...24 September 2012 Operations Whole Foods Market Inc. was established in Austin, Texas in 1980, and is “the world’s leader in natural and organic foods and America’s first national “Certified Organic” grocer with over 310 stores throughout North America and the United Kingdom” (Whole Foods, 2012). Whole Foods consists of one operating segment, natural and organic foods supermarkets. Whole Foods is the “largest retailer of natural and organic foods in the U.S. and the 10th largest food retailer overall based on 2010 sales rankings from Progressive Grocer” (Whole Foods, 2012). Over the last 3 years, Whole Foods has seen substantial growth in revenues from 8.0 billion in 2009, 9 billion in 2010 and 10.1 billion in 2011, and “from 2010 to 2011 this represents a 12.24% sales increase and a 39.37% increase to net income which was 342.61 million for year-end 2011” (Hoover’s Pro, 2012). Whole Foods offers a large selection of natural and organic products with the majority of sales being from perishable foods. Whole Foods “product selection includes, but is not limited to: produce, seafood, grocery, meat and poultry, bakery, prepared foods and catering, specialty (beer, wine and cheese), coffee and tea, nutritional supplements, vitamins, body care, educational products such as books, floral items, pet products and household product” (Whole Foods, 2012). Whole Foods also offers products under their primary store brand called “365 Everyday Value®, along with a grouping...
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...OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT www.ibscdc.org 1 Efficient Project Management at TransWorks Information Services Pvt. Ltd., an Indian-based BPO Company This is a real life case taken from a service industry; it discusses the real life problem faced by a BPO Company. It focusess on the problems faced by the calling agents and the management as a whole, many a times it so happens that the management perceives a problem in a different angle and the solution eludes them; this causes a lot of frustration on the part of employees and management resulting in mass attrition. The real concern today for any call centre company is its high attrition rate; the basic reason being the discord between the management and the employee. The employees look out for a congenial and empathetic management and shift to the other competing companies when offered a good work environment. This case study throws light on one such aspect where a mass attrition was avoided by the top management by strategic and lateral thinking. Pedagogical Objectives • How a manager dealt with such a challenging project with support of his team of 14 fresh trainees • How he managed to save the project and bring about some wonderful changes to glide through the difficult times • How innovation and teamwork can change things for an organisation. Industry Reference No. Year of...
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...which are nearby. Roberta’s array of choices illustrates the ever-evolving dynamics of the grocery industry. In this extremely competitive environment, all major players must continuously strategize to maintain a strong presence. A look at Whole Foods Market reveals how this increased competition can leave a company at a strategic crossroads. Since its beginnings in 1980, Whole Foods has been a leader in supplying organic and natural foods, and for years enjoyed its role as the only store catering to this niche market. However, since then other major players have identified this growing segment and now also carry lines of organic and natural foods. Shoppers like Mand can now buy most specialty items almost anywhere. Competitors, such as Safeway and Kroger, bring with them vast experience in supply chain and vendor development, which allows them to optimize more effectively, use economies of scale, and reduce costs. Despite a public perception that Whole Foods competes against the Sunflower Markets and Trader Joe’s of the world, neither the company itself nor analysts consider this to be Whole Foods’ true competitive arena. As a Fortune 500 company, it plays with the big boys. According to Nick Ford, a Thunderbird MBA student and former employee of Whole Foods, the company positions itself as a large retailer and grocer and does not consider other natural food stores to be threats. An informal survey confirmed this – Paradise Valley, AZ Whole Foods shoppers...
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...Jennifer Park Nicolas Marks MGMT 514 – Principals of Marketing 24 January 2016 Golden Valley Foods, Inc.: A case study Golden Valley Foods, Inc. is a 127-year-old company that prepares packages and sells canned and frozen foods which include fruits, vegetables, pickles and condiments. Golden Valley has more than 30 processing plants in operations and annual sales of approximately $650 million. Much of Golden Valley’s management staff comes from their parent company with the previous president saying “The influence of our old parent company is still with us. As long as new products look like they will increase the company’s sales volume, they are introduced. Traditionally, there has been little, if any attention paid to margins. We are well aware that profits will come through good products in large volume.” (William D Perreault Jr.) Recently this company has gone through a transition with the removal of several directors and the prior president of the company. The newly elected president, Neal Middleton, is facing a severe decline in profits over recent years as well as low personnel morale. Golden Valley Foods, Inc. has major issues facing them with both a decrease in profits and low morale due to the recent departure from their parent company, removal of several directors and the introduction of a new president. By bringing over policies and influences from their parent company, Golden Valley has overlooked an opportunity to tap into some markets their parent...
