Established Players Research Articles

Overcoming Data Barriers: Strategies for New Entrants to Achieve Differentiation in the UK Food Retail Market

The UK food retail market is a highly competitive and mature sector dominated by established players with extensive consumer data at their disposal. New entrants face significant challenges in penetrating this market, particularly due to data barriers that limit their ability to compete on equal footing with incumbents. This paper explores strategies that new entrants can employ to achieve differentiated competition despite these barriers. The study examines the critical role of data in the market, analyzes how established players leverage data for competitive advantage, and proposes alternative approaches for new entrants to overcome data-related challenges. By leveraging niche markets, innovative products, alternative data sources, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, new entrants can build strong brand identities and offer unique value propositions. The paper also discusses regulatory considerations and data governance, emphasizing the importance of ethical data practices and advocacy for fair data access. Through a comprehensive analysis of these strategies, this paper provides actionable insights for new entrants seeking to establish a foothold in the UK food retail market.

From leaves to fabric: the beauty of Econic

Learning outcomes This case is primarily intended fior students to evolve ideas in context to the challenges catering to a green fashion clothing line selling their products in the emerging economy of India wherein the masses are far behind considering the sustainable value of their products. In response to these challenges, the learners would be able toanalyze the influence of internal and external enhancers and inhibitors on a sustainable fashion brand to improve its scalability; articulate the factors influencing diffusion of sustainable fashion apparel; and formulate a strategic plan to aid in the growth and scalability of the brand and building micro-economies that will thrive in the future.The case also addresses topics like consumer attitude toward sustainable fashion clothing line and pricing challenges faced by such brands in developing economies like India. Case overview/synopsis This case describes the challenges faced by the co-founders, Sanghamitra and Mayuree, who introduced a sustainable fashion apparel brand called Econic. Marketing and sales of Econic’s products came with a bundle of challenges, and it was not easy to convince customers about the authenticity, quality and pricing of these products. Indian consumers had less awareness of the value of sustainable fashion clothing thereby presenting a huge challenge for Econic to flourish and sell their products in India. Thereafter, the brand aimed at expanding beyond the geographical boundaries of India. This further led Econic to face a cutthroat competition from various established players with comparatively huge market shares. Majority of Econic’s sales arose from expatriates or outlanders. Considering the response of local impediments and constraints from India, Sanghamitra began targeting the foreign markets. She saw global expansion as an opportunity for driving the brand’s growth. Eventually, Econic witnessed nascent success when the founders started exporting their products in the markets of UAE [1] and USA [2]. Contrarily, the brand’s co-founder Mayuree felt that it was too early for the brand to enter international market, and instead, it would be more sensible to focus attention in India itself. The approach of both the co-founders seemed paradoxical. At one point, Econic was facing a fierce local competition for their products. How could the brand increase awareness and acceptance of its products was an area of concern for Sanghamitra. Second, expanding into international market posed certain other challenges. The key dilemmas encountered by the co-founders continued to remain that which growth strategy should Econic adopt; how could Econic ascertain to set foot into which market; what were the likely scalability challenges they faced by entering international market; and what could be the finest marketing strategy for their brand. Complexity academic level The case is relevant for students in disciplines of green marketing, principles and concepts of sustainability, climate change and development, corporate social responsibility, marketing and strategy. It is designed for advanced MBA/PGDM and capstone courses. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Financial technology FINTEC innovation and disruption

