Today in Global Small Business: $4 Almond Butter In the U.S. Matters

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How Aldi is taking on U.S. supermarkets with its $4 almond butter (requires subscription).
• Foreign policy hawk South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, dies at 71.
• Trump's verbal flubs are piling up.
• Quote of the week:  “Almond butter is an affordable and easy nutritional powerhouse,” explains Lee Cotton, R.D., author of A Nourishing Perspective.
• Driving global growth through the power of small business.
• AI presents a major opportunity for small businesses but support is needed.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

McDonald's Accelerates Its Global Expansion

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International growth has become a strategic priority for McDonald’s, especially in regions where the brand’s penetration still has room for expansion.

That said, McDonald’s intensified its global growth strategy in 2025 with the opening of nearly 2,300 new restaurants, strengthening its international presence and moving closer to its ambitious goal of reaching 50,000 locations worldwide by 2027.  

Find out what this global growth does for McDonald's.

Accelerated Global Growth

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Roblox is announcing five new roles to position the company for accelerated global growth. John Ciancutti is joining as Roblox’s first Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Also joining are four regional General Managers (GMs): Joost Hagesteijn for Europe, Sunil Rao for India, Diego Dzodan for Latin America, and Mohamed El Sheakh for the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye. 

Read more here. 

Build a Global Growth Strategy

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Global growth holds immense promise for small businesses seeking a competitive advantage in today’s increasingly interconnected economy.  While understanding the intricacies of global expansion is an important first step, navigating this journey alone can be daunting. However, by working with industry leaders, companies (like GlobeTrade, wegg® and other resources) – regardless of scale – can expedite your global journey and access new markets swiftly and compliantly.

Here's a beginner's guide to global business expansion.

Is Your Global Strategy Focused on the Wrong Things?

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In today’s ultra-competitive business climate, companies expanding their global footprint need to manage resources efficiently and base their plans on validated options so goals are achieved and expectations are met.

Some questions to ask yourself:

1. Is your leadership aligned from the onset?
2. Are you seeing the big picture and thinking holistically?
3. Are you focusing on the right drivers and challenges?

You want to make sure you are navigating the right path to global growth. To get the details on assessing and improving your global enterprise strategy, download this e-book.

Today in Global Small Business: Remember and Honor

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Remember and honor:  Wishing you a meaningful and thoughtful Memorial Day.
• Triple Shot Reinvention will focus on three priorities: elevating the Starbucks brand; strengthening the company’s digital capabilities; and becoming truly global; customized with “two pumps” unlocking efficiency and reinvigorating partner culture.
• Marriott International, Inc. announced the company’s record year of global signings with 52 percent more organic rooms signed in 2023 than in 2022, as it continues to expand offerings for owners, franchisees, and guests.
• Asia-Pacific emerges as the top destination for expansion as CEOs look to generative AI to drive growth.
• Quote of the week:  "Starbucks has a role and a meaningful relationship with people that is not only about the coffee." – Howard Schultz
• Where do CEOs see global growth in 2024?
• 5 must have steps in your 2024 global expansion plan.

 

Today in Global Small Business: Recap of Warren Buffett’s Comments at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting 2024

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Full report on the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting 2024.
• US campus protests:  Final memories for some students.
• A quick view of what Lumiere is capable of (Google AI generating video service).
• Quote of the week:  "If you are lucky in life, make sure a bunch of other people are lucky too." – Warren Buffett (2024) 
• Look out Shopify and say hello to Swap, for DTC players in e-commerce.
• Economic outlook from OECD: Steady global growth expected for 2024 and 2025.

The Potential of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) For Global Growth

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From a global standpoint, almost three-quarters (73 percent) of business leaders are excited by the potential of AI and large language models (LLMs) for business expansion—and this excitement is well-warranted. AI and LLMs are going to enable global growth in a way never before seen.

Learn more how AI will shape global business expansion in 2024 and the top 4 trends to watch.

Global Expansion Is the Future for Small Businesses

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According to Courtney Kincaid, President and CEO of the Indiana CPA Society, global expansion is now easier than ever. She says studies show businesses are more successful in the long term when they spread their reach to new countries and markets. 

As the world becomes more connected, small business owners should look for ways to expand their reach overseas to find new customers, follow this blog, access resources like this one and Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

You have one shot at life. Give it your best.  Reach for the stars.  Go for global growth.

Global Growth Stronger Than Expected in 2024

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According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global growth is stronger than expected and will be 3.1% in 2024, the same as in 2023, as the US and emerging economies have shown resilience to previous crises, with strong consumption driving the growth.

The IMF has increased its previous forecast by 0.2%, in its latest World Economic Outlook report, factoring in upgrades for China, the United States, and large developing economies.  Global GDP is expected to accelerate slightly in 2025, by 3.2%.

Read the entire piece, including a mention about shaky growth in Europe.

Today in Global Small Business: Navigating Global Divergencies

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Navigating global divergencies.
• Global growth to slow in 2024.
• Banks predict slower growth for global economy in 2024.
• Quote of the week:  "Only those who will risk going too far can find out how far one can go." – T.S. Eliot
  
• Prepare for stalling or divergent global growth in 2024.
• Finding pockets of growth in fashion as uncertainty reigns.

