The Foods That Make Billions Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

This BBC2 series told the story of how big business feeds us by transforming simple commodities into everyday necessities and highly profitable brands.

Your Choice, Your Brand?

Your Choice, Your Brand? Water Featuring: Activity Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

What's the perfect brand of water? Try our interactive water sampler to find out  Launch now: Your Choice, Your Brand? Water

Your Choice, Your Brand? Breakfast cereals Featuring: Activity Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

When you're looking for a healthy breakfast, what brand is the best? It depends what you're looking for, as our brands quiz demonstrates...  Launch now: Your Choice, Your Brand? Breakfast cereals

Your Choice, Your Brand? Yoghurt Featuring: Activity Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

There's a bewildering range of yoghurts fighting for your attention on shop shelves. How do you select one that's right for you?  Launch now: Your Choice, Your Brand? Yoghurt

Episode guide

The Foods That Make Billions: Liquid Gold Featuring: Activity Creative commons imageCredit: By MissTessmacher via Flickr under Creative Commons licence

Water, water, everywhere - so why do we spend a fortune buying the stuff in plastic bottles?  Launch now: The Foods That Make Billions: Liquid Gold

The Foods That Make Billions: The Age of Plenty Creative commons imageCredit: By Bulsti via Flicker under Creative Commons license

The world of cereal was explored in the second episode of The Foods That Make Billions  Read more : The Foods That Make Billions: The Age of Plenty

The Foods That Make Billions: Pots of gold Creative commons imageCredit: by Like_the_Grand_Canyon via Flickr under Creative Commons license

How did an unknown hippy food become the cosy heart of a billion dollar capitalist industry?  Read more : The Foods That Make Billions: Pots of gold

The Foods That Make Billions on the BBC Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

All about the series which tells the story of how big business feeds us by transforming simple commodities into everyday necessities and highly profitable brands  Read more : The Foods That Make Billions on the BBC

Video extras

Why do some brands endure while others fade away? Featuring: VideoAudio Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

Danone's Bernard Hours explains how some brands have a long shelf life, while others fall by the wayside.  Watch now: Why do some brands endure while others fade away?

How can brands beat a recession? Featuring: VideoAudio Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

Understanding your customer is a key to surviving when things get tough, explains Danone's Bernard Hours.  Watch now: How can brands beat a recession?

What does the future hold for brands? Featuring: VideoAudio Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University

As customers discuss brands online more and more, how you react will determine your future success, believes Danone's Bernard Hours.  Watch now: What does the future hold for brands?

Blogs

The natural world's need for water Copyrighted imageCredit: DCSL under CC-BY-NC licence

Emma Rothero, a research fellow with the OU's Department of Life Sciences, writes about how our needs and uses of water are intricately bound to...  Read more : The natural world's need for water

The real story behind cereals Creative commons imageCredit: Gail Johnson under CC-BY-NC licence

What has changed when it comes to breakfast cereals, and who is paying the true cost of apparent abundance?  Read more : The real story behind cereals

Yoghurt, friend or foe? Creative commons imageCredit: sarah sosiak under CC-BY-NC licence

Dick Morris considers the good, the bad and the ugly on the yoghurt counter.  Read more : Yoghurt, friend or foe?

Business bursts

Business Bursts Featuring: Video

Industry leaders discuss a variety of topics touched on in The Foods That Make Billions, ranging from Branding to Marketing to Supply Chain  Watch now: Business Bursts

Study with The Open University

 

An introduction to retail management and marketing Copyrighted imageCredit: Open2 team

This course from The Open University shows how retailing has developed within a business context, and how retail outlets work and apply retail marketing.  Read more : An introduction to retail management and marketing

Business functions in context Copyrighted imageCredit: Jupiter Images

This course gives you the chance to examine the essential organisational functions of human resources; marketing; operations management; information management; and accounting and finance.  Read more : Business functions in context

Environment: journeys through a changing world Copyrighted imageCredit: Production team

This course introduces you to environmental studies and the issues arising from environmental change, showing how people seek positive solutions to environmental challenges  Read more : Environment: journeys through a changing world

Study at the OU: Science Copyrighted imageCredit: Irochka | Dreamstime.com

Whether returning to science or indulging a passion, you will find a wide range of science courses covering all areas  Read more : Study at the OU: Science

From our LearningSpace

Marketing communications as a strategic function Copyrighted imageCredit: photos.com

Marketing communications help to define an organisation's relationship with its customers. Try this unit to look at the strategic importance of such communication.  Read more : Marketing communications as a strategic function

Energy resources: water quality Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

Try this unit to understand the global water cycle and how we can ensure a sustainable source of water for the future.  Read more : Energy resources: water quality