...curb the effects of herbicides. But the risks in using GMOs may far outweigh the benefits. GMO foods are becoming increasingly available and are a threat to our health and our agricultural system. Basically GMOs are organisms that have had their genes altered through bio-engineering. These plants and/or animals have their genetic makeup changed, usually in a lab, in order to add or remove certain characteristics. Genes from other animals, viruses, or bacteria are artificially inserted into organisms in order to create new organisms that would not occur naturally. Corn, for example, has been genetically modified to produce its own pesticide and resist herbicides. Nearly 70% of all the corn grown in the United States was modified in this way. (Smith) And if you look at the ingredient list of almost any packaged food, you’ll see that there is corn in almost all of it. Corn is also the main ingredient in much of the feed given to farm animals, such as pigs and cows. So no matter what you eat, it is almost certain to contain some amount GM (Genetically Modified) corn. These new types of crops have some people to refer to them as “frankenfoods” a play on the fact that these foods are essentially created a lab by scientists. This new food technology helps farmers yield more crops than ever before, and in turn make more money. Recently there has been much debate as to whether GMO foods are safe for our planet or our bodies. Agricultural...
Words: 1468 - Pages: 6
...Rubrics section of the course. Food, the one thing all human beings can agree upon its necessity for our survival. Ever walked into a grocery store and gotten a headache from the bombardment of food certifications. USDA Organic, Certified Humane Raised & Handled, Natural, Fair Trade Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Food Alliance are just a few of the dizzying array of food certifications circling around. The simple truth only two of the multitudes of certifications around should warrant your attention. Some will contend that Fair Trade has its merits, really? The Fair Trade association developed from the need to offer protection and security for coffee farmers. Fair Trade exists to provide premiums to farmers to ensure the farmers gets a standardized price and were not exploited for labor. Sounds fair right? Fair Trade lacks any governmental branch, its criteria is created from within its own walls. Where does the money really go? To the laborers? Better farming conditions? Or in someone’s bank account? There is unfortunately no way to trace the funds making Fair Trade hard to trust and impossible to verify. This leaves only USDA organic and Non-GMO Project Verified as the real top two contenders each with their own subtle flaws. Unlike every other certification USDA Organic is regulated by U.S. Department of Agriculture (Hence the name USDA) and verified by a third party. In order for food to bare the USDA Organic label a strict set of qualifications...
Words: 646 - Pages: 3
...Wal-Mart: Is There a Downside to Going Upscale? Published: June 14, 2006 in Knowledge@Wharton [pic][pic] [pic] [pic][pic][pic][pic] Share this Article [pic][pic]After saturating its target market of working class, bargain-hunting consumers, Wal-Mart is ratcheting up its low-price strategy to appeal to more upscale shoppers by expanding its merchandise lines to include organic foods, better wines, high-end consumer electronics and new fashion-oriented apparel. It's an approach that carries some risk, say Wharton faculty and analysts, but that is dictated by intense competition and the lack of other opportunities for growth. The changes come as Wal-Mart -- the world's largest retailer with annual sales of more than $300 billion -- has struggled with slowing growth and rocky transitions internationally as well as into urban areas of the northeastern United States. In a speech at the company's annual meeting this month, Wal-Mart chief executive Lee Scott outlined elements of the strategy and quoted Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton: "You can't just keep doing what works one time. Everything around you is always changing. To succeed, stay out in front of that change." Wooing the Baby Boomers Read More About... india, china, innovation, retail, supply chain Articles Follow the Sun: Predicting Population Growth in the U.S. Knowledge@Wharton Citigroup and Coca-Cola: Two Global Investors Share Their Experiences in Emerging Markets Knowledge@Wharton Are Emerging Markets...
