Introduction
To look into the main events and trends from the marketing environment, which are likely to impact the market over the next few years I am going to do various analysis. I am going to research the macro and microenvironments. A STEP analysis will be conducted to look at the macro environment, which includes social-cultural, technological, economical and political factors. For the microenvironment factors competitors, suppliers, customers and stakeholders will be looked at. A SWOT analysis will then be carried out. Strengths and Weaknesses will look at the internal issues and the Opportunities and Threats will look at the external issues. Then I will be looking at the strategic options available for the business.
I have chosen to look at the food department of Marks and Spencer, more commonly known as M&S Food. According to wikipedia, M&S has over 400 stores in the UK and 192 stores managed internationally (www.wikipedia.org). M&S was established in the late 1800s but the food department was non-existent until 1931. M&S focus on selling mainly food and clothing but they are always growing. The most recent addition to their stores is the technology department. In 2001 M&S started opening Simply Food stores (www.marksandspencer.com)
Macro Environment
According to an online article there is a rise in dual incomes. (Jane Musoke-Nteyafas, 2006) This means that couples will have more disposable income to spend on luxury items such as M&S food. A Mintel Report shows that people think that if you pay a lower price you get a lower quality (Mintel, March 2006). M&S prices are higher than most supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda therefore classified as a luxury product.
Peoples lifestyles are getting busier, but some people love being busy (Mintel, September 2006). This is why M&S have created many different types of stores to fit in with their lifestyles. For customers who use M&S for their weekly food shop there are out of town stores, which they provide a car park and it's easy for them to get to. There are also Simply food stores with car parks. For the busier customers there are smaller M&S shops in service stations and train stations, where they can just pick up a lunch or a quick snack. (www.Marksandspencer.com) Technology has allowed M&S to put scan it yourself tills in most stores. This is where it's much quicker for you to scan your own item and pay for it, than to go to a till and get a cashier to do it for you.
RNRA Team, “Supermarkets, Fresh Produce and New Commodity Chains: What Future for the Small Producer?” Hot Topics: February, 2004.
Selfridges & Co. had one of its most important moments on the celebration of its 16th birthday, when a television set was presented for the first time. In addition, the company ended up later leading the way of selling it. In 1929, Selfridges was the largest retail group in Europe, being c...
M&S are one of the UK's leading retailers of clothes, food, home products and financial services. Some 10 million people shop with us each week in over 375 stores. In addition M&S have 155 stores managed under franchise in 28 territories mostly in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East, stores in the Republic of Ireland, nine wholly owned stores in Hong Kong and M&S own the US supermarket group, Kings Super Markets. The main objectives of marks and Spencer's are as follows:
Founded in 1986, Pret A Manger is a fast food chain, which produces freshly prepared, natural food with over 250 stores throughout the United Kingdom, France, Hong-Kong and the United States. Unlike most fast-food chains, Pret is a private company; they do not face the same pressure to grow as a public company does. However there are many factors that affect Pret A Manger’s marketplace such as economy, competition, technology, political environment, and the standard of living. This report evaluates major internal and external factors affecting Pret A Manger using various analytical techniques.
The marketing environment for Baldwin represents astounding opportunities. These opportunities also bring some challenges that the firm believes it can meet successfully. The figure below illustrates a SWOT analysis of the company conducted by our marketing team to highlight Baldwin’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
British retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) is a private limited company, their main aim is of a commercial nature. It is one of the most iconic and widely recognised chain stores in the UK. They have 520 stores located throughout the UK and 240 stores worldwide. It is the largest clothing retailer in the country. (Source: M&S website)
Lidl is a food retailer with its roots in the 20th century, being founded in Germany and expanding to the UK in the early 1990s – with amazing growth in the 21st century, a century of change. Since being founded and also in future, revolutionary leadership and exceptionally organised management are grown though in the fundament of Lidl’s success and have encouraged one of Germany’s biggest grocery market share holders to have reached 4.6% of the market share in the UK in September 2016, with some of its competitors being the German food retailer Aldi, but also the British “Big Four” food retailers Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons. According to Hett of n-tv (2016), the “German Discounters are conquering foreign countries”,
By the end of 1998 though, there was evidence of a crisis occurring. Customers and media pulled together to assist senior management partake in an internal audit to identify the problems and see if they could come to a solution. The purpose of this assignment is to construct a SWOT analysis, highlighting each of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that were highlighted in the internal audit. The SWOT analysis is contained within the marketing plan and is the third step in the marketing planning process, coming after the Marketing audit and before any assumptions. (Joisce, Ted (2002), Marketing Planning Lecture Notes – 14/10/02, Mission, Objectives, Strategy, Tactics)
Kroger Timeline. (2013). In Progressive Grocer, 92(10), 30-52. Retrieved January 28, 2014. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=e0985541-de1c-4587-93a3-fa8be9bac40f%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=127&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=bth&AN=91527502
McDonalds. What had started as a humble family owned drive-through has become a multi-million dollar industry. Everywhere one goes, there are reminders of how amazingly widespread this company has become, whether it be seeing McDonald’s famous golden arches on a billboard or hearing the catchy “I’m Lovin’ It” tune in a commercial. But more than this, McDonalds has become part of our global identity– our McWorld.
Challenges in Today's U.S. Supermarket Industry. 2014. Challenges in Today's U.S. Supermarket Industry. [ONLINE] Available at:http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa479076.aspx. [Accessed 31 March 2014].
This analysis gives insight into the industry and market a business intends to operate in.
The food and staples retailing is an increasingly competitive industry. The market giants (competitors) are Coles (owned by Wesfarmers) which has 741 stores across Australia and plans to add 70 m...
The report suggests the specific recommendations through a logical three-stage process. It is constructed to define the targeted markets. These stages are closely linked together as they look at different levels of the business environment to offer firms a complete map of market’s prospect and the company’s condition. Managers will be able to approach a comprehensive evaluation of the future marketplaces and prioritise which market is the optimal destination.
One must look at the economic environment and how it will affect the launch of the product. One must look at: