UF MBA wins Intercollegiate Cup for third consecutive year

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF MBA at the Hough Graduate School of Business won the 2014 Florida Intercollegiate Business Case Competition on Feb. 13-15 at the University of South Florida.

UF MBA’s victory marked its third consecutive win in this competition, and its fifth in eight appearances.

Carly Escue, Stephen Faivre, Eric Frohman and Karl Kremser received $10,000 for winning the competition, which also included Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Rollins College, the University of Miami and the University of South Florida.

The case involved Coca-Cola, one of the event’s sponsors, and how the company should focus its resources in order to ensure growth and sustainability. Escue said the team struggled to develop new strategies because Coca-Cola “has hundreds of brands and a great record of innovating within its target markets.” UF MBA focused its strategy on Coca-Cola’s core sparkling beverages and addressed several strategic alternatives for both mature and emerging markets.

“We had a lot of confidence going into the final presentation, and I think we were all pleased with our delivery,” Escue said. “Waiting to hear the judges’ decision was definitely nerve-wracking, but it felt great to finally learn that we had won the competition!”

The victory in the Intercollegiate Cup marked UF MBA’s second victory in three weeks. UF MBA won the BNY Mellon Katz Invitational Case Competition on Jan. 24-25 in Pittsburgh.

UF MBA will next compete in the Southeastern Conference Case Competition on April 3-5 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.