The advent of financial technology (fintech) advances has caused a rapid transformation of the financial industry, causing major disruptions to the traditional banking and finance sectors. In an effort to shed light on how the financial industry is changing, this thesis examines the patterns and ramifications of fintech innovation and disruption. The first section of the paper is a thorough examination of the literature that describes the development of fintech as well as the theoretical underpinnings of disruption and innovation. Through case studies of profitable fintech businesses, it investigates current developments in fintech innovation, such as robo-advisors, blockchain technology, and digital payments. The thesis also examines the disruptive effects of fintech on the financial sector, emphasizing the ways in which fintech is changing the landscape of traditional banking and finance. Additionally, it addresses the regulatory issues raised by fintech. The thesis makes predictions about the direction of fintech based on the data and suggests possible areas for more study. With a summary of the most important findings and their ramifications for researchers, financial institutions, and legislators, it ends by highlighting the necessity of proactive tactics for adjusting to the shifting fintech environment. By adding to the body of knowledge already available on fintech innovation and disruption, this thesis helps academics, business professionals, and policymakers navigate the changing financial world. Through innovation and disruption, financial technology, or fintech, has become a disruptive force in the financial industry, altering traditional banking and finance. This thesis examines how fintech has developed and how it has affected the financial industry, emphasizing trends, obstacles, and stakeholder consequences. This study examines the several ways that fintech is changing the financial services sector, including banking, insurance, and investment management, through an extensive assessment of the literature. With an emphasis on regulatory sandboxes and open banking initiatives, it investigates how regulatory frameworks either support or impede fintech innovation and disruption. This thesis also explores the tactics used by prosperous fintech startups to overthrow established players and increase market share. It also takes into account the dangers and difficulties that come with fintech innovation, like issues with cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory compliance.

Financial Technology FINTEC Innovation and Disruption

Abstract: The advent of financial technology (fintech) advances has caused a rapid transformation of the financial industry, causing major disruptions to the traditional banking and finance sectors. In an effort to shed light on how the financial industry is changing, this thesis examines the patterns and ramifications of fintech innovation and disruption. The first section of the paper is a thorough examination of the literature that describes the development of fintech as well as the theoretical underpinnings of disruption and innovation. Through case studies of profitable fintech businesses, it investigates current developments in fintech innovation, such as robo-advisors, blockchain technology, and digital payments. The thesis also examines the disruptive effects of fintech on the financial sector, emphasizing the ways in which fintech is changing the landscape of traditional banking and finance. Additionally, it addresses the regulatory issues raised by fintech. The thesis makes predictions about the direction of fintech based on the data and suggests possible areas for more study. With a summary of the most important findings and their ramifications for researchers, financial institutions, and legislators, it ends by highlighting the necessity of proactive tactics for adjusting to the shifting fintech environment. By adding to the body of knowledge already available on fintech innovation and disruption, this thesis helps academics, business professionals, and policymakers navigate the changing financial world. Through innovation and disruption, financial technology, or fintech, has become a disruptive force in the financial industry, altering traditional banking and finance. This thesis examines how fintech has developed and how it has affected the financial industry, emphasizing trends, obstacles, and stakeholder consequences. This study examines the several ways that fintech is changing the financial services sector, including banking, insurance, and investment management, through an extensive assessment of the literature. With an emphasis on regulatory sandboxes and open banking initiatives, it investigates how regulatory frameworks either support or impede fintech innovation and disruption. This thesis also explores the tactics used by prosperous fintech startups to overthrow established players and increase market share. It also takes into account the dangers and difficulties that come with fintech innovation, like issues with cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory compliance

Exploring the Microbiome in Gastric Cancer: Assessing Potential Implications and Contextualizing Microorganisms beyond H. pylori and Epstein-Barr Virus.

While previous research has primarily focused on the impact of H. pylori and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), emerging evidence suggests that other microbial influences, including viral and fungal infections, may also contribute to gastric cancer (GC) development. The intricate interactions between these microbes and the host's immune response provide a more comprehensive understanding of gastric cancer pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. The review highlights the roles of established players such as H. pylori and EBV and the potential impacts of gut bacteria, mainly Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and fungi such as Candida albicans. Advanced sequencing technologies offer unprecedented insights into the complexities of the gastric microbiome, from microbial diversity to potential diagnostic applications. Furthermore, the review highlights the potential for advanced GC diagnosis and therapies through a better understanding of the gut microbiome.

