...Whole Foods Strategic Audit Robert Harper Andrew Pequinot Taylor Tisdale Renee Werner MBA 8820 Professor Denis Grégoire April 18, 2006 Executive Summary – Whole Foods Strategic Audit Whole Foods Market competes successfully within the organic/natural foods industry, having enjoyed close to 19% growth over the past five years. As a point of comparison, Kroger – a traditional supermarket operator – only grew 4%. On a larger scale, the organic food retail industry in the U.S. has fared well in the last decade. Reported sales grew 23.4%, which is much more than the 3.3% growth of the overall food industry during the same time period. However, a recent announcement from a Whole Foods competitor recently sparked considerable buzz in the industry and put a mild dent in Whole Foods Market stock price. The announcement came from the industry giant Wal-Mart who unveiled its plan to more than double its organic offerings and begin marketing to more upscale clientele, many of who currently shop at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart is well known for squeezing supplier margins to bring “everyday low prices” to consumers. As the industry leader in several retail categories, including traditional grocery sales, Wal-Mart has the size and influence to significantly impact the organic food landscape if it dedicates itself to the market. Although Wal-Mart’s impact on the natural niche remains to be seen, it’s critical that Whole Foods review its strategy in light of Wal-Mart’s entry. Whole Foods’...
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...didn’t shop; instead she took mental notes about store traffic, first at the Reed store and then at an indirect but increasingly worrisome kind of competitor—a dollar store. The Reed was predictably well lit and inviting, and Collins could see three registers open and two or three customers in line at each. “Not too bad” she thought, “but not what I would hope for at this time of day, this close to the holidays.” She’d felt the same way at two other Reeds she’d visited that day . Collins walked on to the Dollar General (DG). A fairly steady stream of shoppers entered DG’s doors, their progress slowed by families exiting with plastic bags jammed full. When Collins looked inside, she noticed workers filling what was obviously a new freezer case—the first freezer she had seen in a dollar store that day. This DG was doing just as well, to judge from this glimpse, as the Family Dollar she’d walked past half an hour earlier at North Valley—but no better than the Aldi store she had visited in the morning. That Aldi trip was interesting: a bright and spotless mini- supermarket, run by a giant firm from Germany that carried one-tenth the food items that a Reed did and sold virtually no brand names, only private-label—but still posed a threat to Reed due to its remarkably low prices. As she drove out of the parking lot, thinking back to last week’s discussions with the management team about the newest threats to Reed’s position as a leader among the region’s supermarkets, Collins wondered...
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...Chapter 5Theories of Motivation LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following: 1. Understand the role of motivation in determining employee performance. 2. Classify the basic needs of employees. 3. Describe how fairness perceptions are determined and consequences of these perceptions. 4. Understand the importance of rewards and punishments. 5. Apply motivation theories to analyze performance problems. What inspires employees to provide excellent service, market a company’s products effectively, or achieve the goals set for them? Answering this question is of utmost importance if we are to understand and manage the work behavior of our peers, subordinates, and even supervisors. Put a different way, if someone is not performing well, what could be the reason? Job performance is viewed as a function of three factors and is expressed with the equation below. [1] According to this equation, motivation, ability, and environment are the major influences over employee performance. Performance is a function of the interaction between an individual’s motivation, ability, and environment. Motivation is one of the forces that lead to performance. Motivation is defined as the desire to achieve a goal or a certain performance level, leading to goal-directed behavior. When we refer to someone as being motivated, we mean that the person is trying hard to accomplish a certain task. Motivation is clearly important if someone is to perform well;...
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...49 50 51 52 53 2 Executive Summary Wegmans Food Markets is a grocery retailer that has enjoyed considerable and enduring success while displaying wisdom through adaptability. Based on an evaluation of the company’s sales, markets, as well as consumer trends, an integrated marketing communications plan has been developed for the implementation of a campaign to capitalize on the growing demand for organic food in Wegmans’ New York State markets. While Wegmans serves market areas in six states, this IMC plan is focused on the regions of New York in which Wegmans operates; Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. As the focus of this plan is simply expanding consumer preferences, Wegmans’ current customer base makes up the target market. This market contains three important segments; those who currently purchase organics regularly, occasionally, and not at all. At Wegmans, the natural growth rate of organic product sales has been surging to anywhere from 15-25% in the past five years. This rate has been consistently double that of the total...
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...Background of Author: Martin Ford is the founder of a Silicon Valley-based software development firm and has more than 25 years of experience in computer design and software development. He holds a computer engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a graduate business degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is highly regarded in his field and has written for publications including The New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Project Syndicate, The Huffington Post and The Fiscal Times. Ford is the author of the two books, his most recent Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future (2015) and in earlier years The Lights In the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating Technology and the Economy of the Future (2009). These two books are about dealing with the effects of automation, robots, algorithms and the effects they have on mass-unemployment. Ford is quite unique and in some ways brave in the fact that he was the first 21st century author to publish a book (The Lights in the Tunnel) making a very strong argument that advances in robotics and artificial intelligence would eventually take over a large percentage of the human workforce and in turn make us obsolete. In this wise and wide-ranging book, he surveys the impact robots and smart technology is having upon the economy, work, leisure, education, health care, and the acceleration of inequality and unemployment. Introduction: ...
