Market Structures
Kudler Fine Foods is a local food store that specializes in epicurean food in the San Diego metropolitan area. They specialize in bakery and pastry items, fresh meats, seafood, produce, packaged foods, specialty dairy products, wine and spirits, and much more. In their mission, Kudler Fine Foods vouch that they shop all around the world for their products and they choose only the finest. In addition to their gourmet food, the founder Kathy Kudler who was once a Vice-President of Marketing of a different, liked to cook gourmet meals. She got the idea that the San Diego metropolitan area needed a gourmet food store. She put together a business plan and opened the first Kudler Fine Foods in La Jolla, CA in 1998. Additionally, that store was profitable and she opened her second store by 2000 in Del Mar, then a third one by 2003 in Encinitas. In the following paragraphs, I will apply microeconomic concepts toward the competitive strategies of Kudler Fine Foods that affect its long term profitability. Additionally, I will evaluate Kudler’s competitiveness in the marketplace, including its customers’ views. In this same process, I will identify the market structure that I believe best applies to Kudler Fine Foods, and assess how the market structure positively and negatively affects Kudler’s long-term profitability.
How Kudler competes in the marketplace
Kudler Finer Foods is one of the only few competitors who offers gourmet foods in Orange County. They compete by giving shoppers a complete gourmet shopping opportunity. Additionally, Kudler’s compete on a differentiating strategy, and they do this by advertising their products in the local newspapers. A way Kudler stores satisfies customers is to have a selection of gourmet foods that changes with demand. Therefore, when new products come into focus of the customers Kudler’s will have it available.