Ford strikes major lithium deals

Ford Motor has signed lithium supply agreements with multiple producers in Australia and the Americas. Its goal is to bolster access to battery raw materials made outside China and ensure that its vehicles qualify for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a US law incentivizing the domestic production of materials for electric vehicle batteries and other clean technologies. The car company has struck deals with the major lithium producers Albemarle and SQM as well as the less established players Nemaska Lithium, Compass Minerals, and EnergySource Minerals. Albemarle has agreed to supply Ford with over 100,000 metric tons (t) of lithium hydroxide between 2026 and 2030 and will work with the automaker on battery recycling. SQM will sell both lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate to Ford, though the companies didn’t specify how much. Both Albemarle and SQM, which operate in the Americas and Australia, say their materials will allow

The Ongoing Importance of Venture Capital in the Economy

An essential part of the economy, venture capital supports emerging businesses with strong growth potential financially and strategically. In exchange for stock, venture capitalists make investments in early-stage enterprises and start-ups, actively influencing their success and direction. These businesses can launch cutting-edge goods and services, generate employment, and stimulate economic growth thanks to their support. Additionally, venture capitalists often bring a wealth of industry expertise and connections to the table, providing valuable mentorship and guidance to the companies they invest in. In today's fast-paced, technology-driven market, venture capital is more important than ever. With the rise of new industries and the increasing pace of innovation, young companies need support to bring their ideas to life and compete with established players. Venture capital provides that support, providing the necessary funding, expertise, and connections to help these companies succeed. Despite the changes in the market and regulatory environment, the ongoing importance of venture capital in driving economic growth and innovation is clear. Whether it's through the creation of new jobs, the launch of groundbreaking products and services, or the development of entire new industries, venture capital is a vital force in the economy.

From Peripheral Actors to Established Players: Environmental NGOs’ Participation Through Public Notice-And-Comment Procedures and Environmental Public Interest Litigation in China

ABSTRACT Despite the tightening control over civil society in China in the last decade, environmental NGOs’ participation in the regulatory process via legalized channels has increased. Drawing on participant observations, interviews, and court judgments, this article examines the recent dynamics of institutional participation of environmental NGOs through public notice-and-comment procedures and environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) in China. With stable opportunities for engagement, environmental NGOs have begun to turn themselves from peripheral actors into established players by helping identify and enforce violations, filling statutory gaps, and providing additional information and expertise in public notice-and-comment procedures and EPIL suits. While challenges remain, this article suggests that the practices of institutional public participation and changing citizen expectations hold great potential for promoting the pluralization of environmental regulation in authoritarian China.

The current state of the biotechnology market and its main development trends

The biotechnology market is currently in a state of dynamic evolution, with significant global impact and implications. This article provides an overview of the current state of the biotechnology market and its primary development trends. It explores the key drivers behind the growth of biotechnology, including advances in genomics, personalized medicine, and the increasing demand for sustainable solutions in agriculture and industry. The article also delves into the challenges faced by the biotech sector, such as regulatory complexities and ethical considerations. Furthermore, it analyzes the market dynamics and competition, highlighting the contributions of both established players and innovative startups in the biotech landscape. Through the examination of recent trends and breakthroughs in biotechnological research, the article offers insights into the future trajectory of the industry. The biotechnology market is poised for continued growth and transformation, with potential applications in various fields, from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to environmental conservation and renewable energy. The article concludes with a focus on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, emphasizing the need for strategic investment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and forward-thinking policies to navigate the evolving landscape of the biotechnology market.

The Beautiful Game: Fair Value, Accountability and Accounting for Player Registrations

AbstractCurrently, professional football clubs only recognise purchased player contracts (player registrations) in their financial statements. The costs associated with home‐grown players are expensed. Furthermore, acquired player registrations must be held under the historical cost model because revaluations are only permitted when an active market for identical intangible assets is available. This is rare and results in a club's most important asset class either being excluded from the balance sheet or carried at outdated amounts. Comparability among clubs is also compromised. Clubs with a player development strategy are disadvantaged in comparison to those that actively purchase established players because they report weaker balance sheets. Additionally, because the development and changes in the value of registrations are not accounted for over time, current revenues are mismatched with expenses related to investments in assets distorting performance assessments. In response, the current paper develops a normative framework for accounting for player registrations designed to provide a more detailed and transparent account of how clubs manage these important assets. The model complements financial statements by incorporating elements of historical cost and fair value whilst maintaining compliance with IFRS. The model's practical application is illustrated using three well‐known football clubs namely, Arsenal, Everton and Manchester United.