Words: 2244 - Pages: 9
...Tea Estate Ltd. Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Ltd. sells its exquisite orthodox teas internationally under the brand name Teatulia. is the only substantial organic tea grower in Bangladesh. There garden is located in Tetulia, in the northernmost district of Panchagarh, only 50 km south of Darjeeling. They were inspired to produce high-quality organic teas to meet the growing demands of both local and foreign markets. Incorporated in the year 2000, They acquired virgin lands which had never before been used for cultivation. After extensive research and consultation with the Bangladesh Tea Board, plantation began on August 6, 2000. KK Tea is the first organic tea substantially produced in Bangladesh, and the first to be certified by international certifying authorities. KK Tea is also the only single-estate premium blend tea available to Bangladeshi consumers, from the first and largest tea garden in Tetulia. KK Tea has been celebrated by professional tea tasters and buyers with a 47% premium on all other teas in the Chittagong auction. There garden is certified 100% organic by the United States USDA NOP 100% Organic Certification and by SGS Organic Production Standard in accordance to the EU Regulation 2092/91.There garden produces only organic tea, manufacturing bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides on-site with only natural and organic means. There philosophy is to produce tea, not by fighting nature, but by supporting and sustaining it. Product: BLACK TEAS: GREEN TEAS: WHITE...
Words: 1963 - Pages: 8
...How Genetically Modified Foods Affect Our Lives In recent years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have replaced our diet with genetically altered foods, which have adversely affected human health as well as local communities. Being resistant to pesticides, GMOs are created by splicing genes of different species that are combined through genetic engineering (GE), something that is impossible to do in nature (The Non-GMO Project). Consuming these genetically altered and more processed foods can lead to increased risk of diseases and even cancer (Genetically Modified Food). Most of the time we do not even realize that we are eating these harmful toxins as they are infused in our food without our knowledge (Label GMOs). The farmers that maintain the traditional farming practices and choose to grow organic produce over crops that are GE are constantly trying to keep their businesses alive. Larger corporations, however, who choose to use genetically modified (GM) seeds, make larger profits with less time and effort involved. Choosing to buy local organic produce over crops that contain genetically modified organisms can not only help you stay healthy, but also keep our local farmers in business so that they may continue to grow their crops the way nature intended. Living in the Bay Area we are extremely fortunate to have access to all sorts of organic fruits and vegetables that are grown right in our own backyard. There are countless farms in California that can grow just...
Words: 2762 - Pages: 12
...Lab Questions What, specifically, about the company’s products or practices is environmentally sustainable (in any of the following areas that are applicable): A fund-raiser for Growing Gardens. This non-profit organization helps elderly, low income people in northeast Portland grow their own food. As a supporter of the program, Yudkin placed beautiful pictures of these gardens on the walls of Hot Lips restaurants where people could see the connection between the earth and food. Its product was very personal – something you put in your body – and directly connected to a healthy environment. Production of raw materials: how has the company taken steps to decrease the production impact of the raw materials it uses? He took his employees out to visit an organic farm and decided to shift toward organically grown produce from local farmers. He saw this, in part, as addressing the social equity aspects of The Natural Step’s fourth system condition. The decision to favor local farms has caused Yudkin to begin integrating seasonality into his menu. Typical toppings of the summer are tomatoes, corn and summer squash. During the winter, they are greens, potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. Yudkin says, “This insures flavor, freshness and nutrition. It also helps keep money within our community and maintains local agriculture and regional food security. And it reduces the amount of fossil fuel used to grow and transport our food.” Hot Lips currently uses organic...
Words: 705 - Pages: 3
...STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSIGNMENT BY Muhammad Zeeshan Presented to Archana Karki London College Of Accountancy And Management Table of contents Introduction.....................................................................................................4 Vision Of Fresh Direct.......................................................................................4 Mission Of Fresh Direct....................................................................................4 Goals/Objectives...............................................................................................5 External Analysis of Fresh Direct..................................................................5 Marco Enviroment.............................................................................................5 Industry Analysis...............................................................................................7 Industry Life Cycle............................................................................................7 Competitors.......................................................................................................7 Critical Success Factor.....................................................................................8 Opportunities & Threats....................................................................................9 Internal Analysis.............................................................................
