Alimentos Latinoamérica, C. A.—A Case Study

ALCA, a U. S. subsidiary in Latin America, has been importing, processing, packaging and distributing a “name” food product for 15 years. Large contribution margins and an expanding market have not resulted in profits. A consultant spent 40 days on-site, with a team of student analysts, to offer corrective recommendations based on an integration of organizational, informational and quantitative systems work. Here is what they found and did. And what happened after.