Platforms to accelerate biomanufacturing of enzyme and probiotic animal feed supplements: discovery considerations and manufacturing implications

Probiotics and enzymes are important components of the global livestock feed supplement market, which is expected to be approximately US$56 billion by 2027. They make essential contributions to animal health and productivity and are very important for on-farm economics, as well as feed supplement and bulk feed businesses. Despite the variety of on-market products, there remains a strong drive to develop new function or more effective enzymes (e.g. more active or stable) and probiotics (e.g. for specific health or nutrition requirements) that can be produced economically and commercialised to gain market share. Various large and established supplement development, manufacture and supply companies with highly refined, efficient and vertically integrated processes dominate the market. In contrast, many challenges exist for less established players, such as feed companies, large farming corporations, start-up companies and the research community, to develop and commercialise improved feed supplements. These less established players may have niche markets or needs or may have identified highly novel candidate products through basic or collaborative academia-industry applied research. In these situations, the path from discovery and development to a commercial product is unclear and likely to be very challenging. However, the risk of not progressing is that the value of research investments is not realised, or the needs of specific niche markets are not met. For these situations, new pathways to market based on rapid discovery, production (at various scales), and testing feedback loops, along with appropriate intellectual property management and clear regulatory strategies need to be established. To deliver these new pathways, it is essential to define key performance, production and economic criteria, have a rapid route from laboratory to pilot-scale manufacture and livestock feeding trials, and include all the necessary participants in the value chain from research development, manufacturing, distribution, and regulatory management to the end user. These issues are discussed with reference to the current state-of-the-art and our development of new pathways for a specific enzyme and probiotic based on efficient laboratory-to-market platforms. Although new supplements have been brought closer to market, challenges remain regarding scaling to commercial manufacture for new products without an established market.

The Shape-Shifting Dynamics of Digital Platform Disruption: How Grab Leveraged Established Players

Through our historical case study of the Southeast Asian digital ride-hailing platform ecosystem, we find evidence that incumbents faced with an innovative platform entrant first ignore and then accommodate them, rather than repelling them. This is because there is no clear sense of who is an entrant or incumbent, friend or foe, as industry boundaries are effaced and proactively reconstructed over time. The digital platform entrant we studied, Grab, had the advantage of being able to morph and transform itself. Rather than trying to adapt to the existing industry architecture, it repositioned its business model with little regard for the focal industry or its incumbents, who ultimately clamored to support the disruptive digital platform entrant. Our study contributes a novel perspective on incumbent–entrant dynamics to research on disruptive innovation and digital platform ecosystems.

Oil Companies Demand Digital Their Way

Oil industry executives surveyed last year ranked the potential positive impact of big data analytics at the top of the list of trends, higher than even changes in oil demand. That bold conclusion was from a survey by accounting firm Ernst and Young (EY), putting big data analytics among the top trends that could aid business growth in the next 3 years, even above the demand swings that move oil prices. The survey may have reflected the mood last summer when the outlook for oil consumption looked so weak that cost saving was the only path to better results. “The survey speaks to a high-level ambition across the operator community to use digital as a mechanism to drive down costs,” said Toby Summers executive director for EY. The promise there is that digital can allow them to scale up operations with fewer hires in good times and scale back with fewer layoffs when the cycle turns down. These projects also cost less than other cost-cutting options. “Digitization is one of the cheapest ways to get the business more resilient,” said Patrick von Pattay, a vice president for Wintershall Dea, a Germany-based independent, and chairman of the Digital Transformation Committee of SPE’s Digital Energy Technical Section. Process changes supported by digital analysis can cost a couple hundred thousand dollars; that is not a lot of money in a business where a single offshore well often costs hundreds of millions. What is not obvious is who does the work. The rush to digital has scrambled traditional relationships with oilfield service companies and brought in new players, from Silicon Valley giants to a flurry of startups in the oil business, a few of which have become established players. As a result of the change in the technology, and the business models of the upstarts, oil company technical teams can and do play a more active role in digital technology development and use than in the past. Changes began in 2014, when the sudden end of $100/bbl oil forced oil companies to drop their long-time reliance on owning their own computer systems. Oil companies finally joined the decade-old shift to buying data storage and processing as a service from giants such as Amazon and Google. That facilitated digital innovations by centralizing their data, eliminating splintered storage systems that hindered analysis. The giant looming over the service business now is Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud storage arm of the online retail and logistics giant has grown exponentially, doing everything from selling an array of digital tools to promoting a list of preferred energy providers. Digital newcomers disrupted relations with service companies that had built software solutions and sold equipment programmed using proprietary coding. Increasingly user-friendly tools for visualizing and analyzing data, plus the ability for smaller companies to buy data capacity, allowed engineers to do more and allowed midsized companies to act like big ones. “There has been a shift now; the independents have access to the same tech as the big guys,” Summers said.

