Publix Super Markets, Inc. is a Florida-based grocery chain that has flourished since its inception in 1930. The first store opened in Winter Haven, Florida and to this day Publix has expanded to well over 1,000 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The supermarket chain now boasts over $25 billion in sales annually (Mujtaba and Johnson, 2012). To withstand the test of time and develop such a stronghold on the market, Publix has excelled in its global business community or macroenvironment, as well as its market environment or microenvironment.
The macroenvironment, level I of the customer value funnel, consists of society, demographics and psychographics, as well as natural, physical, political, legal and technological forces. While collaboration, competition, suppliers and regulators make up the microenvironment, level II of the customer value funnel.
According to its mission statement, Publix is dedicated to providing customer value. The macroenvironmental and microenvironmental factors that impact Publix will be analyzed. While the customer value funnel is top-down, the subsequent levels contain feedback loops to maintain efficiency and effectiveness. As will be seen, Publix’s response to level I factors also involves level II factors.
Level I: Global Business Community
Macroenvironmental factors are ever changing and in turn force businesses to adapt accordingly or face the risk losing customers. Since Publix’s primary focus is on customer value, much of its focus is placed on societal, psychographic, economic and technological factors present.
Economic research states that the average customer spends $5,000 yearly on groceries and will live in a particular area for 10 years, pro...
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...ization with a solid infrastructure. Since 1930 it has consistently expanded and is among the most prosperous supermarkets in the U.S. Through its research, employee programs, technological incorporations, adaptations to consumer preference and psychographics as well as its marketing strategy with respect to competition, Publix has successfully created an environment “where working is a pleasure” and where shopping is a pleasure.” With competition constantly growing, it is essential to keep on top of the global business community and market environment to have a leg up on competition and provide the highest customer value.
Works Cited
Mujtaba, B., & Johnson, W. (2012). Case 5: Publix Super Markets--Achieving Customer Intimacy. Weinstein, A. Superior customer value: strategies for winning and retaining customers (3rd ed., pp. 269-286). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
The grocery market is highly competitive. Brookshire’s has found that superior customer service is the key to success. Consumers who are familiar with the Brookshire’s personnel know that they will be greeted with a friendly smile and helpful attitude. Employee meetings and up-beat newsletters from the corporate office are excellent ways of reminding the employees of the significance of making customer satisfaction the most important part of their jobs.
In a market that is so dependent on nature and agriculture, it is reassuring to see a company that values the recompensing of materials back to the natural world. In order for Publix to remain successful, the company must carry the momentum that founder George “Mr.George” Jenkins originally started in 1930. The morals and philosophies that lie at the center of Publix Super Markets are integral to their success. Mr. George believed that customers and employees should be treated like family, and if their business model continues to accurately portray their core values, then they will continue to be successful. The question that looms over Publix is not “What can we change?” it is “What can we elaborate on?” Publix needs to use their positive image to expand into other communities. Publix is well-received in the public eye to the point that they are considered beneficial to a community. A marketing campaign that focused on bringing positive change to a struggling community through Publix and their charitable campaigns would create a want/need for the super market in new, untapped territory. Publix is lesser known in the Northern regions of the U.S., a nationwide marketing campaign would result in well-received
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.
In the United States and all over the world, the entry and operations of big retailers like Wal-Mart into a small town sparks great controversy within the community. The fact that people contemplate on the fact that the policies and actions of Wal-Mart are destructive to a small town’s economy is not new. Most small town’s economies are run by subsistence and self-reliant traders. With time, the traders embrace the division of labor and specialization of skills in accordance with the trade, production and manufacturing needs of the community. In such a market, a simple move like a decision by the producers to sell directly to the consumers may spark
Publix has very high expectations when it comes to its employees. The work environment is very fast paced. One of the many pros about working at Publix is that it is a very stable job with a fantastic retirement/profit-sharing plan. It is also employee owned which is not common so employees will take pride in the fact they are all shareholders of the company. Because the employees are working somewhere that they all own, it creates a pleasant working environment, which is nice to see for customers.
..., John E., Strickland, A.J. Thompson, Arthur “Whole Foods Market In 2006: Mission, Core Values, and Strategy”, Crafting & Executing Strategy 15th Ed., McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2007
Wal-Mart’s competitive environment is quite unique. Although Wal-Mart’s primary competition comes from general merchandise retailers, warehouse clubs and supermarket retailers also present competitive pressure. The discount retail industry is substantial in size and is constantly experiencing growth and change. The top competitors compete both nationally and internationally. There is extensive competition on pricing, location, store size, layout and environment, merchandise mix, technology and innovation, and overall image. The market is definitely characterized by economies of scale. Top retailers vertically integrate many functions, such as purchasing, manufacturing, advertising, and shipping. Large scale functions such as these give the top competitors a significant cost advantage over small-scale competition.
For Oliver’s Market among the five Competitive forces, pressures associated with the threat of new entrants into the market are the strongest one. Because Wal-Mart and Target had announced plans to develop regional supercenters in the Sonoma county region. They are strong candidates for entering the market, because they possess the res...
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Since brands depend on delivering a uniform, consistent product, global brands has traditionally adopted a “one size fits all” strategy (Crothers). Wal-Mart continues to expand internationally because it relates to other U.S global brands such as McDonalds. “ McDonalds grounded on one simple idea: provide desirable food and drink at low cost.”(Crothers 130). Wal-Mart’s strategy was almost the same to begin with. What they have in common is convenience and low cost. Its fast and quick just like McDonalds’. Customers at Wal-Mart can buy anything at one place and one time. It’s a superstore and everything you need is there. Customers do not need to leave to go to another store, which is why Wal-Mart is so successful. Smaller retail companies get replaced because they don’t have a chance with competing with Wal-Mart. A Wal-Mart store opening can destroy almost three local jobs for every two they cre...
N.D.) There are three things to know and do in order to capitalize on this, first know what motivates the customers from their behavior as well as their buying decisions. Second, is to uncover the true reasons the customers decided to buy your product or service instead of that of your competitors. Finally, put yourself in the customer shoes and ask yourself this question; what would make them come back to your store again? The answer to these could be the quality of the products and services offered, the friendliness of the employees, the customer service, the cleanliness of the store, and accessibility of the products (Staff, E.
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].
Wiersema, M. T. a. F., 1993. Customer Intimacy and Other Value Disciplines. Harvard Business Review, p. 92.
marketplace no matter what the product is when a company begins sacrificing at the customers expense people take notice quickly. This is when the buyer thinks they would be willing to give a little more in the price to be happy about their purchase. This is when Papa John steps in and reminds us all that they have been number one three years in a row in customer satisfaction. People take notice of the decisions that other people make. If they see an empty Papa Johns box in the trash of their next door neighbor they will take notice.
As responsiveness increases, the convenience store chain is exposed to greater uncertainty. A convenience store chain can improve responsiveness to this uncertainty using one of the following strategies, especially for fresh and fast foods: