OUR WORK
Merika Advisory has decades long experience in the food industry and with social mission.
Our projects have included seismic social engagement movements like MEAT FREE MONDAYS, brand development, innovative national and international go-to-market ideas and strategies, global implementation and development.
Our goal is to help organisations fully realize their potential by connecting them to their aspirations and to the values of their stakeholders, amplifying their reach and social impact while creating resilient business models. Doing good by being good.
TYPE OF CLIENT
We work with brand owners in the food and drinks industry - usually founders, family owned businesses but increasingly our clients have included funds: Family Offices, Private Equity, Venture Capital and Foundations.
We work both on long-term partner as well as project basis.
CORE SERVICES
VENTURE PARTNER
Business plan screening and selection
Board representative
Ongoing business strategy, business acceleration & development
BRAND DEVELOPMENT
The ‘conscious brand’ is our sweet spot.
We can help you with
New brand development: Crafting the core proposition, positioning and product for markets in Europe and North America.
Existing brands: Re-thinking to deliver purpose and relevance in todays accelerated marketplace.
Design of brand messaging-and network design for engagement
Regenerative business models - analysis of existing business and road-map of change.
GO-TO-MARKET ROAD MAP
We can assist designing a road-map for new markets
- our experience and network is strongest in UK/EU and North America
Our approach is a modular 3-stage module which allows you to evaluate the opportunities and risks as they become clearer.
MARKET | CHANNEL ENTRY MAPPING
OPERATIONAL PLANNING AND SET UP
IMPLEMENTATION
Some examples of these can be found in the section below
OUR CLIENTS
2020 Re-strategy and Re-Purposing Groupe Danone’s activities in the Nordics.
We were asked by NUMI founder Ahmed Rahim to create a European Strategy for NUMI Organic Teas
Crafted the strategy, implemented it creating a European logistics platform, the sales and marketing organisation for each of the 8 active markets and delivered and exceeded the customers' budgetary expectations for each year under management.
MERIKA was brought in to oversee the creation of the European strategy and organisation for this extraordinary, New Zealand-based social mission brand. We helped create the UK and broader EU business strategy which we subsequently successfully implemented in 5 markets.
MERIKA got given the unique opportunity to create a European go to market strategy for this iconic 150-year old Californian Chocolate Maker in spring 2016. With recommendations, ready 6 months later we were asked to set-up and manage the brand’s European subsidiary. Today we have launched this exclusive chocolate brand in 3 large European markets though foodservice as well as retail ensuring the optimum platform for brand’s longevity in each market.
In October 2014 was asked by Rebel Kitchen founder’s Tamara and Ben Arbib to help them set up Rebel’s European strategy. In 6 months, we created a strategy and prepared the brand’s launch into 7 EU markets including training an internal commercial team and bringing in key distribution partners.
MERIKA was asked by Daylesford founder, Lady Carole Bamford, to design a global strategy for the brand. Being a 'farm to fork' brand this presented obvious challenges. Nevertheless, we successfully developed a wholesale model for Europe and a franchise model for the café. Which was implemented with local investors and operating partners in Seoul, Munich and Tokyo. The international business was then under MERIKA management for 5 years following implementation.
MERIKA worked with Duchy Originals from 2002 to 2008. Working alongside the brand's founder and owner HRH Prince of Wales, MERIKA created Duchy's international wholesale strategy and implemented it in more than 20 markets worldwide which was managed by MERIKA for 7 years. We made the most of creating a tailored global distribution network which is remains the pillar of the brand's international business today, even following the brand’s sale to John Lewis Partnership.
MERIKA was asked by Berkeley-based Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker to manage the brand's expansion into the European markets. We successfully launched the brand into more than 10 markets and grew sales to more than $1M in 18 months. Scharffen Berger is recognised by the best chefs and chocolate connoisseurs in Europe as the pioneers of 'New World' chocolate and one of the first to introduce the 'bean to bar' concept. In late 2005 Hershey’s acquired the company.
From 2006 until 2015 MERIKA managed the worldwide license for the Linda McCartney brand on behalf of Sir Paul McCartney and Family. We created and evolutionised the global strategy for the brand managed and controlled the licensee and the workflow between the brand owners and the license holder.With such high-profile patrons it was paramount to protect the integrity of the brand as well as represent the interests of its patrons and work on a proactive basis with the licence holder.
MERIKA helped the management create a global strategy and lead a project team for the implementation of the brand’s first shop in Isetan department store in Shinjuku – Tokyo. It furthermore provided introduction to key Japanese partnerships and collaborations which are active today. Recently MERIKA project managed the creation of Bamford's range of Cold Press Juices for their Haybarn Spa's.
Cojean has for the past 20 years been a point of reference in the Parisian natural and organic lunch café business, positioned as the luxury version of the UK-based Pret a Manger. MERIKA was asked by the founding partners to create a workshop helping COJEAN to think about where to expand next. We then created a market study of two hubs of interest and organised trips for the founders to one of these. MERIKA is seen as part of the COJEAN development team for the concept and brand outside Paris.
Sealand Natural Resources has the potential to revolutionise the global soft drinks industry. MERIKA has been instrumental in securing $1.5 M in additional funding for the brand. In addition MERIKA is working as a key advisor to the Nasdaq listed company and is working on the global strategy to find a strategic distribution partner for the Sealand Birk line of Birch Tree Juice.
Princess Marina Colonna asked MERIKA to help create a stronger profile for the brand in Europe, North America and Australia. Working with existing distributors and new partners, MERIKA created a global marketing and communication strategy, which was implemented locally in more than 10 markets. Colonna is recognised worldwide as some of the best extra virgin olive oil of single origin. It was furthermore the first brand to blend the oils with infused citrus and herb flavouring.
From its conception as one spectacular restaurant in Hanway Place in London, the Hakkasan Group has now successfully expanded globally harvesting Michelin stars and much acclaim from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi. MERIKA advised the global CEO of Hakkasan and his management team on Latin American expansion, introducing the brand to several key locations and potential partners (investors, managers and operators).