An Overview of Digital Marketing Practices in India

The most popular businesses adopt the Internet, not simply as another advertisement tool or marketing instrument. It is seen as a mechanism for transforming the companies and changing everything about the way computers and mobile devices function to serve their customer better and to connect with their suppliers. In short, digital marketing has sparked a business world revolution by pushing out some old established players and rising new leaders. The winners discover new market possibilities, enhanced ways to develop work and better ways to manage and run their companies. Despite this, the digital marketing entrepreneurs still have to take care of their clients and earn a profit to remain in the business. Web-based business success requires the entrepreneur to strike a balance between creating a digital marketing strategy that utilizes the strength of the Internet and meeting customer expectations of convenience and service. Consumer's present use of mobile devices, social media and search engines have led to developing integrated social –local-mobile strategies (SOLOMO). Entrepreneurs may use the SOLOMO strategy effectively as customers enhance their online activities by extensively using these three methods.

‘Doing’ system innovations from within the heart of the regime

ABSTRACT Urban experiments are no longer exclusively undertaken by alternative networks, dominated by new actors and alliances and located at the fringes of the current system. A second generation of initiatives is emerging, which Is characterized by a leading role for local governments, together with other established players. For experimentation at the fringes of the regime the challenge is to maximally benefit from niche protection while seizing opportunities to influence regime dynamics. Second generation experiments face a different challenge: to benefit from the proximity to the regime while maintaining a protective space for developing ‘deviant’ solutions. I will draw on insights on reflexive governance to develop a framework for understanding this challenge and strategies to meet it. I will use an ongoing project on achieving synergy between energy, water and data infrastructures in Amsterdam as an empirical referent to clarify and sharpen the argument. The framework includes propositions on strategies for this newly emerging types of initiatives, focusing on the processes through which they do or do not work. They may be tested and further developed through case studies. Such work may also contribute to meta-theoretical issue of the relations between institutional, discursive and material factors in driving change.

Bricks, mortar, and proptech

PurposeDigital and information technologies (IT) are becoming silently pervasive in old-fashioned real estate markets. This paper focuses on three important avenues for the diffusion of IT in commercial real estate: online brokerage and sales, the commoditization of space and Fintech in mortgage and equity funding. We describe the main new markets and products created by this IT revolution. The focus is on the pioneering US market, with some attention devoted to the specific firms and institutions taking these innovations into the mainstream. We also carefully analyze the economic underpinnings from which the new technologies can expect to generate cash flows, thus becoming viable—or not. Finally, we discuss their likely impact on established players in the commercial real estate arena.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the author chooses to focus on three separate arenas where the IT revolution—sometimes referred to as Proptech, as applied to real estate—is having discernible impacts: sales and brokerage, space commoditization and online finance platforms. The author invites the reader to think seriously about the economic fundamentals that may—or may not—sustain new business models in Proptech. Real estate economists and investors alike need to be critical of new business models, especially when they are being aggressively marketed by their promoters. Trying to avoid any hype, the author provides thoughts about the likely impact of the innovations on their markets, guided by economic and finance theory, and previous experience.FindingsThe author evaluates the evolution of commercial real estate brokerage. While innovations will, no doubt, have an impact on the ways in which we buy and lease commercial properties, the lessons from the housing market should make us skeptical about the possibility of the new technologies dramatically facilitating disintermediation in this market. In fact, new oligopolies seem to be emerging with regard to market data provision.Practical implicationsProptech will change some aspects of the real estate industry, but not others!Originality/valueAs change pervades the property industry, only a relatively few research pieces are illustrating or—more importantly—providing insights about the likely economic and financial impacts of IT penetration. Similarly, only a few papers have so far addressed the economic viability of the alternative business models of tech startups targeting real estate markets and transactions.