Words: 5301 - Pages: 22
...Company Analysis: Whole Foods Market Introduction Whole Foods Market is American supermarket chains headquartered in Austin, Texas. Today, the company is the world’s leader in selling natural and organic foods and has more than 360 stores in the North America and the United Kingdom (Whole Foods, Inc. 1). As a company, they seek the finest goods available, while maintaining the most faithful quality of natural and organic food items. In essence, they have an impeccable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Their motto is “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet” (Whole Foods Declaration). The company markets food products and dietary supplements along with body care items, articles of clothing, educational books and household items which include furniture, carpets, lighting, etc (Whole Foods, Inc 1). Some of their specialty items are meat, fish, cheeses, wine, vitamins, vegetables, fruits, prepared meals, animal nutrition products (Whole Foods, Inc 1). The company has an overall good reputation when it comes to customer’s health and diet. With the expansion of the Whole Foods Market, organic food is becoming more popular in families’ kitchens across the globe. One might wonder what contributes to Whole Food Markets nationwide success. As a whole, ethics, social responsibility, sustainability, competitive advantage, technology and innovation are some of the contributing factors to Whole Food Market’s success. Application of Chapter Concepts Ethics One of the factors that...
Words: 2273 - Pages: 10
...marketing as, “the process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return” (Armstrong & Kotler, 2012, p. 5). However, some companies have taken advantage of its effectiveness to deceive customers. This paper will delve into the Whole Foods marketing deception. Whole Foods Market (WFM) is one of the most popular food markets in the United States. As its name suggests, it is supposed to sell foods that have undergone little or no processing or refinement and have no added ingredients. The stores used to have a very large logo on the side of the building saying, “Nothing Artificial, Ever!” Perhaps this is one of the biggest factors that led to their popularity, because most people shop at Whole Foods Market because of the health benefits associated with them. In October 2012, a controversial video was released exposing WFM. The video had evidence that WFM had been selling genetically modified (GM) foods to the public without their knowledge. The video shows customers who regularly shop at WFM that had been under the impression that the food there was completely organic. In an interview, they expressed their shock and dismay when they discovered that they had been buying genetically modified products (Adams, 2012). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can certainly taste good, but we cannot forget that they can also have adverse health effects. A study carried out by a French Research Team...
Words: 756 - Pages: 4
...Whole Foods Market evolved into the “world’s largest retail chain of natural and organic foods supermarkets.” The product awareness is harder for companies to prove their products are better products compare to other similar products in the market. However, the Whole Food has motivated this trend through the healthiness and wellness by highly selected organic foods. This strategic idea lays out the key areas of opportunity based on consumer requirements, brand equities, and attitudes that convert consumer behavior into purchasing the product. For that reason, Whole Food charged a premium price for the offered products. Whole Food is a leader in this segment of the industry; which enjoys the strong awareness of the brand (Egan, 2009). Whole Foods post strong profit and revenue in the market due to the company’s rapid growth and size, which gives realization about economies of scale in its chain supply. Until the last decade, people did not have enough knowledge about the organic food; therefore, Whole Foods has given information’s about organic products, which made consumer knowledgeable. The company has been pioneered in this segment that utilized well through opening new stores in different areas, for that reason, Whole Food became in a competition with retail leader Wal-Mart as well as other traditional stores. However, Whole Foods' growth and profit may reduce in the near future because Wal-Mart is expanding their sections of organic food along with other products, which...
Words: 634 - Pages: 3
...Entry mode strategy Objectives The prime objective of wholefoods moving into France would be to become the market leader of organic products in retail. This can be accomplished if wholefoods proceed to do the following; Brand positioning Build and reinforce strong brand equity for wholefoods Focus on in-store activities In order to successfully enter the French market the store not only needs to be recognized but favored amongst other similar retailers. A suggestion for this would be for in-store sampling. As introduced in other countries such as Italy and Brazil, the store could host a “try our whole world” event in the opening store. This would not only create a buzz about the store but promote word of mouth, which is the most effective and cost saving form of advertising. Expert opinions and research Wholefoods should not only conduct extensive primary research but get some professional advice on the needs and norms of the average French person, or at least who the suggested product is targeted at. The cultural differences evident in the differing country’s wholefoods has already conquered suggest previous entry skills and action plans. Perhaps the same cultural analysis should be considered while entering France. Famous/relevant testimonials As wholefoods seeks to promote a healthy life style, gaining a celebrity endorsement or well-known iconic , healthy French citizen on board and prompting the store is another mode of entering the French market successfully...
