Could Ben & Jerry's be reclaiming their ice cream empire after 25 years under Unilever? The hosts dive into the motivations and potential costs behind this exciting buyback. Meanwhile, Amazon is making headlines with its first quantum computing chip launch, signaling a new tech era. The podcast also examines Netflix's subscription revival and tech-related fraud trends, particularly in streaming services. It's a blend of brand identity challenges and the ever-evolving business landscape!
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Quick takeaways
Ben & Jerry's founders are in talks to buy back their brand from Unilever, highlighting the importance of founders choosing compatible buyers to uphold brand values.
Netflix's high win-back rate of 61% among former subscribers emphasizes the critical role of consistently released popular content in retaining and growing its audience.
Deep dives
The Shift in Ben & Jerry's Ownership Dynamics
Ben & Jerry's founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, are reportedly considering attempts to buy back their iconic ice cream brand from Unilever, the British conglomerate that holds ownership for over 25 years. A potential deal raises questions about its feasibility, with Ben & Jerry's sold for $326 million in the past, and current estimates suggesting a repurchase would require several billion dollars. This situation highlights a cautionary tale for founders about aligning with compatible buyers to preserve brand values, as Ben & Jerry's has faced tensions with Unilever over social justice initiatives. Additionally, Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream division into a separate publicly traded entity, which complicates the potential for any buyback.
The Impact of Streaming Trends
Behavioral patterns among streaming service subscribers demonstrate significant trends, particularly regarding Netflix, which has a notably high win-back rate as 61% of those who canceled their subscriptions returned within a year. This phenomenon is largely attributed to the consistent release of popular content such as new seasons of hit shows, underscoring Netflix's strategy of maintaining a vast library to keep subscribers engaged. Other platforms like Warner Bros. Discovery's Max have recently seen subscriber growth, adding 6.4 million new users and setting ambitious targets for future expansion despite losing specific streaming rights. Overall, the constantly shifting landscape of streaming services places pressure on companies to innovate and retain their audiences.
Challenges of Fraud in Delivery Apps
A significant portion of fraud related to delivery apps stems from refund issues, with 48% of customer fraud tied to false claims regarding undelivered or unsatisfactory orders. This alarming trend poses major challenges for retailers, which collectively lost an estimated $103 billion due to fraudulent returns in the past year. The ease of access to tactics for exploiting refund systems, often shared on social media, has contributed to this rising issue, making it difficult for companies to verify claims. As delivery services and retailers try to improve customer experience, they must simultaneously combat fraudulent activities, highlighting a complex balance in customer relations.
London-based title Unilever currently owns Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. However, the founders of the brand are reportedly in talks this week to buy back the company after 25 years. So what is inspiring this buy back, how much could it cost and is the deal even an option? Plus: Amazon reveals its first quantum computing chip and Netflix is living off of win-backs.
Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Ben Berkley as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day.
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