...Kudler Fine Foods Operations Focus This paper will define how Kudler Fine Foods can benefit from Internet purchasing and how this new system and process will be implemented. This paper begins by analyzing Kudler’s current purchasing processes and systems and makes recommendations to systems and processes that Kudler could use to improve their current processes. Incorporating an Internet-based purchasing system would add convenience and provide Kudler with sustaining a robust customer and supplier relationship. Currently Kudler has no purchasing department in any of their locations but standard purchasing procedures have been implemented. Currently each department manager in each location determines requirements for the items his or her department sells. These managers place purchase orders directly with suppliers using standard purchase order forms in each location. Departmental managers have the responsibility to obtain the best price, quality, and delivery possible. Managers also receive and verify the orders to decipher if they received the correct items and quantities that arrived in undamaged condition. Items are documented on an order received form and forwarded to accounting in order for the invoices on the items to be paid (Kudler Fine Foods website, 2011). The department managers at each location must check with their counterparts in other locations on the pricing, quality, and delivery of the merchandise they order. Managers are also encouraged to combine orders...
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...Kudler Fine Foods Operations Focus Ian Solace BSA/502 April 16, 2012 Christine Lin Kudler Fine Foods Operations Focus Kudler Fine Foods is a growing, upscale food retailer that currently uses exclusively manual processes to place orders for all of its products. In an effort to help streamline practices and increase profitability, it is recommended that Kudler move toward an Internet-based mode of ordering and fulfilling stock. This type of ordering system could save Kudler both time and money as well as reducing inaccuracies inherent in the manual ordering process. Current Ordering System Currently, there is no central purchasing department for the string of three stores. It is the responsibility of each of the three department managers within each store to determine requirements for the items in their departments and to place purchase orders directly with suppliers (Apollo Group, Inc., 2011). The department managers are required to fill out a standard, manual purchase order form for each order as well as receive and manually verify each shipment as it comes in. To place an order, these forms must be mailed, faxed, e-mailed, or even handed to suppliers (Apollo Group, Inc., 2011). These forms then become the primary tracking and financial documents for all merchandise orders (Apollo Group, Inc., 2011). This vast amount of paperwork must be maintained and stored in the accounting department to ensure vendors are paid. Another hurdle exists in that each department...
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...Kudler Foods The change in technology creates business opportunities in every market. Technology can change the ways businesses measure competition and behavior. Technology also allows businesses to conduct every day processes. To maintain the Kudler Fine Foods mission and the growth of the company, Kathy Kudler and her management team have to keep up with current market trends and technology to sustain their place in the upscale specialty food market. This text will provide an assessment of how changes in technology have created business opportunities for Kathy Kudler and Kudler Fine Foods, give an analysis of the generic strategy Kudler Fine Foods, and provide an analysis of how the management can continuously scan the grocer industry for ideas to update its strategy. Technology and business opportunities For most businesses seeking expansion, information technologies are a key element to consider when refining operations and enhancing customer service. According to Turban and Potter (2001), Strategic Information Systems can strengthen competitive advantages. For example, British Airways implemented customer service online and self-checking at the airports. Though the reorganization of the stores and operations, the company can increase its operating efficiency and cost management. To gain a competitive advantage in the upscale specialty food market, Kathy Kudler and her management team decided to start with a basic site and add electronic commerce capabilities...
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...Head: KUDLER STRATEGY Week 6 Kudler Strategy Yong Zhou University of Phoenix/ MBA Program STR/581 Strategic Planning & Implementation Professor Doug Gilbert August 11, 2009 Executive Summary Kathy Kudler is the creator of Kudler Fine Foods. Kathy’s primary goal in establishing KFF was to create a retail store that provides a selection of gourmet foods in order to meet the needs of the typical person all within one store. A wide variety of foods are offered at Kudler Fine Foods. The many different departments include gourmet baked goods, dairy, cheese, wine, organic and non organic produce sections, fresh meats, and seafood. Furthermore, the three different retail locations will offer cooking classes in addition to monthly cheese and wine customer appreciation classes. Some of these services will be expanded into the private residence sector. Adding to their list of offered services, KFF has just added a new catering service in an attempt to attract new customers as well as increasing revenue from their existing customer base. There have been some recent operational changes at Kudler that will be advantageous to the success of their stores. Kudler is able to increase their profitability by using operational strategies such as establishing contracts with local producers of organic produce, creating a purchasing department, and through the use of marketing tools. The right strategies will keep Kudler Fine...
