Artificial Meat

Artificial Meats is coming, but at what price?

This article talks about artificial food, and the changes it's going through. Currently, it cost Finless slightly less than $4,000 dollars to make a pound of tune while competitors sell it for $8 to $12 dollars. This creates a big complication for these companies since customers would most likely go for the $8 dollar product rather than the $4,000. These prices are high but it is surprising that companies are in a production phase within this concept. 

It is the future of the food industry and as stated in the article:

"The Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department last year agreed to work together on regulations for cell-grown foods. Mike Lee, founder of the Future Market, a food lab that works with companies to conceptualize food prototypes, anticipates that lab-grown meat will be available for purchase in 2019. JUST Inc., which makes a cell-grown chicken product, said it plans to start selling to at least one restaurant by the end of the year, though it previously planned to hit the market at the end of 2018."

I selected this article because it is important for everyone to know what they are eating. This is especially true for those who have health problems or are restricted to eat certain foods. In general, artificial products have taken over many fields and users need to understand the impact these changes are causing. 

Name: Gorman Aguilar

Title of Article: Lab-Grown Meat Is Coming, but the Price Is Hard to Stomach
Time published: May 2nd, 2019

Link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lab-grown-meat-is-coming-but-the-price-is-hard-to-stomach-11556805600?mod=foesummaries

America's Biggest Supermarket Company Struggles With Online Grocery Upheaval

          The last time large grocery chains had ever faced such a large problem was when Walmart Inc. decided to go into groceries. But with technology advancing faster and faster as the years pass and the generation of people who are used to technology continue getting older and more wanting of convenience, these large grocery chains are now facing a new struggle. In this day and age, "e-commerce is transforming the business, forcing cash-strapped companies to overhaul their operations and invest heavily in technology and talent to keep customers from straying to Amazon.com Inc." While dealing with the potential loss of customers to online grocery stores that deliver straight to your door, they are also dealing with the fact that they have to keep food prices low to be competitive. This is an issue as it is hard to find a balance between keeping food prices low and still making a profit. For Kroger specifically, this has been hard because rather than transitioning to online-ordering technology and delivery services, they have stayed focused on store sales.
          As times are changing, stores should also change how they market themselves. In this case, it is obvious that online options are becoming more popular and rather than staying stagnant and unchanging, they should change their promotion techniques and how they are delivering their products. In this way, Kroger and other grocery store chains that are facing these issues can continue to make a profit rather than go bankrupt.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-biggest-supermarket-company-struggles-with-online-grocery-upheaval-11555877123

These are the Fashion Brands that Rappers Name Drop the Most

Updated April 22, 2019

Rappers in the United States are more likely than ever to name drop a popular fashion brand. And this has deeper roots than many may have expected. It started around decades ago around 1985 when brands started being mentioned, and both adults and children took notice. Other rappers of this time, such as MC Ricky D, started producing lyrics with fashion brands incorporated and others followed. Children raised during this period heard these lyrics and if they produced music in their career as adults, they did the same.

In this music era rappers express their individuality by choosing smaller fashion brands to reference in their music. One notable example of this is the brand Off-White, which is founded by a successful African American man by the name of Virgil Abloh and many rappers reference the brand as a way of implicitly stating the success of those who they relate to. Not only do rappers consider fashion to be a major aspect of their industry now, it benefits the market by offering more diversity and exposure. It expands sales and increases market growth. New customers and market options are becoming available by rappers sharing the brands in the lyrics. Most rappers seem to consider high fashion and rap to now go hand in hand. All of this is very relevant to marketing in terms of context, customer, and environment (social).