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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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...Walmart's Mid-Life Crisis James T. Sennet BUS351 May 19, 2013 Kelli Price Abstract This is an article that focuses on retailer Wal-Mart and the problems they are facing regarding their public image in the United States. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. would like you to know that it is not evil. It doesn't squeeze suppliers within an inch of their lives, and it does not pay employees starvation wages. It was only four years ago that a survey conducted by Cone Inc./Roper found Wal-Mart to be Americans' top choice for "good corporate citizen." But that was before the U.S. government began to probe whether its contractors knowingly hired illegal immigrants to clean stores. Earlier this month, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley released a study pointing out that because Wal-Mart's 44,000 workers in California must rely on public assistance programs, the company's business practices end up costing taxpayers US $86 million a year. (Maich, 2004) Walmart's Mid-Life Crisis Key Issues Insufficient Employee Wages * A study conducted by researchers at the University of California at Berkley concluded that 44,000 Walmart employees in California relied on public assistance. According to the study, this costed Californian taxpayers $86 million a year. This data was also the foundation of a lawsuit against Walmart in 2001. Discrimination * A noticeable lack of diversity in the corporation’s management ranks implied women and minorities were not afforded the same opportunities...
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... 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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...The authors in this article examines how procedures used in different audit methodologies influence the likelihood that auditors will integrate their business risk judgments about risk of material misstatements. Auditing standards require auditors to assess business risk, which are “conditions that threaten an organization’s ability to execute business processes effectively”. The two methodologies focused on in the article are the transaction-focused approach (TFA) and the strategic-systems approach (SSA). The transaction-focused approach emphasizes transaction cycle relationships, meaning it focuses on specific accounts. Whereas the strategic systems approach focus on attention to business processes needed to achieve the auditee’s strategy. The authors attempt to prove that auditors using SSA is better at detecting risk of material misstatement than the transaction-focused approach by providing evidence that SSA helps auditors integrate their business risk judgment when they assess the risk of material misstatement. Integrating knowledge of business risk into risk of material misstatement can improve audit effectiveness by helping auditors develop a richer and more complete appreciation for the business processes that drive financial performance. SSA also integrates nonfinancial benchmarks which may also help auditors detect signals of intentional fraudulent reporting and making it more difficult to conceal fraud this due to the fact that business process performance...
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...Week 1 by covering our two most important TCOs: A and I. These will be foundational for the term. As TCO A is our ethics TCO and TCO I is our international TCO, note that both of these TCOs will be important under and inside each of our topical TCOs (e.g., contracts, environmental law, employment law, etc.) | | Business Ethics | | As we move through the course, each learned TCO should remain in the back of your mind. We will build on them while learning the law. As you will find, most of the TCO A ethical strategies include as a first question the following: Is the behavior illegal? A "yes" answer will (usually) lead you to decide automatically that the behavior is unethical, unless the law itself is unethical (as is sometimes the case). Therefore, as we learn what is and isn't legal, we will want to utilize that information in solving ethical dilemmas. When we move our businesses overseas or to Mexico or...
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...The Meaning of SJSU The meaning of San Jose State University (SJSU) will have a different perspective in every individual’s opinion. This university may be a source to attain a four-year degree, might be seen as a commuter school to majority of the students or even perceived as just a party school. This university has much to offer, the diverse location, culture, and resources available make San Jose State appealing to vast range of people. Being a Spartan is a privilege for me. I know San Jose State or any college in that case does not guarantee happiness and success but when I made the decision to attend a four-year college, I knew it was an opportunity to test myself and see what I can achieve. It opens the eyes of every inspiring student and allows us to see the numerous possibilities. Being a Spartan excited me to keep moving forward, and makes my ambitions and visions to get even more powerful. San Jose State gave me an opportunity to achieve my dreams and gives me the desire to make this world a better place by providing my knowledge in my career. I know that what I gain from my education at San Jose State will be my tool. The biggest asset gained from a college degree is sheer knowledge. Academically San Jose State is a well-established school that allows students to explore their freedom as they please by offering vast majority of options according to their needs. San Jose State University offers the most established engineering programs by providing plethora of...
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...Case Study: Whole Foods Market in 2010: Vision, Core Values and Strategy Jessica Shramek Hawaii Pacific Whole Foods began with one small store in Austin, Texas in 1980. “In 1978, twenty-five year old college dropout John Mackey and twenty-one year old Rene Lawson Hardy, borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open the doors of a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas (the name being a spoof of Safeway, which operated stores under their own name in Austin at that time)” (Wholefoodsmarket.com). A few years later, Mackey and Lawson Hardy partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge SaferWay with Clarksville Natural Grocery, which resulted in the opening of the original Whole Foods Market on September 20, 1980. Beginning in 1984, Whole Foods Market began its expansion out of Austin, by continuing to open new stores from the ground up, and by acquiring other natural foods chains. The chief elements of the strategy that Whole Foods Market is pursuing are providing the best natural and organic foods to customers through retail grocery stores. “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet” is the slogan and visionary statement John Mackey uses to describe his company and mission. Whole Foods sells products of the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful, naturally preserved, and the freshest foods available. When a product is labeled organic it has “to be grown and processed without the use of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, synthetic chemicals...