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...Groceries, Supermarkets, and Beyond: The Food Retail Industry John Abbott Samia Bagdady Kate deLima Casey Gavin MBA AF601: Economics for Managers Spring 2010 HISTORY The food industry has developed more structural specialization and diversity than probably any other industrial sector. Food moves from producer to consumer through many channels such as direct sale at the farm, heavily advertised brands in supermarkets, generic or store brands, through convenience stores and other institutional feeders. With great changes in American lifestyles since food delivery became industrialized, there have been significant shifts have taken place among these channels as well as profound changes within each. Therefore, the U.S. food system has experienced rapid development and has responded to periods of rapid economic growth, technical change, changes in household structure, rising consumer income and changing public policy. Its institutional structure has been transformed repeatedly. It has been subjected to periods of intense public scrutiny that have shaped much of the public policy that guides and constrains its conduct and performance. This large economic sector is affected by many forces, from Many influences or forces which affect this large economic sector. The list of interactive factors spans from basic agricultural commodity supply and demand situations to final consumer preferences (Padberg & Rogers, 1987). Over the...
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...“Discount means to leave away everything that is unnecessary.” Dieter Brandes, former Aldi executive Introduction In 2005, Aldi, a German-based grocery store chain, was turning heads throughout Europe, Australia and the United States with its rock-bottom prices, efficient store operations and growing global network of limited assortment stores. Founded in the German town of Essen, with antecedents dating back to 1946, Aldi had revenues of €37 billion ($44 billion US)1, This case was prepared by Jordan Mitchel, Research Assistant, under the supervision of Professor Marc Sachon, as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. October 2005. This case was written with the support of the CIIL (International Center for Logistics Research), IESE. Copyright © 2005, IESE. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call IESE PUBLISHING 34 932 534 200, send a fax to 34 932 534 343, or write Juan de Alós, 43 - 08034 Barcelona, Spain, or iesep@iesep.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the permission of IESE. Last edited: 3/7/06 1 Aldi: A German Retailing Icon P-1071-E and over 7,200 stores across 15 countries. In the United States, Aldi’s prices were approximately 6.6 per cent...
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...Tony Loton STOP ORDERS A practical guide to using stop orders for traders and investors Hh Stop Orders A practical guide to using stop orders for traders and investors by Tony Loton HARRIMAN HOUSE LTD 3A Penns Road Petersfield Hampshire GU32 2EW GREAT BRITAIN Tel: +44 (0)1730 233870 Fax: +44 (0)1730 233880 Email: enquiries@harriman-house.com Website: www.harriman-house.com First edition published in Great Britain in 2009 by Harriman House. Copyright © Harriman House Ltd The right of Tony Loton to be identified as the author has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. 978-1-906659-28-8 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book can be obtained from the British Library. All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publisher. This book may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior written consent of the Publisher. Printed in the UK by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person or corporate body acting or refraining to act as a result of reading material in this book can be accepted by the Publisher, by the Author, or by the employer...
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...Financial Statement Analysis Project Sprouts Farmer Markets vs Whole Foods Financial Accounting and Reporting ACTG 4610 August 10, 2015 Table of Contents 1. Background of Sprouts Farmers Market 3 1.1 Description of the company and its business 3 1.2 Business Environment 3 2. Income Statement 4 2.1 Major Sources of Operating Revenues and Revenue Recognition Method 4 2.2 Major Types of Operating Expenses 5 2.3 Significant changes in operating revenues and expenses 5 2.4 Other items on the income statement 6 3. Balance Sheet 7 3.1 Current and long-term assets 7 3.2 Current and long-term liabilities 9 3.3 Major Components of Stockholders’ Equity 10 3.4 Significant Changes in the Balance Sheet 10 4. Statement of Cash Flows 11 4.1 Major Adjustments to Net Income 11 4.2 Major inflows and outflows of cash for investing activities 11 4.3 Major inflows and outflows of cash for financing activities 12 4.4 Significant Changes in Cash Flow 12 5. Ratio Analysis 13 5.1 Computed Ratios 13 5.2 Discussion of Ratios 14 6. Summary 15 1. Background of Sprouts Farmers Market 2.1 Description of the company and its business (p.1,7-9 10-K) Sprouts has become a chain of grocery store that identify themselves as being healthy. They offer natural, organic and most importantly fresh food and other products to their customers...
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...reflects that true and ethical business can sustain for longer time and even can survive at toughest time. ethical training ,policies procedures will help any organization to manage their work place very well .we have shown that how ethics will help to enhance reputation of business and generate loyalty from staff members. Our research paper will open new avenues to the ethical dilemmas 2 Table of Contents Particulars What is Business Ethics Ethics and military Overview of issues in Business Ethics Ethics in Indian context: Scope of business ethics Approaches to Business ethics. Importance of Ethics in Business. Ethics and legality (code of ethics) Issues in business ethics(Types of Morally Questionable acts) Problems in its follow up Ethical considerations in Corporate Entrepreneurship Ethics and teaching field List of Most Ethical Companies in the world Unethical Companies Conclusion Page No. 4 4 6 6 8 9 10 12 12 13 15 15 18 22 WHAT IS BUSINESS ETHICS?...
