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Product cover image for Frontier Foods: Family Business Expansion at a Change Crossroads

Frontier Foods: Family Business Expansion at a Change Crossroads

Naor Cohen, Justin Cervantes

Product #:W41877
Supplier:Ivey/Haskayne
Discipline:Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Setting:Canada, United States, 2023
Details:Case (PDF) • 12 pages • 2025-03-07

Subjects:

Decision makingFamily businessesEntrepreneurshipStrategy

Industries:

Food and beverage sector

Geography:

CanadaUnited StatesNorth America
Your Price:$10.54

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The small Filipino Canadian family business Frontier Foods Canada Ltd. was started in Calgary, Alberta with deep roots and a strong commitment to the family’s cultural heritage. By 2024, the business had grown from its start in the family’s garage into a successful and renowned food producer in Canada and was considering expansion. The company was facing critical operational challenges such as production management and a high employee turnover rate. One family member was asked to help navigate this pivotal moment by exploring the viability of relocating the business to the Lewiston–Clarkston Valley in the United States and to provide his recommendation. The final decision would present a unique opportunity but also a slew of strategic decisions. Could the family business relocate to the United States and navigate financial and market uncertainties, while preserving the family ethos at the heart of Frontier Foods Canada Ltd.?

Learning Objectives

This case is designed for courses on strategic management, international business, and entrepreneurship at the undergraduate or MBA level that cover strategic decision-making and entrepreneurial thinking. It can also be used in family business courses to address the complexities of the decision-making process, family dynamics, and operational challenges in the context of international expansion. The case details the business dilemma that a family enterprise is facing at the cusp of significant growth. Students learn how to navigate the various operational and strategic implications of expanding a family business into new markets, while maintaining the company’s core values and family dynamics.

After completion of this case, students will be able to:
  • understand the complexities of the decision-making process in a family enterprise, especially when considering international expansion;
  • examine and interpret the impact of various regulatory environments on business operations and international expansion plans;
  • apply decision-making tools effectively to assess new markets for business expansion, considering both opportunities and challenges; and
  • create a comprehensive strategic recommendation for business expansion.
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Case Study: Frontier Foods: Family Business Expansion at a Change Crossroads (English version) | Ivey Publishing