I am interested because I enjoy music and culture and enjoy understanding how brands interact with new opportunities and what the brand means to the individual representing.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-are-the-fashion-brands-rappers-namedrop-the-most-11555943601

What Beyond Meat Can Teach Big Food

What Beyond Meat Can Teach Big Food

Updated May 6, 2019

Beyond Meat is a food manufacturer that produces vegetable based products that are similar to meat. Although it's shares are quite expensive to individuals and competition from traditional meat products, the strategy that they are using to attract customers seems very wise. However, a unlikely twist is that Beyond Meat is marketing to not only vegetarians and vegans but also meat eaters, as many meat customers are lowering their daily intake. The reason this seems a good strategy is because the vegetarian market is only 5% of the population however many meat consumers also buy non-meat products. These include dairy and animal product alternatives such as almond milk or veggie nuggets. Studies were conducted in grocery stores to prove this point. This article involves relevant marketing topics such as price, place, and external environment. As an individual who loves to try new foods and experiment with meat replacement products, this article really interested me.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-beyond-meat-can-teach-big-food-11557140580

Nootropic or Not? Brain-Booster Business Raises Concerns

Nootropic or Not? Brain-Booster Business Raises Concerns

Update April 10, 2019

Several individuals who are looking for a mental or energy boost are looking to a new type of supplement currently on the market. Nootropics are supplements that are unique and meant to assist in particular mental or health specific qualities, and have a quite foreign and experimental nature... in fact, they are not currently regulated by the FDA. The FDA has investigated some of these drugs, including Vinpocetine for memory and Phenibut for anxiety and insomnia, because it is unclear if they are dangerous. Often people purchase them for their marketed benefits, which must be vague and not imply cures of any kind. These are very general marketing terms. Other customers are wary to try the supplements due to the lack of clear definition and effectiveness. Company representatives say that they are confident that the supplements are not addictive and d onot have harmful side effects. They may not take into consideration other medicines that the individual customer may be taking.   This is relevant to marketing in terms of context and customer. I am personally interested because I am interested in nutrition and supplements.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nootropic-or-not-brain-booster-business-raises-concerns-11554912076

“Comcast is Surviving Big Media’s Horror Flick”

“

Comcast is Surviving Big Media’s Horror Flick” April 25, 2019

“Comcast is Surviving Big Media’s Horror Flick” April 25, 2019

https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-is-surviving-big-medias-horror-flick-11556215034

Due to big media companies growing in popularity for streaming service, it may appear that
Comcast is in risk of losing their revenue base for cable, however, while cable sales are down
internet sales are up. Revenue is increasing for Comcast over previous years, rising to 77
cents a share from 66 cents a share, and with internet sales increasing by 10%. Television
and cable customers have declined year over year for eight years, increasing to a 121,000
subscriber loss from a 96,000 subscriber loss this year over the previous year for cable
subscription. Comcast is likely to continue to see benefits in internet streaming customers,
though as they have a growing base of customers needing a high streaming internet service.
Comcast also just purchased a British TV telecommunications and streaming company.
In addition, Comcast is interested in their own streaming service in 2020.
Comcast owns Hulu, and so they will be watching Hulu as well as Hulu may soon
actually by back 10% of their own share from AT&T. As time passes, both Hulu and
Comcast may see continued benefit from the streaming industry. This article applies
to media marketing by explaining the context in which Comcast will position it’s own
streaming service. I am interested as a previous Comcast customer.

Lyft Reports Strong Revenue Growth, $1.1 Billion Loss

After being public, Lyft Inc. encounter an important growth of $776 million in its first quarterly report, or about 95% from the previous year.  However, losses of 1.1 billion continue to be present due to $859 million of stock based compensation for being public in March. 

This result was unexpected and will continue to grow as Lyft portrays itself as "the faster-growing-ride-hailing service" compared to Uber. Lyft even got a partnership with Alphabet Inc, the selft driving car unit Waymo. They will soon let people use their robot taxis in Phoenix using the Lyft app.

 Some of the losses were due to rider and driver subsidies, as well as $227 million spent by the company on sales and marketing (30% of revenue).
However, Lyft expects its revenue to slow for the rest of the year, or at least $800 million in the second quarter and $3.3 billion for the year. 

I liked reading the article as I felt like Lyft took a risk by becoming public. I was also amazed to see how much they grew in only three months. I am looking forward to seeing more growth in the future and maybe expend their services in new things. In a competitive market, they were able to distinguish themselves from their other competitors such as Uber. They are expanding their idea such as associating with Alphabet Inc to generate more revenue. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/lyft-reports-strong-revenue-growth-1-1-billion-loss-11557259916