...Unit 5-Whole Food Market Case Study Analysis Kaplan University School of Business MT460 Management Policy and Strategy Author: Andrea Reed Professor: Dr. Marian Leerburger Date: November 21, 2012 Whole Food Market Case Analysis Introduction In 1978, John Mackey opened a natural foods grocery called Safer Way that focused mainly on vegetables. The store was not very successful and in 1979 Mackey joined with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles and they started Whole Foods Market. What Craig, Weller and Skiles wanted to do was change the world’s diet to a healthy one. Whole Foods not only has markets they have several other business; Allegro Coffee company, Pigeon cove seafood processing and Produce Field Inspection Office and Select Fish (Harasta and Hoffman, 2007). Whole Food Markets looks forward to one day providing the highest quality good tasting foods available. Synopsis of the Situation Whole Foods Market is a leading seller of natural and organic food. With over 100 stores their goal is to become one large store instead of a number of small ones. Whole Foods Market would like to make shopping for food into a pleasant, fun experience. It is the desire of Whole Foods to make the customer think of home when they enter one of their markets. The vision of Whole Foods is to have a brand known worldwide, and to introduce the future generation to a healthy diet and be the best in food retail( Key Issues With the growing demand will World Food Market be able to...
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...By 2006, Whole Foods Market (WFM) had evolved into the “world’s largest retail chain of natural and organic foods supermarkets.” (Case Analysis-Whole Foods Market 2005 p.1). An example of strategic decision making is WFM implementation of “Health Starts Here” ; an initiative to offer healthier pre-fab food options with limited add-ons such as refined flour and sugar and processed ingredients. The purpose is to encourage better eating among its shoppers. To make it successful they hired healthy eating specialist for each store and created wellness clubs. This is unconventional, and WFM is performing different activities from rivals, and more important this new activities fit and reinforce the other activities such as: selling the highest quality, least processed natural food, satisfies and delights their customer, active support of organic farming, sustainable agriculture that helps protect our planet and decentralized, self-directed team culture. Their Strategic Based Position is a Needs-Based; they seek to meet organic grocery needs of its target customers which are college educated residence interested in eating natural and organic foods. There strategic position is sustainable because of the trade off of being so streamlined with their organic options that tend to be higher priced, by doing so gives up their service to lower income families by not providing lower cots options. As well as only purchasing from farmers that meet WFM’s organically certified requirements...
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...obesity, it is important to follow a healthy diet and exercise lifestyle. Unfortunately, this healthy diet food is under attack by use of GMO, pesticides, hormone additives, antibiotics, and other chemicals which are harmful to the body and cause other health problems. Zerbe (2010) reported that the President’s Cancer Panel is now urging people to eat foods grown without such harmful chemicals; organic foods. Due to such health concerns, organic food markets are slowly gaining popularity again as consumer demand is rising. This is great news not just for the consumers, but also the local organic farmer stands, e-commerce organic product sites and stores like the Whole Foods Market. In fact, this research will present the Whole Foods Market, Inc. strategic analysis. This analysis is being conducted to provide advice on how to integrate Whole Foods into ABC Company. It will cover the first step in the strategic planning process which is Whole Foods Market’s mission, vision and values; followed by presenting company’s Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat (SWOT) analysis. This research will further discuss competition within the industry by conducting the Porter’s Five Forces Analysis and describe Whole Foods Market’s strategic position. Based on this analysis, I will provide my recommendation for the integration of Whole Foods into ABC Company. Whole Food...