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...2005, Jim Harris was looking into various options to improve efficiency and increase the value of the Scharffen Berger brand. Jim Harris is the Chief Operating Officer of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker. This is a chocolate company known for its rich chocolate flavor. The decision at hand for Harris was focused on a new ball-mill machine, which would increase capacity, decrease time of processing, and most importantly, not diminish flavor. The decision to purchase the $300,000 ball-mill looked at factors such as time savings and potential cost savings, as well as the potential 75% capacity increase. Harris also needs to look at his other areas where potential improvement could yield the desired higher demand in the realm of 50%, 100% and up to 150%. Such issues include: older machinery, co-packer relationships, inventory management and projection techniques. Scharffen Berger decided to implement the ball-mill and a 2nd melangeur and to increase capacity by 100%. DICOVERY - OVERVIEW The organization, Scharffen Berger of Berkeley, California is a premium chocolate maker. Founded in 1996 by Robert Steinberg and John Scharffenberger, the two later brought on Jim Harris to lead the business from the economic perspective. Operating under the goal to select the highest quality beans available, the company started operating in 1997 by testing small batches in a niche-type market before producing larger amounts. Expanding the business was the next step and adding staff and offices...
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...Review | Choice of BusinessLocation | Address/postcode of local business and at least two different countries where the business trade internationally | Got to the shop am check online for annual report and the website. | Why I chose this business | 2/10/13 | | Choice of BusinessSize | • Sales revenue over 3 latest years • Profit figures over latest 3 years • Cash flows • Capital invested • Production output • Number of employees – current will do • Number of outlets or locations – see National vs international • Value of the business (market capitalisation) • Market share | on the annual report and websites | Choice of buss contrast size | 2/10/13 | | Choice of BusinessOwnership | Type of ownership of each businessIf Sole trader or partnership – owners’ namesIf private limited, name ending with LTD & PLC if public limited – get current number of shareholders | Go to the shop for the local business and for the international I would check the annual report | | 2/10/13 | | Choice of BusinessNature | | Go to the local shop and ask them and for the international business I would go online | Why I chose this business | 2/10/13 | | Purpose & Activities | Goods & or services traded | Go to the local shop and I would ask them what activities they do and what is the purpose and for the international business i would check the annual report | Why I chose this business | 2/10/13 | | Aims & objectives | | Check online and would check the annual...
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...Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith. As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription, ‘Also Georgiana Wife of the Above,’ I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. To five little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine - who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle - I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence. Ours was the marsh country, down by the river, within, Great Expectations as the river wound, twenty miles of the sea. My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things, seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening. At such a time I found out for certain, that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard; and...
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...investing, driving or just walking down the street, everyone exposes themselves to risk. Your personality and lifestyle play a big role in how much risk you are comfortably able to take on. If you invest in stocks and have trouble sleeping at night, you are probably taking on too much risk. (For more insight, see A Guide to Portfolio Construction.) Risk is defined as the chance that an investment's actual return will be different than expected. This includes the possibility of losing some or all of the original investment. Those of us who work hard for every penny we earn have a hard time parting with money. Therefore, people with less disposable income tend to be, by necessity, more risk averse. On the other end of the spectrum, day traders feel that if they aren't making dozens of trades a day, there is a problem. These people are risk lovers. When investing in stocks, bonds or any other investment instrument, there is a lot more risk than you'd think. In this section, we'll take a look at the different kind of risks that often threaten investors' returns, ways of measuring and calculating risk, and methods for managing risk. Expected Return, Variance and Standard Deviation of a Portfolio Expected return is calculated as the weighted average of the likely profits of the assets in the portfolio, weighted by the likely profits of each asset class. Expected return is calculated by using the following formula: | Written another way, the same formula is as follows: E(R)...
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...marketplace changes continually in response to changes in consumer tastes and expectations, technological developments, competitors’ actions, economic trends, and political and legal events, as well as product innovations and pressures from suppliers and distributors. Although the causes of these changes often lie outside a marketer’s control, effective planning can anticipate many of them. For example when the price of gas and jet fuel soared recently, travelers opted to stay close to home instead of enjoying vacations to exotic, faraway places. This represented an opportunity for places like Ocean City, Maryland, and Branson, Missouri. Any destinations that promoted itself to potential vacationers within a short drive could find itself adding up the profits. This chapter lays a foundation for analyzing all aspects of marketing by demonstrating the importance of gathering reliable information to create an effective plan. These activities provide a structure for a firm to use its unique strengths. Marketing planning identifies the markets a company can best serve as well as the most appropriate mix of approaches to satisfy the customers in those markets. While this chapter focuses on planning, in later chapters the task of marketing research and decision making will be explored. Changes in the Updated Edition The chapter has been updated and revised, with new features in several areas: • The Opening Vignette and Evolution of a Brand discuss search engine giant Google’s...
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