Business Case Study: Costco's Business Strategy

None of their competitors can match that initiative. ( phx.corporate-ir.net) Same-Store Sales Growth Revenue Growth Net Income

1. In the broader context (not specific to Dollar General), what is KKR’s investment strategy? What are the challenges KKR will encounter to make its investment in Dollar General successful? How could KKR add value to Dollar General?

The company has been operating fine for years and total dollar sales have been increasing each year. If the company sticks to the status quo, they will continue to stay profitable. 2. Increase brand awareness

The price of raw materials is high with low consumer switching cost. However, the increasing demand for healthy and organic food is creating openings for smaller competitors to enter and hide from the pricing

Case Analysis We have previously reviewed some of the fundamental tenets highlighted in the literature for each of these strategy theories. We now move to applying these theories to Outback Steakhouse. Question Number 1 - Has Outback Steakhouse employed aspects of their strategy as rational thought, to include strategic planning and decision-making? Should they?

In the review of the corporate level strategy, we can see many different competitive advantages branching from their use of corporate diversification and vertical integration. Going deeper into those strategies the three elements that allow for a competitive advantage for The Kroger Co. include operating into different markets, having a successful customer reward program, and by having many different locations nationwide under many different brand names. The VRIO analysis found that all three of these give Kroger’s a sustainable competitive advantage by being valuable, rare, costly to imitate and having the right organization structure business wide. In the review of the business level strategy, there were just as many different competitive

In Costco’s macro-environment, a variety of factors could affect the company’s economic viability. External factors such as inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, levels of unemployment, reduced consumer confidence, and changes in tax policies could unfavorably affect the demand for Costco’s products and services. Prices of some goods and services including food products, are often variant and subject to fluctuations deriving from changes in domestic and foreign supply and demand, competition, taxes, labor costs, or delays in delivery which could significantly affect Costco’s sales. Therefore, the product’s costs and selling could also increase affecting financial results. Other important economic factors include the increasing international

Brand loyalty is a concern of other competitors but Trader Joe’s. Having no brand products can become a strategic

Key Trends – Globalisation One of the main opportunities Costco has is more global expansion to specific targeted countries. Although operating in many countries, Costco is heavily dependent on the U.S. and Canadian markets. It still has the opportunity to expand into the Asian and Australian markets where it has a limited presence. Costco has the capability to operate about 100 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and about 20 stores in Australia. It currently has 41 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and 6 stores in Australia.

Furthermore, research has shown that there is a high percentage of overlap between Amazon Prime and Costco membership holders. Should Amazon take over the grocery marketplace, Costco could see a serious decline in

What are the two types of core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage? Which firms demonstrate a clear competitive advantage because of (a) major value-creating skills/core capabilities and/or (b) superior assets or resources? Which firms have demonstrated sustainable sources of competitive advantage? The two core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation.

Costco is high aggressiveness retail firms due it sells

Investors in Wal-Mart were aware of the obstacles that the giant retailer would face due to the changing consumer preferences and behaviors. However, the financial reports showcased that its online strategy was successful. At the end of the second quarter in 2017, Wal-Mart reported revenue of $123.4 billion, which was an increment of about 2.1% over the previous year quarter. There was also an increase in comparable sales by 1.8% year over year. Wal-Mart has significantly focused on structuring its online sales, while using its already well-established brick and mortar stores and excellent supply chain and logistics to its big advantage.

3.1 Explain how products are developed to sustain competitive advantage There are three levels of coca cola’s products. They are core product, actual product and augmented product. Core product Coca cola’s products are high quality standards for the customer.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CASE STUDY: MCDONALD’S CORPORATION 1. INTRODUCTION McDonald’s Corporation is the world’s leading fast food restaurant chain with more than 34,000 local restaurants serving approximately 69 million people in 119 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local franchisees. Its revenues come from the rent, royalties, and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants (McDonald’s, n.d.).