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...Unit 3 Internal Analysis and Long-Term Objectives Case Study Analysis Kaplan University School of Business MT460 Management Policy and Strategy Author: Gerald Short Professor: Dr. Andryce Zurich Date: 12/31/2015 Internal Analysis and Long-Term Objectives Company Name: Whole Foods Market Topic of the Week: Internal Analysis and Long-Term Objectives Synopsis of the Situation Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading company in natural and organic food sales. Their growth and success is due to being highly selective about what they sell, they are also dedicated to high quality standards and their core values. They are also the first American grocer to be a nationally certified organic and ranked 284th in Fortune 500 (Pearce & Robinson, 2013). Whole Foods is struggling to maintain its edge over today’s competition, many of their competitors can purchase more product and sell it for less. Due to the rising awareness of healthier eating and farmers producing more organic and natural products Whole Foods finds itself in a precarious position. The position would be the fierce competition from big box retailers such as Wal*Mart, target, Costco, and the standard grocery stores. These competitors have the ability to order larger quantities at a lower cost giving them the ability to offer the natural or organic products at a lower price (Pearce & Robinson, 2013). Alternative Solutions 1. Increase brand awareness, image, and loyalty through advertising...
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...Running Head: WHOLE FOODS CASE ANALYSIS 1 Whole Foods Case Analysis Thomas Edison State College WHOLE FOODS CASE ANALYSIS 2 The Whole Foods company mission is whole foods, whole people, whole planet. The Whole Foods company strategy reflects the company mission. Their whole foods mission is achieved by offering a wide variety of food and non-food items that are organic or natural. They source their products locally and usually have stricter store guidelines for the definition of “local” requiring a shorter maximum distance for traveling. “Locally grown” n.d. Their standards of quality are high and they strive to provide products that are fresh, safe and support well being. They have a list of unacceptable ingredients for food and quality standards for other products. “Quality standards” n.d. Their mission of whole people is achieved through the formation of teams at the store level. The teams manage themselves and are encouraged to make decisions about their department they are responsible for. Compensation is in part from stock options so they are invested in the profitability of the store. Fortune magazine has listed them as on the top 100 companies to work for for 13 years in a row now. Team members can go on field trips to...
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...College of Business Prairie View A&M University Group Case Study: Whole Foods Market Jamal Bacon, Briana Bedford, Alexis Castleberry, Jordon Powell Strategic profile & case analysis purpose Whole foods was the world’s number one leading retailer of natural and organic foods. It was founded by John Mackey when he started with one store, but it has now grown to the nation’s leading food chain. The purpose of this business case study is to explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing Whole Foods. In 2005 whole foods had 172 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market was created in 1979 when John Mackey partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles. The new company was established in Austin, Texas, in 1980, and consisted of a natural food market with a staff of 19 members. The success of Whole Foods was attributed largely through mergers, acquisitions, and several new store openings. In the United States, Whole Foods is considered the largest natural food supermarket. Whole Foods Markets is driven by its mission, “the company is highly selective about what they sell, dedicated to stringent quality standards, and committed to sustainable agriculture. They believe in a virtuous circle entwining the food chain, human beings and Mother Earth: each is reliant upon the others through a beautiful and delicate symbiosis” (Hunger and Wheelen pg.28-2). Whole Food’s objectives consisted of targeting their locations where...
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...COMPANY BACKGROUND Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Their founders were John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. It has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Today, they are the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 310 stores in the North America and the United Kingdom (About Whole Foods Market). During its 31-year history, Whole Foods Market has been a leader in the natural and organic food movement across the United States, helping the industry gain acceptance among growing numbers of consumer concerned about the food they eat (Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2010, p.C-2). The company seeks out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintains the strictest quality standards in the industry, and has an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add that to the excitement and fun they bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what they are all about. John Mackey, the company’s cofounder and CEO, believes that Whole Foods’ rapid growth and market success has much to do with its having “remained...
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...COMPANY BACKGROUND Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Their founders were John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. It has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Today, they are the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 310 stores in the North America and the United Kingdom (About Whole Foods Market). During its 31-year history, Whole Foods Market has been a leader in the natural and organic food movement across the United States, helping the industry gain acceptance among growing numbers of consumer concerned about the food they eat (Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2010, p.C-2). The company seeks out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintains the strictest quality standards in the industry, and has an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add that to the excitement and fun they bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what they are all about. John Mackey, the company’s cofounder and CEO, believes that Whole Foods’ rapid growth and market success has much to do with its having “remained...
