Second Cup Case Study

1029 Words3 Pages

Proposal
“Second Cup is the largest Canadian-owned specialty coffee retailer. Since its inception in 1975, Second Cup has grown to more than 360 cafés across Canada and over 15 cafés internationally, making Second Cup a second home to hundreds of guests every day all over the world.” (Second Cup 2008a). Its headquarters are in Mississauga, Ontario. The company plans on expanding to Kazakhstan, which will be positively successful. Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country (World CIA Facts) in the world with the population of 18 million people, so there is a large market here. Alongside with it, research on the tea habits of the Kazakhs shows that 99% of the country’s population (of 18 million) drink tea on a daily basis, with 50% of the tea drinkers …show more content…

Therefore, Second Cup will become an alternative place for business meetings and informal communication in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere of the coffee shop. Additionally, coffee culture is rapidly developing in Kazakhstan, as 50% of the Kazakhs drink over four cups of coffee per day. Also, Second Cup has a great opportunity to contribute and offer guests a rich assortment of food and drinks: premium coffee, pastries, whole beans, non-coffee beverages, and a variety of merchandise, while providing the highest level of customer service.
There are several competitors in Kazakhstan for Second Cup such as Starbucks, Marrone Rosso and Costa Coffee. They are direct competitors because they offer a similar selection of products and similar product quality. Consequently, these coffeehouses are close substitutes to Second Cup and pose a significant threat of rivalry. Additionally, as brand recognition play a significant role in developing customer loyalty, it may work to the advantage of these competitors in attracting and retaining consumers.
In conclusion, Second Cup will be gradually successful in Kazakhstan because of the product differentiation, wide range of goods and brand equity. Moreover, this country has a strong coffee and tea culture, which will increase the demand of Second Cup. Additionally, more Kazakhs in the middle class have money to buy Second Cup’s products, which …show more content…

The local cafes are indirect competitors as they do not offer as wide range of beverages, as high quality of products as Second Cup. Considering these differences, the local cafes are not considered to be a threat to Second Cup. The specialty coffee retailer, Starbucks, on the other hand, is a direct competitor because it offers a similar selection of products. The strength of Starbucks is that it is acknowledged all over the world. But the weakness is that Starbucks is always overcrowded. Consequently, Starbucks is a close substitute to Second Cup and pose a significant threat of rivalry. However, Second Cup has a better quality of products, wide range of beverages and offers a friendly and pleasant atmosphere, that may work to the advantage of Second Cup in attracting and retaining consumers. Moreover, the prices of Second Cup products are cheaper. Although Second Cup has a number of competitors including Starbucks and local coffee houses, Second Cup has a competitive advantage in terms of differentiations and brand

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