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International business strategy and organisation
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My organization, Trader Joe’s, is not an international business. Their stores are all located in the United States; therefore, I chose Whole Foods, who is a main competitor of Trader Joe’s for this assignment. Whole Foods Market allows each market to supply products that are standardized, and also supply products based on local buyer needs, as well as the culture of the area; therefore their business strategy is transnational (Thompson, 2016, p. 192). Whole Foods Market varies their products based on location, focusing on local products and any unique products to promote a neighborhood market feel for their customers. The company strategically chooses its locations, placing them in educated areas, and then focuses on products to sustain a competitive advantage. The potential for growth was the reason for expansion into Canada and the United Kingdom. European’s tend to be more in tune with organic food and healthy eating, furthermore making this a good move for Whole Foods. The Kensington location in the United Kington is a high end area, and …show more content…
A positive to expanding to Canada is that Canadian shoppers are similar to American shoppers, ideally making this a good target market for growth (Fiorletta, 2015). In an interview regarding expansion in Canada, CO-CEO Walter Rob said, “Our efforts in Canada are part of the effort to grow.” “We think the opportunity for fresh, healthy foods is larger now that it’s ever been”. “And we intend to grow as fast as we have ever grown — 40 new stores next year, 42-44 for the following year.” “That’s 10% square footage growth on top of 15 million square feet of retail we already have.” “People have said maybe we should stop our growth.” “I said, no, we are not going to do that because our strategy is working.” “There’s no reason to stop.” “There’s every reason to keep going.” (Vieira,
Target’s first foreign store investment was in Canada; American stores look to Canada as their first foreign investment because the differences between the two countries are relatively minor. Other stores that have expanded to Canada include Wal-Mart, and Sears, each of these companies proved to be prosperous in Canada. Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and is dominated by the service industry, Wawa would have no trouble fitting into the culture Canada has and dominating the market as they do here, in the United States. After reading about Canada and Wawa, we have realized this move could only benefit Wawa and help their reputation and build their company.
The main goal of Trader Joe’s is to provide quality grocery products to as many of its customers as possible while charging the most affordable prices. With this thought in mind Joe’s plans to expand its reaches on social media within the next two years and hope to increase advertisement along with. Shopping at Trader Joe’s is a unique experience where you can find the best quality products. They want more people to know about them and also they plan to make great expansions within the near future.
Founded in 1958, Trader Joe’s (TJ) is a multi-billion dollar national grocery chain offering specialty foods at lower than average prices in 23 states and 300 stores world-wide. It is an original market where you will find unique items from all around the world. The environment has a relaxed Hawaiian feel and the employees are friendly and helpful with excellent product knowledge. They are able to keep their product prices low and pay their employees high by keeping low overhead and using excellent negotiating skills to capture retail locations at great prices. These are a few of the things that makes Trader Joe’s stand out from the rest.
The strategy of WFM, co founder Mackey, is to continue offering healthier options for its customers. The movement into Canada and the UK in the last few years, lays the footprint for additional global expansion. Mackey intends to increase WFM to 1000 stores. The question is whether it will happen through acquisitions or new store locations. The answer based on their history is a combination of both. The store in Canada opened in 2002. Since brand recognition is not as strong, the store struggled somewhat in the beginning; however, the expectation is that it will grow to one billion in the next ten years (Patton, 2013). The stores in UK, which are in the greater London area, have received mixed receptions, and some stores are selling well while other locations are not. However, Mackey is not deterred and believes that longevity will produce the desired results.
The democratic approach has been very beneficial to Whole Foods and is probably one of the factors why the company has been so successful over the years and still has a competitive advantage above other company. Whole Foods stores are operated through teamwork and the overall goal of the company. The company values being inclusive and resolving conflicts peacefully within the company without a union. The employees who are hired are voted for employment by other associates and once hired go through extensive training making them very knowledgeable of the company’s products. Consumers in the store can feel and see the difference
Whole Foods is a specialty food store focused on organic, natural, wholesome foodstuffs. Whole Foods is similarly related to all three of their competitors, however, they differentiate in the fact that they support local farmers and ranchers. They also apply a more personal level to their products. For example, all of the meats in the Whole Foods meat department have tags indicating what city and state that it is from. This adds a more personal touch for the consumer and allows
When looking at their website, Whole Foods Market History “Pieces of the Whole,” they list a total of 14 companies (n.d). Companies that are doing well may merge or be acquired, but it is not always common place. When looking at the acquisition of Wild Oats Markets, the company paid off $700 million of term debt held by Wild Oats (Whole Foods, 2012). Whole Foods net income increased by 36% giving them $465 Million in 2012. Companies have to balance price with cost in any industry, especially where prices are much higher than their substitute products. They cannot directly compete unless it is in their strategic
