...the trends in retailing of organic foods and the impact of these trends on Whole Foods Market Organic Foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and diary aisles of most mainstream U.S food retailers. Retail sales of organic foods have increased from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $21.1 billion in 2008. Whole Foods Market which is the world’s largest retail chain of natural and organic foods was founded in 1980. The company has stores in the U.S, Canada, and Great Britain with sales of $12 billion for year ending 2010. Among the trends impacting in the retailing of organic foods is the inclusion of organic products by mainstream supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix, Safeway and Save-a-Lot. In addition, stores such as Harris Teeter have introduced their own private-label brands of organics. The impact of this trend on the operations of Whole Foods is loss of customers and profit. As demand for organic foods increased, mainstream supermarkets would continue to expand their offering and selections. (Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2009) Most of these supermarkets will leverage on their wide network of stores dotted all over the United States. Wal-Mart and Krogger had 2,297 and 2,477 stores respectively, as against 188 stores by Whole Foods for year ending 2006. Customers will therefore be attracted to the mainstream stores due to convenience and the fact that they have now become one-stop-shops. Secondly, retailing of organic products is experiencing increase...
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...Japan and the U.S. share a low-growth economy configeration and their management styles are beginning to merge. Management Styles: American vis-a-vis Japanese Charles Y. Yang THE JAPANESE STYLE of management has in recent vears been drawing a great deal of attention from American managers because of its apparent ability to insure organization stability in the face of unexpected external changes. At the same time, a slower rate of economic growth in Japan is compelling Japanese executives to .search for improvement iu management efficiency by focusing their attention on the American type of management. FALL 1977 This trend to draw on each other's strengths in order to better cope with growing external pressures is significant because both eountries now share a similar socio-economic situation characterized by a low rate of economic growth, a high degree of vulnerability to external variations and an advanced stage of technological development. A comparative analysis of the quality of management must first determine what is to be measured. 23 If the criterion is profit performance, most of the major Japanese companies compare favorably with leading American firms, and that is where the comparison ends. What is more meaningful is to measure the extent to which the underlying factors have contributed to profit perfonnance in the past, and how they will continue to function in the new socio-economic setting. These underlying factors consist of entrepreneurial...
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...educated with a college degree, as they would be more conscious and supportive of nutritional issues. They also locate stores in top statistical metropolitan area, where majority of the higher income group resides because only the more affluent customers can afford to pay their steeper prices on a regular basis or are willing to pay a premium for the higher quality of organic and natural food. Sociocultural Segment The socioculturalsegment is relevant to Whole Foods because of the importance of the society’s attitude and cultural values. Whole Foods is well known for its organic products and the society’s perception that organic food is beneficial to health is important for its sales growth. As the number of health-conscious residents increase, the demand for Whole Foods’ products will rise because people are concern with their diet and increasing their life expectancy by consuming more organic food. Besides, there has been an aversion towards non-organic foods because of its pesticides and artificial chemical treatment. Consumers view them as less pure and safe for consumption and are gradually switching to organic food. This change in customer perception will create an expansion opportunity for...
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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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...the Portland Metro area. After successful implementation in Portland, we will begin expansion into the greater Northwest. There are 3,414 day care facilities in the greater Northwest. Successful penetration into the day care market will be followed by implementation into the restaurant and hospital markets. There are currently 19,362 restaurants in the Northwest, followed by health care services, which includes 23,108 organizations in the Northwest. Industry Analysis The Industrial and Institutional soap industry, of which we are a part, is quite fragmented, but contains several well known main competitors: Gojo, Kimberley Clark, Dial, Provon, and SoftSoap, as well as generic brands that provide to distributors like Massco and Sysco. The industry is stable and growing; between 1998 and 2003 it grew by an average of 4% annually. Within the I&I sector there is fierce competition for market share among the existing popular soap offerings, leading to lean profits on soap sales. Distribution Patterns Distribution in the soap industry is provided by regional providers. These distribution companies usually serve a large portion of the market based on the respective...
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...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’ advantage comes from offering both high quality and a wide variety of organic products. It also excels at delivering an inviting shopping experience for its customers...
