Market Intel: o Market landscape, key players/brands/categories/size/segmentation, competitive positioning and differentiation factors and dynamics among main players, product offering, also across continents o Business models, sourcing methods and performance o Market dynamics, evolution offer vs. demand and growth outlook o Supply Chain structure, implications of disruptors o Purchasing processes, sector specific value drivers, customer evaluation and selection criteria o End-to-end category optimization and transparency of vertically integrated players o QM & QS policies and developments, quality governance o Key trends, future developments and potential outlook: industry and shoppers o Retailers’ positioning, differences and expectations in the category, product listings, growth outlook o Organisational structure and general proposition between formats: discount, supermarkets, hypermarkets and functions: category management, merchandising, support functions, marketing Financials: o Due Diligence o Value chain analysis and benchmarks in procurement o Cost and contracts structures, end-to-end margins of vertically integrated players o KPIs benchmarks o CapEx and OpEx necessities and potentials o Best practices procurement, key evaluation and purchasing criteria (KPC’s), benchmarks o Risk analysis o Purchasing criteria, valuation metrics and trends EBITDA margins/multiples Strategies: o Buy & Build, runway potential beyond roll-up strategy o Develop market entry and GtM Strategies o Category Management vs. Category Solutions o Pricing strategies & deal negotiations o NPD and brand positioning o German Discount driving competition across the globe: strategies and solutions