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...BUS/475 July 25, 2011 Dr. Leah Raby The Kudler Fine Foods or KFF for short is an existing gourmet shop in which handles specialty items. Owner of these establishments is Kathy Kudler. She is the one who is responsible for the hiring, firing, inventory, and all managers, or assistant managers. Since 1988, Kudler Fine Foods is in the processes of rapid expansion. Kudler currently has three locations in different areas of California. The stores are carrying the finest of cheeses, meats, produces, and wines. This inventory is set for knowledgeable shoppers and particular customers. However, there needs to be resolutions made because of the costly payroll, inventory loss to employees, and the value vision and strategies for the customers, which is lost. Kudler Fine Foods is enthusiastic to offer individuals products to satisfy everyone’s needs for fine dining. The organization is known as an upscale food store offering many products from bakery items, meats, seafood’s, cheese, dairy products, produce, and packaged foods, and condiments. Kudler Fine Foods value all customers with prices that will meet the needs or wallet of anyone. Kudler Fine Foods has something for everyone whether shopping for personal, business, or party needs. The organization’s mission is to offer service at high quality because Kudler’s shops everywhere to obtain quality products for every customer. Kudler will go the extra mile to make sure Kudler is the supplier of choice for any customer wishing...
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...Paper MKT-421 Individual Marketing Research Paper Kudler Fine Foods While developing the Kudler Fine Foods marketing campaign strategy it is critical to identify areas which will need additional marketing research. By identifying areas for needed additional market research, Kudler Fine Foods can better target its marketing strategy and tactics. By analyzing competitive intelligence, Kudler Fine Foods can better assess opportunities within its current marketing strategy. Background Kudler Fine Foods was founded in 1998 when its first store was built by Kathy Kudler. The company maintains its main base in San Diego, California and services the neighborhoods of La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas. Each store has more than 16,000ft of modernized groceries and fresh organic specialty foods. Kudler Fine Foods prides itself on offering high quality foods, both domestic and imported. The company maintains specific strategic practices to introduce planning unrealistic goals and objectives. Although the company services a niche market in a minimal geographic area, the grocery industry is inherently competitive. The success of the company is attributed to its high standards in human resources and inventory control. By identifying additional areas for marketing research and analyzing competitive intelligence, Kudler Fine Foods will be able to expand its operations and establish more locations. The company is currently...
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...Kudler Fine Foods-Strategy Brian R. Duncan University of Phoenix MBA-502 July 27, 2008 “Strategic competitiveness can be attained only when the firm’s selected structure is congruent with its formulated strategy” (Gomez-Mejia et al., Chapter 7, pg 28). Kudler Fine Foods continues to manifest growth based on Mrs. Kudler’s original vision of a one stop gourmet food store. Having direct control over hiring, ordering and customer service, she has built the company into an expanding entity. The following is a discussion of strategy implementation, technology and opportunities, strategic recommendations and external forces to be aware of. Most growing companies have used information technologies (IT) to enhance operations and improve customer service. Mrs. Kudler has plans to add to the inventory and ordering automation by introducing new e-commerce capabilities and an online catering link (Kudler Fine Foods Portal, Strategic Plan, pgs 15-16). Strategic Information Systems have the ability to amplify strengths into potential sustainable competitive advantage. For example, British Airways implemented customer service online and self checking at the airports. Though the restructuring effected employee morale due to job loss, the company increased in efficiency and cost leadership. Mrs. Kudler is known for her kindness and generosity to employees, so the company will only prosper with new IT applications. Two main approaches...
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...improve the bottom line” ( Lebon & Stone, 2008). When any organization is ready to make changes, change management helps them make the transition smoother. Kudler Fine Foods is an organization that is no exception and is in need of the change management program. Recently, this particular organization decided to make changes in relation to working patterns, and now the concentration will be in the sales operations department of the organization, which most likely will benefit the organization as a whole and will be an overall change. . Kudler Fine Foods has a supervision of operations department which is run by two to four level managers who are supervised by a midlevel manager at this organization. Recently, there have been some problems in this department in relation to the management positions in the sales area. Change must be done in order to maintain balance and to respect the level of authority amongst the supervisors in this organization. Good quality management helps any type of business. For Kudler Fine Foods to remain competitive in today’s market, quality is the key. The organization must make every effort to maintain quality along with customer satisfaction, as this will bring lasting financial success. Program for Change Management The Change management program will help Kudler Fine Foods to make sure that change is managed appropriately, and will help continue the work efficiently....