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...AVON -STUDY CASE- Analiza contextului global al afacerilor prin prisma factorilor de impact asupra industriei cosmeticelor The cosmetic industry is one of which products tend to be countercyclical. Demand for such products normally remains constant and unaffected by economic distress. The color cosmetics are predicted to see a slowdown in volume demand. A growing trend in the cosmetic industry is the introduction of ‘green’ products. More than one in seven (16%) of global beauty products launched in 2008 were certified organic, ethical or natural. There are concerns that the global economic climate will stifle new product development, innovation and sustainability programs in 2009. An economic slowdown usually curbs companies from investing in research and development and it is that research that has brought forth a wealth of green cosmetics. For example, retailers such as Wal-Mart are increasingly requiring more ecofriendly supply chain. There are forecasts that consumers are unlikely to give up their commitments to organic products just to save a few pennies. 68% of consumers will remain loyal to a company that has a social and environmental commitment. Many consumers are now ‘voting with dollars’ for organic products and supporting brands that support values similar to their own. Economic factors mainly affect the purchasing power of customers. The more customer demand for the product the more profit to the organization, at the same time if there is no customers demand...
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...It establishes the company’s goal and core values. Also, it highlights DPS’ interest in future sales growth. The company includes its business strategy stating that it focuses on building and enhancing leading brands, pursuing profitable channels, packages and categories, leveraging an integrated business model, strengthening routes to markets, and improving operating efficiency (Dr. Pepper Snapple Group). External Analysis Government policies and regulations affect business development and growth. Products have to be consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines and adhere to the FDA’s standards for health claims. Due to the current post-recession economy, growth is expected to be slow since existing demand patterns are expected to change as consumers become more health conscious. Moreover, global awareness and concern regarding the impact of climate change continues to be a focal point as business seek to achieve better business in terms of reduced cost and risk while achieving positive impact on the world around them. Also, an important trend in the macro environment is globalization. With the growing use of electronic technological innovations, global communication is rapidly increasing. This allows firms to collaborate within the country market and expand internationally into world markets. (Hoovers) Industrial Analysis Dr. Pepper Snapple Group competes in the U.S. beverage...
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...must be apparent to the consumer. As an organization founded with the drive to bring the freshest and most natural products to consumers, Whole Foods must maintain alignment with that core philosophy. Created in response to the lack of organic and natural options of the traditional grocery stores and chains Whole Foods has grown from its origins in a three story house in Austin to the multi-billion dollar enterprise it is today without sacrificing this core value (Harrison, 2014). This is very important: The continued development and growth of Whole Foods must maintain this core philosophy. The platform for value creation is rooted in market share growth and consistent and well defined organizational philosophy (Deshpande, R. & Webster, F. 1989). Keeping Whole Food’s core philosophy in mind, strategy for growth of the business and recapturing of market share are the primary goals of this analysis. The supermarket and “other grocery” markets within the United States continues to rise year over year. The increase in sales numbers between 2013 and 2014 was 3.6% or approximately $19.74 billion. This is a significant amount of increased spending and shows potential opportunity for market growth. The following graph indicates the steady growth pattern in the grocery market, with the only flat areas existing after the terrorist attacks on September 11,...
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...they report to, and for managers, who reports to them. Over time these definitions are assigned to positions in the organization rather than to specific individuals. The relationships among these positions are illustrated graphically in an organizational chart (see Figures 1a and 1b). The best organizational structure for any organization depends on many factors including the work it does; its size in terms of employees, revenue, and the geographic dispersion of its facilities; and the range of its businesses (the degree to which it is diversified across markets). There are multiple structural variations that organizations can take on, but there are a few basic principles that apply and a small number of common patterns. The following sections explain these patterns and provide the historical context from which some of them arose. The first section addresses organizational structure in the twentieth century. The second section provides additional details of traditional, vertically-arranged organizational structures. This is followed by descriptions of several alternate organizational structures including those arranged by product, function, and geographical or product markets. Next is a discussion of combination structures, or matrix organizations. The...
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...* TABLE OF CONTENTS A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 B. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION – AN ORGANIC OPPORUNITY 4 Introduction 4 Product 4 Groundwork forthe Venture 4 Crops to be grown 5 The Opportunity 6 Our community 7 Land Use, (re)connecting to `aina (land) 7 C. INDUSTRY AND MARKET ANALYSIS 9 Growth in the organic industry 9 The Hawai`i market 9 local competition 11 Offshore organic competition 12 Farming in Hawai`i 12 Customer profile 13 Distribution mechanisms 15 D. MARKETING PLAN 16 Promotions and outreach 16 Specific segment stratigies 17 MA`O customer service philosophy 17 Promotional materials and labeling 18 Pricing 18 Distribution 19 Sales management 19 Competitive advantage 19 E. MANAGEMENT PLAN 20 Organization and board 20 Governance 20 MA`O’s position in WCRC 21 Executive management & Staffing plan 22 Cooperating experts 22 F. Operations Plan 23 Farm plan 23 Research and development 23 Crop growth 23 Harvest and quality control 24 Inventory management 24 Organic certification 24 Farmer’s markets 24 Land, Equipment, Office Space, Tools, Resources 25 Increasing youth capacity 25 G. FINANCIAL PLAN 26 Start-up 26 Accounting system & Business controls 26 Long-term sustinability 26 Proforma statements 26 H. Risk ASSESSMENT & CONTINGENCY PLAN 35 I. ENDNOTES 36 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Leaders must deal with apathy along the Leeward Coast (Wai`anae), perhaps it comes from poverty...