In addition, Whole Foods are continually building relationships with other businesses nationally and internationally. They build working relationships that help build up other businesses success and growth, while continually enhancing their reputation and good standing. Whole Foods are constantly launching new partnerships. Building social capital with their attitude that everyone wins, meaning they do not count out the smaller counterparts such as local businesses, farmers, or underdeveloped communities. For instance in Chicago, IL., in Englewood, this is a very poor and run down area. However, that did not limit Whole Foods for wanting to see that area prosper. Whole Foods saw the need to increase the value of self-awareness by introducing options for healthier lifestyles, food choices, and career opportunities, thus some of the main reasons for targeting that area for placing a Whole Foods. Whole Foods wanted to build up that community to enhance the people within it. therefore, they decided to place a store in that community. Their hopes is that it will promote more jobs and a sense of advancement. By adding a store in this community, it shows that many can benefit from it and bring about change and new direction regardless of the economic class you may fall in. Whole Foods makes it possible for all to win and by placing the store in this community they make it affordable by offering cheaper prices than some of its other stores in different communities and places. (Hinz & Sweeney,
It is an offbeat, fun zone. You sell new food combinations that leave shoppers wanting more. Not to mention, the innovative, great-tasting food at Trader Joe’s is extremely beneficial to the health and well-being of the communities around it. As someone who takes satisfaction in eating healthy, I would much rather have a place to find excellent food choices that are in the area as opposed to the other side of
Big businesses bring many benefits to poorer neighborhoods and have been proven to improve local economies. This effect has recently been labeled the “Whole Foods Effect.” The “Whole Foods Effect” is when a large national retailer, in this case Whole Foods, the 9th most successful supermarket retailer nationally, comes into a lower income area and gives a whole new life to that area due to the employment that it provides, the foot traffic that it brings to an area, and their purchasing of goods from local suppliers. The Whole Foods Effect has worked in Washington D.C. in 2000, in Pittsburgh in 2002, in Boston in 2011, and most recently in Detroit in 2013. The “Whole Foods Effect” is not always carried out by the introduction of Whole Foods into lower income areas although it was carried out in Washington D.C. in 2000 by Whole Foods, hence the naming after them. In Washington D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood, Whole Foods opened up their first store on P Street 13 years ago when the only nightlife in the area was a lower class club called the Vegas Lounge. Then the Whole Foods came and along with it came a whole new crowd of people and a whole new view of the area which led to a revamping of the areas economy and status with the opening of new hip restaurants, Starbucks, and other bars and nightlife that keep the area economically productive. Recently in Midtown Detroit a Whole Foods finally opened after much anticipation from the locals. Many people wondered if the “Whole Foods Effect” could be replicated in their own town and time and time again it has been proven to be successful. Whole Foods hasn’t been in Detroit for too long yet but preliminary reports suggest that Whole Foods will be the force needed in Midtown to push them out of their endless cycle of poverty and into economic relevancy within the local Detroit community. The “Whole Foods Effect” has also
Whole Foods is one of the top organic grocers in the world, but they have less than 20 store chains in foreign territory. Whole Foods only international locations are in Canada and the United Kingdom. Although Whole Foods is limited in the international market, one of the company priorities is unit development. With 38 new stores set to open this year, Whole Foods expect to add its 500 store in 2017, with a long term goal of 1,200 stores in the United States (Watrous, 2014). Whole Foods has the opportunity to expand their market in Europe, Asia, or Africa since people are more conscious about their health and well-being. Opening a few stores in the aforementioned markets will provide consumers the opportunity to lead healthier lives if high quality natural and organic foods are
First and foremost, Whole Foods obtains a strong corporate responsibility and is extremely profitable which would place Whole Foods in the philanthropic stage and the economic responsibility stage in Carroll’s global corporate social responsibility pyramid. Furthermore, global corporate citizenship is defined as a business which holds a strong relationship between its community and shareholders (von Weltzien Hoivik & Melé, 2009). Whole Foods demonstrates their global corporate citizenship by providing their communities with healthy foods and focusing on the well-being of their employees and shareholders. The focus of Whole Foods is to try to change and improve the global insight of our world (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2013).
Each company has what sets it apart from other companies in the same industry. This ideology excludes not Starbuck. Starbuck has a history and right from its inception, the founders wanted something that would offer fine coffee to the society that settled in Seattle. This has all along been the case. To accentuate this phenomenon, there was a time Howard Schultz had to travel to Italy to explore more of the Italian coffee tastes offered in Italy coffee bars and come back to customize the same in America. Unfortunately, upon his return he resigned from Starbuck and formed his own company. However, a few years after he formed his company, Starbuck went on sale and this led Howard Schultz and other investors to mobilize resources and purchased Starbuck. Schultz’s coming back to Starbuck has seen the company go through lots of ups and downs. The company got a rare opportunity of realizing the original ideal he envisioned of it when he returned from Milan (Webb & Schultz, 2011). The vision was to make Starbuck a place to be for all its clients and potential ones.
Whole Foods Market, started in Austin, Texas as a foods grocer for natural and organic foods. They opened in 1980, and have become one of the top grocery stores, and the top natural food grocery stores in the U.S. much of their success can be attributed to their never failing policy to always follow their companies core values. The company’s core values include selling the highest quality natural and organic products available, satisfying and delighting our customers, supporting team member happiness and excellence, creating wealth through profits & growth, and caring about our communities & our environment (Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, & Strickland III, 2016).
Best Buy knew they needed to move outside the US market in order to expand their competitive advantage. The Canada strategy proved to be very successful and provided the leadership of Best Buy a road map to follow, allowing them to feel more confident moving into other