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B.E.R. Partners Inc. joints forces with International Growth Partners LLC to enhance its services and international coverag
Chicago, IL – Shanghai, China, February 2010
B.E.R. Partners, a management consulting firm that specializes in helping companies reach their highest growth potential joins forces with International Growth Partners, an specialized consulting firm focused in international expansion. With the enhanced team, B.E.R. not only will have presence in multiple key markets such as China (Shanghai), India (New Delhi), US (Chicago) and Colombia (Bogota), but also will enhance its value offering to include cutting edge international expansion strategy and implementation capabilities.
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David A. Bernal is appointed Adjunct Professor of International Management at Northwestern University
Chicago, Il, January 2010
David A. Bernal, Founding Partner of B.E.R. Partners Inc. has been recently appointed as Adjunct Professor of International Management at the Graduate School of Communications at Northwestern University where he will be exploring key challenges that management faces with regard with globalization and management of global and dispersed teams.
For more information visit: communication.northwestern.edu
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Business in India: Processed Food Growth Opportunities
India’s processed food sector has been touted as the country’s “next big growth story” after the success of India’s IT and related technology sectors. Packaged food sales have grown at a 10% annualized rate since 2002 (5% after inflation). And the current growth cycle, while likely to slow somewhat due to the present global macroeconomic downturn, is projected to remain robust due to favorable structural conditions in India. We believe that these factors, elaborated below and in the following sections, make India a uniquely attractive market for international processed food companies and food processing equipment suppliers. First, the present penetration of processed food in India is very low, providing tremendous headroom for growth.
Only six percent of India’s vegetable and fruit production is processed and value addition lags substantially behind other emerging markets. Second, the barriers that have historically inhibited the development of this sector are gradually easing. The rapid growth of organized retail is spurring improvements throughout the supply chain. Government policy reforms have removed barriers to more efficient distribution and sales. Major investments are underway to revolutionize the country’s inefficient supply chain, including the development of vital cold chain infrastructure. Third, with very few exceptions,the sector is now open to foreign investment, duties have been slashed, and foreign brands are welcome. And fourth, India’s demographic and economic advantages are well known, but cannot be ignored as the foundation for future growth: average GDP growth of 6.7% since 2000 in constant dollars, the world’s second largest population with 1.12 billion people, a high and rising proportion of the population of working age, rapid urbanization, and a chaotic but otherwise stable democratic political system.
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