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...Week 1 by covering our two most important TCOs: A and I. These will be foundational for the term. As TCO A is our ethics TCO and TCO I is our international TCO, note that both of these TCOs will be important under and inside each of our topical TCOs (e.g., contracts, environmental law, employment law, etc.) | | Business Ethics | | As we move through the course, each learned TCO should remain in the back of your mind. We will build on them while learning the law. As you will find, most of the TCO A ethical strategies include as a first question the following: Is the behavior illegal? A "yes" answer will (usually) lead you to decide automatically that the behavior is unethical, unless the law itself is unethical (as is sometimes the case). Therefore, as we learn what is and isn't legal, we will want to utilize that information in solving ethical dilemmas. When we move our businesses overseas or to Mexico or Canada, as many of our...
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...Competitive Effects of Wal-Mart’s Entry into the Supermarket Industry∗ Emek Basker University of Missouri Michael Noel University of California–San Diego September 2008 Abstract We analyze the effect of Wal-Mart’s entry into the grocery market using a unique store-level price panel data set. We use OLS and two IV specifications to estimate the effect of Wal-Mart’s entry on competitors’ prices of 24 grocery items across several categories. Wal-Mart’s price advantage over competitors for these products averages approximately 10%. On average, competitors’ response to entry by a Wal-Mart Supercenter is a price reduction of 1–1.2%, mostly due to smaller-scale competitors; the response of the “Big Three” supermarket chains (Albertson’s, Safeway, and Kroger) is less than half that size. Low-end grocery stores, which compete more directly with Wal-Mart, cut their prices more than twice as much as higher-end stores. We confirm our results using a falsification exercise, in which we test for Wal-Mart’s effect on prices of services that it does not provide, such as movie tickets and dry cleaning services. JEL Codes: L11, L13, L81 Keywords: Wal-Mart, Retail Prices, Supermarkets, Price Competition ∗ Contact: emek@missouri.edu or mdnoel@ucsd.edu. We thank Saku Aura, Roger Betancourt, Paul Dobson, Luke Froeb, Jerry Hausman, G¨nter Hitcsh, Ephraim Leibtag, Saul Lach, Daniel Levy, Ye¸im u s Orhun, David Parsley, the editor and two anonymous referees for helpful comments, seminar...
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...Acknowledgements : First of all we would like to introduce our selfs, BIALLACH Safae and EL YOUNSI nahide, a 3rd year students in SUP DE CO MARRAKECH. In the third year the internship is a part of the program at our school. But for the two of us, we didn’t do an internship because we shose to go for a summer school programme in LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM for two weeks at the LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE (LSBF). The objectives during this journey were to improve our level in English language, to Discover a new culture, to visit a lot of places that we wanted to see and also to meet a lot of different people from different countries. Studiying in LONDON was a wonderful experience that we wont forget. for that, we would like to give some thanks to all the people that helped to gave us the chance to go for this programme. Without forgeting a special Thanks to our English Teatcher M.EL FOUADI KAMAL for this opportunity. Last, but not least, we would like to thank our parents and family for supporting our stay in LONDON financially and emotionally. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................2 SECTION 1 : TESCO……………. .........................................................................4 1-BUSINESS DESCRIPTION…………. ......................................................5 2-HISTORY .................................................................................................6 3-CORE...
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...THE KROGER COMPANY Company Analysis BY Wayne Hurt 6/27/12 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to run a complete company analysis. This includes the company background, the industry structure including practices of economic theory to create value, ethical issues, regulatory agencies, the macroeconomic and microeconomic environment of corporate operations, and a conclusion. Table of Contents The Kroger Company’s (KR) Background…………………………………….3 KR’s Structure………………………………………………………….............4 Ethical Issues…………………………………………………...........................9 Regulatory Agencies………………………………………………………….10 Environmental Issues………………………………………………………....12 Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Environment………………………….14 Conclusion.........................................................................................................17 Appendix 1 Table 1…………………………………………………………..21 Appendix 2 Chart 1…………………………………………………………..21 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………22 Background of The Kroger Company (KR) The Kroger Company (KR) is one of the leading companies in the grocery sector of the nation. It is the nation’s leading pure grocery chain. As of now, it operates about 3620 stores, which includes 2435 supermarkets and multidepartment stores, under two dozen banners, in almost 30 states. It also runs 775 convenience stores under the brand names such as Quik Stop and Kwik Shop. Its subsidiary Fred Meyer Stores operates about 125 supercenters which offer wide range of products...
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