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...Kudler Fine Foods-Strategy University of Phoenix MBA-502 July 27, 2008 “Strategic competitiveness can be attained only when the firm’s selected structure is congruent with its formulated strategy” (Gomez-Mejia et al., Chapter 7, pg 28). Kudler Fine Foods continues to manifest growth based on Mrs. Kudler’s original vision of a one stop gourmet food store. Having direct control over hiring, ordering and customer service, she has built the company into an expanding entity. The following is a discussion of strategy implementation, technology and opportunities, strategic recommendations and external forces to be aware of. Most growing companies have used information technologies (IT) to enhance operations and improve customer service. Mrs. Kudler has plans to add to the inventory and ordering automation by introducing new e-commerce capabilities and an online catering link (Kudler Fine Foods Portal, Strategic Plan, pgs 15-16). Strategic Information Systems have the ability to amplify strengths into potential sustainable competitive advantage. For example, British Airways implemented customer service online and self checking at the airports. Though the restructuring effected employee morale due to job loss, the company increased in efficiency and cost leadership. Mrs. Kudler is known for her kindness and generosity to employees, so the company will only prosper with new IT applications. Two main approaches of Strategic...
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...Kudler Fine Foods-Strategy University of Phoenix MBA-502 “Strategic competitiveness can be attained only when the firm’s selected structure is congruent with its formulated strategy” (Gomez-Mejia et al., Chapter 7, pg 28). Kudler Fine Foods continues to manifest growth based on Mrs. Kudler’s original vision of a one stop gourmet food store. Having direct control over hiring, ordering and customer service, she has built the company into an expanding entity. The following is a discussion of strategy implementation, technology and opportunities, strategic recommendations and external forces to be aware of. Most growing companies have used information technologies (IT) to enhance operations and improve customer service. Mrs. Kudler has plans to add to the inventory and ordering automation by introducing new e-commerce capabilities and an online catering link (Kudler Fine Foods Portal, Strategic Plan, pgs 15-16). Strategic Information Systems have the ability to amplify strengths into potential sustainable competitive advantage. For example, British Airways implemented customer service online and self checking at the airports. Though the restructuring effected employee morale due to job loss, the company increased in efficiency and cost leadership. Mrs. Kudler is known for her kindness and generosity to employees, so the company will only prosper with new IT applications. Two main approaches of Strategic Information Systems are mostly used:...
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...quality plan for a new product or service. Quality can be described as the maker or breaker for almost all business. After all customers focus more on quality and customer service more than anything else including price. In this paper, I will discuss Kudler’s quality strategies and strategic plan as well as identify and examine the process of improvement. Furthermore I will also talk about Kudler’s tools and techniques along with the significance of competitive intelligence as it relates to their organization. The History of the Company Kudler Fine Foods is an upscale specialty food store founded by Kathy Kudler in June 1998. The business offers their customers a wide selection of both imported and domestic products from bakery, meat and seafood, to produce, cheese and dairy products, not to mention their extensive assortment of wines. Presently, Kudler Fine Foods has store locations in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas, California. “Kudler’s mission is to provide their customers with the finest selected foodstuff, wines, and related needs in an unparalleled consumer environment” (Apollo Group 2008). A few years after opening, Kudler Fine Foods quickly began to experience substantial growth. Therefore, the company is currently concentrating their efforts on expansion of their services, improving the efficiency of their operations, and increasing their consumer buying cycle. In order to accomplish these plans, they must first identify the type of strategic plan...