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...Whole Foods Market: A Strategic Analysis Adrienne Lee Richard Linowes Spring 2009 General University Honors 5/6/2009 1 WHOLE FOODS MARKET: Strategic Company Analysis EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Whole Foods Market, Inc. has long been admired as an innovative company with quality standards, a devotion to community and environmental responsiveness, a healthy growth model and highly-regarded employment practices. However, the company has faced recent difficulties as a result of the economic recession, increasing competition, and complications from acquisitions. To revitalize the company from historical lows in its toughest year in history, Whole Foods Market must reassess its costs, refocus its expansion strategies, and promote its brand to compete for the diminishing consumer spending dollar. During the changes in strategic initiatives, it is also important for the company to keep Whole Foods Market’s mission and its brand value intact. The chain is known for its high standards, quality, and ethical practices; this image is at stake when any changes in brand or reputation are made. It is of utmost importance to balance the positioning in order to increase awareness and sales, but at the same time avoid diminishing the brand and message of the company. Without the value behind the Whole Foods brand, the company will not survive—recession or not. If Whole Foods can successfully complete these initiatives that include major restructuring while also generating public relations...
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...HRM 598 Week 3 Case study Job Evaluation at Whole Foods Purchase here http://devrycourse.com/hrm-598-week-3-case-study-job-evaluation-at-whole-foods Product Description Written Case Study: Prepare a Job Structure Read "Job Evaluation at Whole Foods" Case Study (text pp. 153–157). The Whole Foods Market has completed a job analysis and written job descriptions for Jobs A thorough Job I. Respond to the following: • Evaluation of Jobs and Job structure Evaluate the jobs listed in the case study and prepare a job structure based upon its evaluation. Assign titles to jobs, and show your structure by title and job letter. • Process, Techniques, and Factors Describe the process you went through to arrive at that job structure. The job evaluation techniques and compensable factors used should be described, and the reasons for selecting them should be stated. • Evaluation of Job Descriptions Evaluate the job descriptions. What parts of them were most useful? How could they be improved? You will need to follow APA style and format and have a title page, brief introduction and conclusion, centered headings for major parts, page numbering and page headers, and a reference page. The case study should be approximately 4–6 pages in length. The assignment will be reviewed using the following criteria: Written Case Study: Prepare a Job Structure rubric. Written Case Study: Prepare a Job Structure Rubric Possible Points Earned Points Comments • Evaluation of Jobs and...
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...Assignment 2 Case Study: Whole Foods Market Professor: Russell Handlon BUS 599 October 20, 2011 Discuss the trends in retailing of organic foods and the impact of these trends on Whole Foods Market. The trends at Whole Food Markets were core values, growth strategy, store sizes and locations, product lines, store description and merchandising, marketing and customer service, store operations, compensation and incentives, purchasing and distribution, community citizenship and social activism which had a big impact on the company. Due to the fact that it had built a reputation throughout its history for being the leader in the natural and organic foods movement across the United States helping the industry gain acceptance among growing numbers of consumers concerned about the foods they ate (Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2010). In such a hurry to produce more and more crops to please the growing demand, producers has had to resort to using a fatal cocktail of pesticides to control disease and insect attack which was excellent news for their bank balances. Maybe not good news for your health; this is why people need to be knowledgeable of the advantages of organic food. Did you know that if you ate an average apple you would be eating in excess of 30 pesticides, even after you’ve washed it? Organic food is well known to include 50% more minerals, nutrients and vitamins than produce that has been severely farmed (http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/). Whole Foods required...
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...Unit 5 Whole Foods Case Study Analysis Kaplan University School of Business MT460 Management Policy and Strategy Author: Jonelle Newman Professor: Dr. Norris Date: March 29, 2014 Whole Foods Market Case Study Analysis Introduction Whole Foods Market began with a vision from entrepreneur John Mackey and his chain of stores has been successful for 30 years. Whole Foods Market focuses on natural and organic food items. One of the reasons why Whole Foods has been so successful is because their stores are different than its competition and the differentiation “allows them to charge a premium price for premium products.” (Pearce & Robinson, 2013, p. 29-1). Whole Foods focuses on natural and organic foods which is a definite plus as more people become focused on wellness and eating healthier. This leading supermarket chain does not waiver on its core values and mission and their mission statement which has also become their motto is simple: “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet.” (Farfan, 2014). Synopsis of the Situation Whole Foods has grown drastically over the years. The growth of the supermarket chain has been credited to store openings, acquisitions, and mergers. It is necessary to note that although the company’s total sales continue to increase; the operating margin and stocks have declined. (Pearce & Robinson, 2013). Key Issues There are key issues that have been attributed to the decline of the company. The recession caused...
