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📘 Case Interview:
Electro-Light
Instructions:
👥 Find a Partner: These cases are meant to be practiced live with a casing partner.
🎭 Decide on Roles: One person acts as the "interviewer," and the other as the "candidate."
📋 Review the Process: The interviewer should review the full case in advance, including prompts, data, and sample answers. The candidate should not review the case beforehand. The interviewer presents the case, guiding the candidate through each section and taking notes. At the end, the interviewer provides feedback and shares the full case document for the candidate to review. Both parties identify areas for improvement, such as structuring, math, communication, and synthesis.
📝 Interviewer Guidance: Read out the question prompts as you transition between sections. Only share interviewer notes and data exhibits when appropriate, and answer candidate questions only when asked.
💡 Candidate Guidance: Do your best and have fun! Note moments you'd like to review with your interviewer. Focus on improving key skills like structuring and math.
About this case:
Client goal
Our client is SuperSoda, a top-three beverage producer in the United States that has approached McKinsey for help designing its product launch strategy.
Situation description
As an integrated beverage company, SuperSoda leads its own brand design, marketing, and sales efforts. The company also owns its entire beverage supply chain, including production of concentrates, bottling and packaging, and distribution to retail outlets. SuperSoda has a considerable number of brands across carbonated and noncarbonated drinks, five large bottling plants throughout the country, and distribution agreements with most major retailers.
SuperSoda is evaluating the launch of a new product, a flavored sports drink called “Electro-Light.” Sports drinks are usually designed to replenish energy, with sugars, and electrolytes, or salts, in the body. However, Electro-Light has been formulated to focus more on the replenishment of electrolytes and has a lower sugar content compared to most other sports drinks. The company expects this new beverage to capitalize on the recent trend away from high-sugar products.
McKinsey study
SuperSoda’s vice president of marketing has asked McKinsey to help analyze key factors surrounding the launch of Electro-Light and its own internal capabilities to support that effort.
What you'll need:
✏️ Paper and Pencil: To jot down key notes, make calculations, or sketch out frameworks during your case interview practice.
👥 A Partner (Optional): If you'd like to simulate a real interview, consider practicing with a partner for feedback and a more interactive experience.
⏳ 25 Minutes of Focused Time: Set aside a solid 25-minute block to immerse yourself fully in the practice session. Time yourself to replicate the interview environment!