In the Know

US Restaurants Analyst Danilo Gargiulo joins host Diana Wood on the podcast this week to discuss American multinational coffee chain Starbucks. We debate the brand’s degeneration – from how Starbucks became synonymous with “coffee” and the away-from-home coffee culture among generations of people across 80+ countries across the globe to how recently, the brand seems to have lost its halo. Danilo explores contributing internal and external factors including the brand’s relevance among occasional consumers (and the younger generation), and the employee and customer experience driven by rapidly changing “channels” – plus we discuss the question investors are asking: is the Starbucks era over? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, Will Woods, a European Retail Analyst at Bernstein Research, unpacks Zara’s groundbreaking business model on its 50th anniversary. He discusses how Inditex adapts to market trends with speed and efficiency, maintaining a unique edge over disruptor brands like Shein. Woods highlights the importance of human intuition in trend prediction, showcasing how Zara combines customer insights with innovative strategies. The discussion also touches on Inditex's high-quality branding and its potential for future expansion, keeping Zara relevant for decades to come.

US Energy & Global Natural Resource Analyst Bob Brackett joins us back on the podcast this week alongside host Diana Wood to discuss all things Nuclear. As we undergo a massive energy transition, moving away from emissions-based energy sources to green sources, Nuclear is likely to play a large role going forward.Bob walks us through a brief history of Nuclear power, what he sees into terms of supply and demand, the market for uranium and some key players in the space.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine a hotel experience where you can select your exact room, pay more for a specific pillow, specify the amount of towels you will need – and the price you pay is adjusted accordingly. For our latest episode of In the Know, we welcome new host Patrick Robinson (based in London) alongside Global Hotels & Leisure Analyst Richard Clarke. We delve into the opportunities AI presents for hotels, cruises and online travel agencies, for instance, how tech can assist with everything from initial holiday planning, personalisation, price management and sustainability efforts – and ultimately, how these advancements may affect these industries’ bottom lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doug Harned, a Global Aerospace & Defense Analyst at Bernstein Research, offers a deep dive into the proposed Golden Dome defense system, designed to counter various threats. He elaborates on its technological challenges, including cost estimates and timelines, while comparing it to Israel's Iron Dome. The discussion also touches on the evolution of missile defense, the financial uncertainties, and the potential for future conflicts in space due to rising geopolitical tensions. Harned's insights reveal the far-reaching implications for America and global security.

Mark Shmulik, a US Internet Analyst at Bernstein Research, shares his insights on Meta Platforms’ strategic maneuvers against competitors like TikTok and Google. He discusses the importance of attracting content creators and monetizing platforms such as WhatsApp. The conversation highlights the rapid success of Threads and its user engagement without heavy advertising. Shmulik also explores Meta’s future ambitions in AI and augmented reality, emphasizing a shift towards personalized experiences and innovative digital services.

US Internet Analyst Mark Shmulik joins host Sid Malkani for a two-part episode on multinational technology company Meta Platforms, consisting of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger – and most recently, Meta AI. Looking at Mark’s ‘framework of utility’, we look at the different stakeholders of Meta’s ecosystems: the user, the consumer and the advertiser. We delve into Meta’s use cases and what keeps us online, and how social media has emerged from a place to connect to a broadcast media, with brand/performance advertising and content creation monetising the platforms and continuing its runway for growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nadine Sarwat (Bernstein’s American & European Beverages Analyst) joins host Diana Wood for a discussion on deglobalization, considered an investment controversy across all sectors. Distillers are at the crux of this debate. Their reliance on protected geographical indication products (PGIs, i.e. spirits that must be produced in a given geography) were once a clear asset. Now they are a potential liability. We explore which companies are most at risk given rising trade tensions. Plus, we discuss Nadine's recent coverage expansion into the European Coca-Cola bottlers, which have proven to be a safe haven in today’s volatile environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global Software Analyst Mark Moerdler joins host Diana Wood to discuss multinational computer technology company, Oracle. We take a look into their story, looking into their transition to the Cloud and how their revenue, margins and earnings were impacted. Plus, we discuss the controversy of the Oracle database, the AI capabilities of Oracle OCI, MultiCloud, and the security offering from Oracle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Food Packaging Analyst Alexia Howard joins host Diana Wood on the podcast this week for a deep dive into food additives and dyes. Used to enhance flavour, appearance and/or to extend shelf life, some of these substances have been associated with adverse health implications including cancers and behavioural disorders. Alexia walks us through the additives we may find in our kitchen pantry, why they have found their way into our food systems (particularly in the US) – and importantly, which ones to avoid and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.