A taxonomy for autonomous vehicles for different transportation modes

To be autonomous, systems must be able to capture, perceive, analyse, plan, make decisions and act without human intervention. These characteristics are very important and should be carried out in real time. This is what creates the challenge for autonomous systems to come out and become established players in real world. Different autonomous vehicles that are used in different environments, constrained or not, like roads, rails, overwater, underwater, air, need to have different capabilities and characteristics and in addition pose different kind of challenges that need to be overcome. Therefore, there exists many taxonomies that have been proposed by researchers with different backgrounds in order to address the needs of their specific systems in the most effective way. However, there is some common base between the different taxonomies that are proposed for various vehicles and it would be beneficial to try and learn from the experience of the approaches proposed. In this paper, we try to compare the most frequently proposed taxonomies in autonomous vehicles operating in different modes and help the readers find the similarities and differences amongst them.

Increasing Impact of Self-Help Groups on Women Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation: A Study of Reliability

Self Help Groups (SHGs) play a crucial role in creating entrepreneurship among rural and urban poor. This creates employment opportunities among poor people which ultimately results into the enhanced financial security and social status for its members, especially women. SHGs are key to women empowerment and ensuring regular income to rural and urban poor. The overall impact not only helps to empower women only but also increases social and financial stability among rural and urban poor, their standard of living and the education of their children. The study also focuses on impact of Govt. support in their success as a micro entrepreneur. Proper Govt. support increases the chance of survival of these micro entrepreneurs who need to challenge the established players and MNCs with huge money power in terms of marketing, branding, advertising, packaging, and distribution. A reliability test using Cronbach Alpha has been done to check internal consistency of the responses collected from the micro entrepreneurs.

Merger control in the telecom industry: a landscape transformed

PurposeThis paper aims to underscore how the digitization of content and the convergence in the telecommunications sector has prompted a wave of consolidation between telecom and content players.Design/methodology/approachUsing interdisciplinary insights from competition policy and business strategy, the paper draws attention to the interplay between business model innovation and merger control in the converged telecoms sector.FindingsTechnological innovation and business model innovation led to the emergence of over-the-top (OTT) services. This innovation in turn led to two key effects, first, successful commercialization of content and the emergence of the “smart pipes” that in turn has led to the second effect, which is increased mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the converged telecommunications sector. Emergence of OTT with big data as a key advantage challenged the strategy and business models of the more established players, such as the AT&T, Time Warner, Liberty Global and Fox, which in turn led to the current trend of M&As in the sector.Originality/valueThis paper makes the following key contributions to the literature on M&As between the fixed/mobile and content players. First, it elucidates how the existing market players can benefit from competition policy, such as merger remedies to enter new and related markets. Second, it advocates that the US and the European competition authorities while assessing these M&As, take due account of innovation in business models, as business model innovation not only promotes innovation in the market but also enhances consumer welfare, considering that it offers the merged firm economies of scale and scope to offer better-quality goods and services at subsidized prices.

Building Brand Through B2B Route—Del Monte in India

Del Monte, a global food and beverage company, entered into Indian market in 2008. Del Monte established Joint Venture with Field Fresh which at that time dealt in exports of agricultural fresh produce. Yogesh Bellani, CEO of Field Fresh had the responsibility of establishing the Del Monte brand in India. Yogesh faced lots of challenges as there was very little brand awareness of the company and also there were many established players in the market. Del Monte first launched canned pineapples to be followed by canned fruit juices. Yogesh started building Del Monte brand on quality and timely delivery. Yogesh targeted big quick service restaurants (QSRs) like Dominos, Sub Way, MacDonald, Pizza Hut and Burger King for supplying its products. This was a unique way of establishing the brand through B2B route. After having established the brand through B2B route, Yogesh targeted B2C market. Del Monte launched several new products like tomato ketchup, entire Italian category, and eggless mayonnaise through modern trade route. In initial years, Yogesh established the brand and created revenue for the company. Subsequently he focussed on improving the profitability. His current challenge was to manage both which are conflicting in nature. He was also thinking of brand repositioning for future growth.