Natureview Farms Case Summary

NutriGrow is a Canadian owned and operated agricultural company, currently operating in the province of Manitoba. The organization has been in business for 60 years and has experienced relatively slow growth, until the introduction of a new product, which turned out to be great success to large agri-businesses. Based on the new products’ success, NutriGrow has made a strategic decision to market this product internationally, with the expectation of increase business activity over the next decade.

Trader Joe’s is an organic grocery food store that is one of the best known organic food chains. By listening to the consumer and adjusting to the changing consumer market, Trader Joe’s had built a brand equity that is continuously growing. Trader Joe’s faces stiff competition from other large organic food chains therefore must stand out and adapt to the consumers’ needs. Marketing strategies are important to communicate to the consumer more effectively and help target the consumer to their product. Trader Joe’s segments its products by psychographic, behavioral and demographic characteristics

The threat of substitutes in the food retail industry can be high among the ‘Big Four’ as switching costs are relatively low and products can be similar. However, most have their own private labels and also target slightly different markets, such as Sainsbury’s having more upmarket positioning and Tesco’s cost leadership. Waitrose offers unique and differentiated products, which are, in the eyes of the consumer, significantly superior. No other supermarket offers such premium quality products with great service and such a large range of organic products as Waitrose, so this makes them extremely difficult to substitute. (Euromonitor, 2008).

Candidate Farmer briefed all required portions of the five paragraph order but did so in a very drawn out manner with multiple pauses throughout. His initial plan was sufficient to begin execution, but only his side began to take action immediately. He was unable to identify that the one pole was not long enough to reach the middle beam and only made adjustments after a fire team member pointed it out. At this point, SNC changed his initial plan and started giving direction, but his tasks were unclear and his fire team members struggled to accomplish them. Candidate Farmer realized his time was dwindling and motivated the fire team to move with some urgency, which they responded to. This spark was all that was necessary to complete the

Loblaw Companies is one of the largest food retailers in Canada, owning well maintained brands such as NoFrills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Shoppers Drug Mart. With its focus of fresh produce, real Canadian pork, and low prices on other instore food products, Loblaw’s had created well-established branding for themselves in the local communities. However, in the past few years, Loblaw’s Companies have faced an ever-growing competitive market, with other retail competitors such as Walmart, Costco, and Drugstores expanding in the food retail industry. It is sourced

The company distinguishes its products from the competition by using natural ingredients and a special process that gives the yogurt it creamy and smooth texture without having to use thickeners.  Other distinguishing factors for Natureview includes using milk form cows that have not been treated with rGBH and the average shelf life of Natureview yogurt is 50 days instead of 30 days. Over the past 10 years, Natureview revenues have increased from $1000,000 to $13 million. Natureview offers 8oz and 32 oz. cups for purchase. Initially starting out with two flavors, Natureview has expanded to offer twelve flavors in the 8 oz. cups and four flavors in the 32 oz. cups.  Sales of the 8 oz. cups made up 86% of Natureview’s revenue while sales of the 32 oz. cups made up the rest (14%). Natureview has found a niche market in the natural foods channel. Customer can find Natureview yogurt at a variety of natural food retailers including Wild Oats, and Whole foods. The price for Natureview yogurt at natural food stores was  $0.88 for an 8oz cup and $3.19 for a 32 oz. cup. Compared to supermarket channels ($0.74 for 8oz, $2.70 for 32 oz.), prices for Natureview yogurt was higher due to multiple parties involved in the distribution.  Natureview has to use three distributors in order to get the product to consumers.  Each distributor collect their margins, which leads to higher prices.

Whole Foods Market is a superstore chain in Austin Texas that deals in natural and organic food products exclusively. The organization ranks among the most socially responsible organizations in the world, and the fourth placed in the US Environmental Protection Agency list. The trading organization exists within a market crowded with competitors from its area of operations, and those who offer contrary products to what it proposes. Therefore, answer to the question of how it manages to survive within such a competitive environment is only understandable if we evaluate the different types of market structures. The markets have different characteristics, which determine the strategies applied by the various organizations in the continuum (Etro, 2009).

The second force that I will use to analyze the Trader Joe’s company is the “the rivalry among established competitors”. Factors to consider when looking at the rivalries in the industry are industry demand, cost conditions, and exit barriers. Trader Joe’s competitors include The Kroger Co., Whole Foods Market, and Safewat Inc., and all super markets in general (Llopis, 2011). With that said, there seems to be a high demand for what Trader Joe’s offers, private labels. This means that the intensity in the industry is less compared to an industry with a flat demand. Trader Joe’s does not have to fight hard to sell their products because of the service they have created. Trader Joe’s brand can be considered “diversity on steroids” which has somewhat of a cult following among consumers (Llopis, 2011). Consumers that want unique experiences with their food are able to do exactly that at

The primary root problem components for this case are: Breeder’s establishing brand recognition, determining its true target market and convincing supermarkets of the viability and profitability of its product. Breeder’s will need to accomplish creation of brand recognition by pulling out all stops and creating an aggressive marketing strategy covering all traditional media outlets and new social media such as Twitter. Part of this media blitz must be a pricing strategy and information on the quality ingredients of the product.

Trader Joe’s operates over 340 stores in 9 states were they “buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, bargain hard to get the best prices and then pass the savings on to the customer” (Trader Joe’s, 2013, para. 4). Whole Food’s Market is the “world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 360 stores in North America and the United Kingdom” (Whole Food, 2013, para 2). Trader Joe’s and Whole Food’s Market have managed to take original ideas and spread them throughout the nation to many different customers. Although they differ not only in the technique in which they decide to bring products to their customers but also in term of inventory management and supply chain organization. These two companies have become so successful in my opinion, not by what they differ in but what they have most in common, which is their commitment to their loyal customers, employees and undeniable quality in their products they sell. Through their loyalty to their customers and employees in addition to their irreplaceable value

Canada Goose has experienced steady organic growth as a niche brand, selling their product through independently owned stores. By June 2008 it was selling product in 28 different countries across North America and Europe plus two authorized online retailers. Now it has a significant opportunity to further cement itself as a market leader by placing its product with a national chain. Initially, Canada Goose considered offers from two national chain retailers. One offer came from a Canadian chain called Asmuns Place. Another offer came from Levene’s Menswear. Table 1 provides a high level overview and compares these two offers.

There is a varying degree of competition amongst grocery and club stores in the market for orange juice. Grocery stores provide consumers with a vast selection of orange juice products; however, individual club stores completely eliminate competition as they generally sign a contract with the company of their choice, and sell only that company’s product. The level of competition in these distribution channels greatly affects how Sunshine Juice Company decides to position its product in order to gain competitive advantage and brand recognition. Sunshine is currently ranked 2nd as lowest in price level in the club store market of three competitors, and 7th lowest in the retail market of 12 competitors. The company has considered retail price changes of either $4.49 or $3.99, both of which would impact overall sales volumes as the price would be far below the price of many competitors.

Besides, the company’s focus on the 8-oz and 32-oz, the sizes that were not being offered by other companies, made Nature view to effectively compete with other established companies that ultimately granted it breakthrough in the market. In the natural food channel, Natureview’s brand had 45% share that was attained through the company’s unique quantity of packaging.

Thank you for requesting my advice concerning whether your position on your tax return of your dairy farm is being a considered a business and not a hobby.

New entrants into an industry bring with them the capacity and a desire to successfully achieve market sufficient market share, placing pressure on factors such as prices, costs and the rates of investment required to compete effectively. (Porter, 2008) It is becoming increasingly common within the Organic foodstuff sector for large companies with existing capabilities and large cash flows to enter the market.