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...Kudler Fine Food (Problem Statement) The paper should examine Kudler Fine Foods existing issues and identifying current strategy. The paper should discuss Kudler’s marketing and Strategies for better positioning for growth. Kudler Fine Foods, founded by Kathy Kudler in 1998 with a vision to grow into several store in high end markets. In summary and as shown in the 2003 strategic plan illustrated that Kudler Fine Foods was founded by Kathy Kudler first in La Jolla – California area, followed by two additional stores in 2000 and 2003. While the KFF La Jolla location was doing well, there were some challenges on the second location in Del Mar – California in which consideration for merging the Del Mar store with the third location in Encinitas - Carlsbad, California. Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) vision “Kudler Fine Foods will be the premiere gourmet grocery store for those savvy shoppers who are searching for the finest meats, produce, cheeses, and wine” the vision statement automatically set the targeted customers with specific passion for gourmet cooking and fine wines from a singles source. Kudler Fine Foods important task is to understand to look outside the box and look into ways to how to reach the market and review their current position, marketing & strategy plans among few other issues and have a mission statement to align with base on some kind of key metrics to measure progress. KFF entire operations carried issues that became problems. Some of the issues also...
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...Kudler Fine Foods Job Descriptions Kudler Fine Foods is a local upscale specialty food store located in the San Diego metropolitan area. The company has three locations and looking to expand. Each store has approximately 16,000 square feet of retail space located in fashionable shopping centers. The stores are stocked with the very finest domestic and imported foodstuffs and divided into the following departments: Fresh bakery, cheese’s and deli department Fresh produce department Fresh meat and seafood department Grocery department with condiments and packaged foods In order to fulfill the owner’s dream of expansion and growth Kudler Fine Foods is in the process of developing an organized structure of buyer, catering manager, store director, and the various department managers at the stores. The following are the job descriptions developed to hire and develop these key positions at Kudler Fine Foods. A buyer for all stores would facilitate the need for the owner to stop ordering for the stores. A buyer will purchase grocery merchandise or commodities for resale. The buyer inspects and grades or appraises agricultural commodities, durable goods and other merchandise offered for sale to determine value and yield. The buyer selects and orders merchandise from showings by manufacturing representatives, growers, or other sellers, or purchases an open market for cash. Buyers will baseselection on nature of clientele, or demand for specific...
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...Marketing Research - Kudler Fine Foods Valerie Geiger University of Phoenix August 12, 2012 Christina Martin People with a passion for cooking often turn to gourmet foods for the exquisite taste and product quality. Kudler Fine Foods is just the place to find exceptional quality products at a competitive price. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Kudler, she has a passion for fine food and a vision to share that passion along with the ability to find everything a person would need to fulfill culinary delight under one roof. With the company in full operating swing, marketing research in different areas of the company will be essential to fine tune the marketing strategy and tactics of Kudler Fine Foods. Marketing Strategy Kudler Fine Foods virtual organization portal states "Kudler Fine Foods has experienced significant growth and is now focused on expanding the services, improving the efficiency of its operations and increasing the consumer purchase cycle as a means to increasing the loyalty and profitability of its consumers" (University of Phoenix, 2011). The goal is to increase profits and reduce costs and remain true to loyal customers. Through different tactics such as in store events, frequent shopper programs, increased operating efficiency, and additional market research Kudler Fine Foods should be able to meet the goal. Kudler Fine Food will need to utilize the marketing research process to gather information needed to make informed business decisions. The marketing...
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...Marketing Kudler Fine Foods Angela Bush MKT/421 February 19, 2012 Judith C. Allen Marketing Kudler Fine Foods Kudler fine foods is a store that markets fine foods but needs to bring some focus toward expanding their goods to the public. Improving their business operations will increase store efficiencies and the demand of its customers at a higher volume of purchases. The growth of this organization is significant and growth will coincide with strategic marketing that will expand Kudler Fine foods locally and internationally. Kudler’s current marketing strategy and tactics have limited the company from targeting the right group of areas of consumers to promote goods too. Examining demographics and consumer behaviors competition is an aspect to consider when marketing depicting whether or not a business is promoting the benefits from the product. Importance of marketing research Marketing research allows the company to promote goods and services. Strategic marketing will place Kudler Fine foods in a good position to remain dominant in the grocery store circuit and raises their sales volumes in different locations. When evaluating consumers, a business needs to perform studies on customer behaviors demographically to decide on the appropriate items to market. The correct target market will drive consumers in to stores to shop more. This helps the business marketing decisions and strategic planning to promote their store publicly. Kudler Fine Foods provide...
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