Commerce students gain valuable work experience through Maple Leaf Foods Case Competition
2011-04-05 13:08:52
Mount Allison University students from the Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies recently competed in a case competition on campus sponsored by Maple Leaf Foods. Four Mount Allison commerce alumnae, now working for Maple Leaf Foods, wrote the case and two of the three Maple Leaf judges, who came to Mount Allison to hear the students present, were also alumni.
Fourth-year commerce students from the course Strategic Issues, taught by Dr. Judith Holton, had the opportunity to take part in the internal competition. The students were asked to present a unique perspective on sustainability challenges facing the company while showing their business acumen by considering various factors including such things as the bottom-line, consumer trends, and economic conditions.
Four Mount Allison alumnae, Alison Starratt, Lauren Ledwell, Jessica Forsythe, and Carrie Kilpatrick who went to work for Maple Leaf Foods through its prestigious Management Trainee Program straight after graduation, prepared a detailed case for the students.
The winning team, WeiWei Zou, Ryan Smith, Greg Kerry, and Gareth Bowra, received a $500 prize and dinner with Anne Tennier, Maple Leaf Foods,Vice President Environmental Affairs, who also was also a judged in the competition. The panel of judges also included alumni Charlie Scott, Director, Atlantic Sales Retail Excellence – Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, and Matt Proctor, Customer Marketing Manager – Canada Bread Fresh. The winners were announced at a reception hosted by Maple Leaf held for all senior Commerce students.
Nine teams participated in the competition, with four of these advancing to the final round. The four teams presented their analysis and recommendations and responded to questions from key representatives of the company. Dr. Holton comments, “Live case competitions like this really bring the issues covered in a course to life for students. They have to research the company and the issues in relation to the company’s external environment and they come to recognize how complex the business environment is and how multiple pressures impact and often restrict the ability of a company to implement important strategic initiatives. It’s a matter of making tough choices and it’s where creativity and innovation really count.”
This competition is an annual event and the winning team each year is recognized on a plaque posted in the Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies.
Photo caption: left to right, front row: Mount Allison University Commerce students Greg Kerry, WeiWei Zou, Maple Leaf Foods Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Anne Tennier, and students Ryan Smith, and Gareth Bowra. In the back row (l-r), Canada Bread Fresh Customer Marketing Manger Matt Proctor and Maple Leaf Director for Atlantic Sales Retail Excellence, Charlie Scott.