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...Air and Water Pollution Paper Since the industry revolution, environmental pollution has gradually become a global problem. It looks set to hog the limelight in this century. Almost all the countries suffer from such problem and are struggling to keep their heads over the water. This essay will cover two types of air pollutants and two water pollutants that affect our health. Air: (Indicate whether the selected air pollutants are considered primary or secondary pollutants. Be sure to explain why they are considered to be primary or secondary, and discuss the sources of these pollutants) (Examine the selected water pollutants. Discuss the sources of these pollutants, and indicate the impact of these pollutants on water resources and aquatic life) Air pollution is something in the air that causes harm to humans or the environment. There are many different forms of air pollutants and these are broken down further into primary and secondary pollutants. A primary pollutant is something that stems directly from a source such as volcanic ash or vehicle emissions. A secondary pollutant forms when two pollutants react in the atmosphere such as acid rain. Most air pollution comes from one human activity: burning fossil fuels, natural gas, coal, and oil to power industrial processes and motor vehicles. Among the harmful chemical compounds this burning puts into the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and tiny solid particles including...
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...Nestlé. However, slow growth in many critical industry segments meant that the company was unable to increase shareholder value throughout 2011. Additionally, sales were stagnating and revenues were only increasing by raising prices. In order to address these issues, the Board of Directors at KFT announced in 2011 that the company would be restructured to create two new companies by the end of 2012. First, there would be a global snacks business that included all of KFT’s business units in Europe and developing markets, in addition to the United States snack business. This new company would be called Mondelez International (MDLZ) and the Board hoped it would be a high-growth global snacks business. The remaining business units would become Kraft Foods Group (KRFT) and would be a high-margin, slow growth, North American grocery business. The following report begins with assessing the processed food industry as a whole through a PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces analysis. Second, a SWOT and financial analysis are used to evaluate MDLZ and KRFT. Lastly, final recommendations are made for each of the new companies. II. Industry Analysis The processed foods industry incorporates many different segments, including cheese, snacks and groceries; all of which KFT operated in. The following analysis will consider the environment that the processed foods industry operates within and the industry as a whole with notes if a specific segment within the industry...
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...Massachusetts - Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1896 - February 2014 Dissertations and Theses January 2008 The Impact of the Organic Mainstream Movement: A Case Study of New England Organic Produce Prices Megan M. Dolan University of Massachusetts - Amherst, megan12122001@yahoo.com Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Dolan, Megan M., "The Impact of the Organic Mainstream Movement: A Case Study of New England Organic Produce Prices" (2008). Masters Theses 1896 - February 2014. Paper 100. http://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/100 This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact scholarworks@library.umass.edu. THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIC MAINSTREAM MOVEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF NEW ENGLAND ORGANIC PRODUCE PRICES A Thesis Presented by MEGAN M. DOLAN Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE February 2008 Department of Resource Economics THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIC MAINSTREAM MOVEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF NEW ENDGLAND ORGANIC PRODUCE PRICES A Thesis Presented by MEGAN M. DOLAN Approved as to style and content by: Julie A. Caswell, Chair Nathalie Lavoie, Member ...
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...positions in the organization rather than to specific individuals. The relationships among these positions are illustrated graphically in an organizational chart. The best organizational structure for any organization depends on many factors including the work it does; its size in terms of employees, revenue, and the geographic dispersion of its facilities; and the range of its businesses (the degree to which it is diversified across markets). DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Understanding the historical context from which some of today's dominant organizational structures have developed helps to explain why some structures are the way they are. For instance, why are the old, but still operational steel mills such as U.S. Steel and Bethlehem Steel structured using vertical hierarchies? Why are newer steel mini-mills such as Chaparral Steel structured more horizontally, capitalizing on the innovativeness of their employees? Part of the reason, as this section discusses, is that organizational structure has a certain inertia—the idea borrowed from physics and chemistry that something in motion tends to continue on that same...
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