Think Global to Drive Success: Here's How to Scale

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How can companies find the best talent, regardless of where they are located, to meet their business needs while navigating the fundamental economic changes impacting global workforces in the world today?

The digital economy, along with the transition to more remote/hybrid work, has provided opportunities to find the best talent globally. However, companies need expert guidance and technology to enable strategies.

Here's how to prepare for the global shift to global growth.  It starts with thinking global to drive success.

Geoeconomic Fragmentation

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Advanced economies are expected to slow from 2.6 percent in 2022 to 1.5 percent in 2023 and 1.4 percent in 2024 as policy tightening starts to bite. 

The baseline forecast is for global growth to slow from 3.5 percent in 2022 to 3.0 percent in 2023 and 2.9 percent in 2024, well below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 percent.

Given increasing concerns about geoeconomic fragmentation, part of the report assesses how disruptions to global trade in commodities can affect commodity prices, economic activity, and the green energy transition.  The report does not factor in the recent Israel-Hamas war – the latest Gaza conflict.

Susie Quesada Presents a wegginar® on Creating a Company Culture That Inspires Global Growth

©2023 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Have you wondered how to grow and learn as a leader?  How to engage teams to give (and get) best results?  Or, how to access a new market before you enter it?

Then you should sign up for our next wegginar® Wednesday, March 1st at 11 AM Central Time.  Susie Quesada, 3rd generation owner and President of Ramar Foods International, will discuss all of the above centered around "Creating a Company Culture That Inspires Global Growth."

As the #1 Trusted Filipino Food Company, Ramar Foods manufactures authentic high quality tropical ice cream, lumpia and sausages that brings the Flavor of the Philippines to supermarkets and restaurants.

Yum.  You won't want to miss this!  To learn more and to register (free of charge thanks to sponsors noted in the graphic), visit:  wegg®.

Does It Make Sense to Go Global?

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Does it make sense to go global?  We certainly think so.  And according to Wendy Pease at Entrepreneur Magazine, she thinks so, too.

The answer is yes--expanding to international markets helps companies grow, increases buying power, and diversifies market opportunities. It better prepares the company to weather changes in the domestic economy. It can result in higher revenues, increased profits, a diverse customer base, and improved stability.

Read on to discover how using the Internet opens more doors for global growth and enables entrepreneurs to study potential markets and the buyer's journey from the comfort of their own office.

The Challenges of Global Growth are Varied and Difficult But Through Perseverance, Rewards Are Worth the Struggle

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Phil Hall is Chief Growth Officer at LXT, an emerging leader in global AI training data with executives on three continents.  He's helped grow one particular global business from a startup to a worldwide success with more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

The challenges to global growth are varied and difficult, but for the companies that persevere and reach that level, the rewards are very much worth the struggle, both in the ability to serve a highly discerning customer base with limited options at that scale, as well as in the experience it brings to the entire workforce along the way.

Learn more from Phil on a few of his key insights.  For example, how flexibility is key where high growth meets global business.

World Trade Center Utah Receives $1,050,000 State Trade Expansion Program STEP Grant

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SBA announced that World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) will receive a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant of $1,050,000 on behalf of the State of Utah.  

Utah’s export growth rate has been the highest in the nation for the past two years. Eighty-five percent of Utah’s exporters are small businesses, and international sales add $5 billion across the state in additional revenue for these small business exporters.

Exporting is an important tool for small businesses to grow revenue and boost local economies. STEP is designed to assist states with increasing the number of small businesses that export and the value of those exports.  

Read on to learn more about how Utah received a STEP grant to accelerate global growth of businesses.

Become Top Dog in the U.S. Export World of Pet Food

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How do you become top dog in the U.S. export world of pet food?  Find out at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®'s upcoming wegginar® Wednesday, June 2nd, at 11AM CT when Katie McCarron, Founder, Portland Pet Food Company, talks about how to:

• Create a business you are passionate about and share with the world.
• Find financing for export operation (easier than you think).
• Discover numerous resources to support your export endeavors.
• Plan ahead for exporting, research export markets and consider exporting as a sales channel for your business.
• Become top dog in your field even if you are not running a pet food company :-).

To learn more and to register free of charge – thanks to generous sponsors (see graphic) who support the global growth of women business owners, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2021/05/05/becoming-top-dog-in-the-u-s-export-world-of-pet-food-with-katie-mccarron/

Challenges and Opportunities to Selling Internationally

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With global growth comes new challenges that small businesses have to learn how to navigate. The uncertainty around trade agreements worldwide and escalating tariffs between the U.S. and China are hindering the growth American entrepreneurs are seeing in these markets.

That said, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sat down with four small business owners to better understand the opportunities and challenges to selling internationally. Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion – from what's hot in export markets, to long-term trade agreements, to IP protection – it's all here.

How Do You Make Your Global Debut?

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Expanding internationally achieves important growth and creates an additional revenue stream for many companies yet it can be a very costly exercise.

So how can promising business ventures without the financial backing of high-profile investors make their global debut?

Easy peasy at least according to work-place provider IWG (refer to some related IWG news here).

Flexible workspace solutions allow businesses to scale up and down in terms of size, offers a choice of location and different contract lengths that adapt as the business’ needs change.

Read more about how workspaces can drive your global growth.