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...Whole Foods Markets Based On the Congruence Model Name Institution Whole Foods Markets Based On the Congruence Model Introduction World Food Market just like any other established organization, regardless of size and the capacity to facilitate production, enters the business world with expectations to meet targets for the desired outcomes. The desired outcomes in most instances rely on the possibility of implementing the appropriate business strategy from which a baseline is derived to attain the set goals and objectives through systematic planning, execution, and review. Imperatively, the current world economy is directed by the evolving market dynamics. Currently, Whole Foods Market is regarded as the most prolific and reputable organization in the global industry. For Whole Foods Markets to achieve goals and objectives set by the top management through the implementation of top quality strategies instituted to steer the organization to new heights. However, with many prolific organizations as with Whole Foods Markets, challenges are not unavoidable and quite inevitable. Whole Foods Markets have encountered numerous challenges that have impacted the organization’s ability to achieve its postulated projections as depicted by the current higher rates of competition within the natural food industry, a fledgling economy and the inherent problem of identifying and acquisition of business locations (Thompson, 2012). Consequently, Whole Foods Markets have come up...
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...COMPETITIVE FORCES AND SWOT ANALYSIS Competitive Forces and SWOT Analysis Teresa Hamlett BUS 599 Strayer University Dr. Russell Handlon January 22, 2012 Competitive Forces and SWOT Analysis Got organic? Concerns for healthier foods have led to consumers purchasing alternative foods. Consumers have found solace with organic foods. Organic foods are considered to be like natural foods. These foods do not contain any harmful processing agents or ingredients or chemicals and pesticides. Whole Foods Market is a producer and seller of organic foods. The trends associated with retailing of organic foods have impacted those of Whole Foods Market. Other supermarkets who are now selling organic foods have created a competitive environment in which Whole Foods Market must vie with. A SWOT analysis will reveal the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats Whole Foods Market must face. A further analysis of these will be useful in Whole Foods Market maintaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Organic Food Trends “According to the USDA, 2000 was the first year in which more organic food was sold in conventional U.S. supermarkets than in the nation’s 14,500 natural foods stores (Thompson 2009, Pg. C-4).” Supermarkets have stocked more organic foods over the last decade and have even setup sections that only have organic foods in those sections. As consumers are becoming more health conscious, worried about what is in their foods, and concerned about...
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...Whole Foods Student 1 Response to Discussion Question 3.1 Pertinent Management Issues The pertinent management issues of Whole Foods Market is to ensure the organization maintains its competitive advantage despite the economy. As discussed in the case study, the decline in the economy had negative impacts on the growth and competitive advantage of the organization. Leaders in Whole Foods Market should continue to focus on their current strategy and examine ways to maintain their competitive advantage. Analysis and Evaluation Five Forces Model: According to Thompson, Strickland, and Gamble (2012), the strategy of Whole Foods Market best aligns with a focused differentiation strategy. A focused differentiation strategy is “concentrating on a narrow buyer segment and outcompeting rivals with a product offering that meets the specific tastes and requirements of niche members better than the product offerings of rivals” (Thompson et al., 2012, p. 136). More simply put, the strategy of Whole Foods Market is a focus on a narrow buyer segment offering unique, differentiated products. Market Target: A focused differentiation strategy aims at securing a competitive advantage with a product designed to appeal to a specific group of buyers (Thompson et al., 2012). The specific group of buyers Whole Foods Market works to satisfy are those who have particular interest in natural and organic foods. Whole Foods Market has a strategy that will “help support the health, well-being, and...
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