Mountain Man Brewing Company Case Essay -- Business Strategy managemen

Mountain Man Brewing Company Case The purpose of this case study is to explore the implications for expanding the products offered by Mountain Man Brewing Company (MMBC) from one product, Mountain Man Lager, to adding a Light version of the beer. This paper will evaluate the following: 1. The positioning statement of MMBC; including what has made MMBC successful and how MMBC distinguishes itself from competitors. I will argue that quality and authentic West Virginia family recipe created a brand that differentiates the lager from competitors. 2. How these factors enabled MMBC to create such a strong brand; and why, despite its strong brand, MMBC was experiencing a decline in 2005. I will show that the decline is due to changes in beer drinking patterns, markets, and demographics in the region as well as the U.S. in general. 3. An evaluation of whether or not to launch Mountain Man Light. I will explore the pros and cons of creating a light version of the brew and other strategic options for growth if this brand extension is not launched or if the launch is unsuccessful. I will demonstrate that launching a light beer product shows promise for improved profit through 2010, but that another strategy should be under development during that time frame if MMBC wants to remain competitive for the long term. Mountain Man Brewing Company’s Positioning in the East Central Market According to Alvin J. Silk, a positioning statement is designed to define who are a company’s customers, what set of needs does the product fulfill, and why is the product the best one to fill those needs (2006, p. 90). I found this question challenging because a positioning statement should define â€Å"the place the firm wishes to occupy in its’ targe... ... I believe these types of products would tap into the quality that Mountain Man Lager is known for and seem like a better fit with the Brand Mountain Man is famous for. This would also open up opportunities to extend the brand into brew pub restaurants, which have become very popular in recent years. I think that Mountain Man’s unique distinctive history and brand recognition could be used to create a memorable restaurant experience. The main point of this argument is that MMBC should continue to explore opportunities to improve profit. In a mature market, I believe the worst thing MMBC could do is to settle for the â€Å"status quo†. References Abelli, H. (2007). Mountain Man Brewing Company: Bringing the brand to light. (2069) Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing. Silk, A. J. (2006). What is Marketing? Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.