Words: 573 - Pages: 3
...Introduction Founded in 1993, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has expanded from a local favorite consisting of a single location in Colorado to an international chain with over 1500 locations today. There are countless example of various corporations that experience growth trends similar to that of Chipotle’s, however, as a result of the rapid expansion and gains in sales, most of these corporations tend to neglect their corporate social responsibilities (CSR). Chipotle, on the other hand, does not fall susceptible to this trend. Through a complete examination of Chipotle’s CSR initiatives and activities, as well as detailed explanations of Chipotle’s contributions to the three “pillars” of sustainable development, one is able to see that Chipotle is a leader and an innovator in its industry regarding the corporate management of ethical dilemmas and moral responsibilities. A thorough comparison with a similar corporation in the same industry, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Inc., provides further evidence that Chipotle places immense value corporate transparency and quality morals in addition to being a genuinely ethical and responsible corporation. Following the major comparison are explanations of possible underlying motives and “market nudges” leading Chipotle to participate in particular CSR activities. Lastly, a discussion of government initiatives and potential upcoming regulations has been included to indicate the possible future direction of every firm’s corporate social responsibilities...
Words: 6599 - Pages: 27
...anaylsis of organic wines in australia xiangyun Dai, SID:220113354 MM110 Assignment 1 Market anaylsis of organic wines in australia xiangyun Dai, SID:220113354 2013 2013 Unit coordinator: Fredy-Roberto Organic Wines Organic wines are made from wine grapes produced under organic agricultural practices, as defined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture movements as the ‘production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions’ with its core principle in achieving high yields without artificial fertilizers and pesticides (IFOAM, 2008). With over 11 million certified hectares of land, the Organic agricultural industry in Australia has received rapid growth in the recent years due to the trend to a more ‘healthy, and environmentally responsible’ consumer culture and a willingness to pay more for their values (Remaud, 2008). In the following years the industry is expect to continue to receive respectable double digit growth. The recent growth in organic produces has translated well into the growing market for organic wine (107% growth during 2010-2012) and it is expected to continue into the future (Mascitelli, 2012). While the average consumer are not so willing to pay the premium for the ‘organic’ label on their wine, research have found that a significant cluster (~14%) of Australians are willing to pay up to a 9% premium for organic wine (Chvyl,...
Words: 1259 - Pages: 6
...external that endlessly facilitate in attaining the pre-set objectives. External Forces & Trend Consideration In the ‘External Forces Analysis’ organic and natural health food shops the major forces included are the legal & regulatory forces, economic forces, competitive analysis and social factors. Legal and Regulatory Factors The legal and regulatory forces are very important for the business of organic food and natural health products. Human health is a highly sensitive issue for the company, so the legal regulation regarding this business is the license of human health administration to sale the food product (Wheelan & Hunger, 2004). It is necessary for the shop to get a certification and license of the nutrition available in the products (Bradford & Duncan, 2000). The legal and regulatory framework would enhance the capability of the strategy formation of the company with the inclusion of the varied legal and regulatory aspects of food and health products (Brown, 2009). Economic Factors The economies of the countries have frequent fluctuations in them due to changing economic environment (Wheelan & Hunger, 2004). This will have a great impact on the business of health and food products. Due to the changes in the economies condition of consumers, the firm would have a rapid growth in such kinds of organic food product (Pierce & Robinson, 2004). Competitive factors Due to the preference...
Words: 1948 - Pages: 8
...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...
Words: 1598 - Pages: 7
