Abstract
Small enterprise growth is at the heart of entrepreneurship research. While in most cases growth is welcome, its management brings about major challenges. The main focus of this article is on showing the relationship between a firm's corporate branding practices, its entrepreneurial behaviours and impact on perceived brand authenticity during phases of growth. The entrepreneurial growth process of the German BIONADE brand is analysed. The results show that as long as outside and internal perception of brand values is congruent the brand is perceived as authentic. The results show three variables, i.e., company size, increasing presence/availability as well as ownership structures, to have considerable impact on the degree to which the brand is perceived as authentic. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.