A product no one can find doesn't exist. In Indonesia, that isn't a metaphor — it's a logistics reality spread across 17,504 islands. Distribution is the hardest part of entering Indonesia, Vietnam, or the Philippines because none of them have a single national channel. Each requires running two supply chains at once: modern trade (convenience chains, supermarkets, e-commerce) covering the wealthier urban minority, and millions of independent traditional retailers — warungs,

A US food brand launched in Thailand with an award-winning product. The marketing won a Cannes Lion. Sales were dismal. Here's why. Thai consumers found the product too salty, the portion size wasteful, and the price point unjustifiable. Every element that made the product successful in Western markets made it irrelevant in Thailand. Localisation is not a nice-to-have. It is the entire game. What Localisation Actually Means — and What It Doesn't Most companies think localis