Companies do this by gathering information about other similar companies, customers, and products. Competitive intelligence information is used in the decision making of managers and executives to support strategic decision making for the company. It is important for Kudler Fine Foods to know what their competitor is doing for several reasons. First, if their competitor is offering a promotion to the public that is attracting more business, then Kudler Fine Foods will want to offer something along the same lines so more business will sway in their direction. Second, although the company may feel that they offer the best product, if the public feels that the competitor is offering a better product, they may want to consider changing their supplier of certain food products.
One of the marketing strategies that ensure the company of long-term profitability is the personal relationship built with the customer base. Customers will not have the same shopping experience with large grocery stores. If there are items that customers would like to have available in Kudler stores they are able to communicate that to management. Management can then relay the data to Kathy Kudler who will search the world for the best available items to satisfy the customer. People will not have the loyalty they get from Kudler at other grocery marts.
The advantages of Competitive Intelligence • Competitive Intelligence is an essential tool for an organization in order to formulate the strategies. • It is very useful for testing and validating the assumptions made by the company. • Competitive Intelligence also helps cover up the gaps where the company did not consider a pre assumptions. • It also helps to identify the threats and opportunities. Therefore in the context of the project Competitive Intelligence will help Kudler Fine Foods to identify the future happenings and to take preventive measures accordingly.
The weakness of Kudler Fine Foods is that an IPO (Initial Public Offering) has many inherent and potential weaknesses that must be examined prior to selection as a means for expansion. An IPO is the first sale of stock by a company. There are many advantages and disadvantages for the Kudler Fine Foods to go public through the IPO. The advantages include generating more capital needed to expand their three locations The IPOs are very expensive undertaking, and a large portion of any capital acquired will be lost to this cost. Because the company must produce all financial information to the SEC many businesses find it to be very stressful and time consuming which takes time and money away from a company that is thriving like Kudler Fine Foods.
Kudler may not have the resources to launch advertising for the company because problems have occurred because of the lack of experience to the target market. Kudler needs a target market to allow the company to focus on marketing dollars and brand communication on a exact markets that is more likely to buy from than or other markets. This is a much more reasonable and efficient, and successful way to make potential clients and generate business. Kudler chain of stores makes them a distinguished factor in the market. This is why a lack of customers will have a huge affect on the growth of the company because of the decrease of the sales in the
I think it is essential that the catering service also have that standard. This will ensure that there is no profit loss from make the decision to do these services. In order for them to be competitive they focus on value added services instead of discounting and subtracting profit. Another question could be what the value of the product or service is to the buyer. Kudler Fine Foods has a competitive advantage because customers already use their facilities for parties.
“The primary objective of scanning is to identify early signs of emerging trends and changes in the environment that may result in an opportunity or a treat” (Gomez-Mejia & Balkin, 2002, p. 159). Scanning is essential to a company’s success and survival. A key concept of scanning the industry in which a company is in would be to do a SWOT analysis. First, Kudler Fine Foods should examine its strengths. Currently, Kudler Fine Foods is growing, and they have developed a good niche in the specialized gourmet grocery industry.
It may involve the use of questionnaires, interviews with customers, experiments, and many other approaches (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2009, p. 202).” Kudler Fine Foods must perform quality marketing research if they hope to remain successful with their current stores given the local competition from other stores in the area. Market research also includes the process of systematically gathering, recording and analyzing data and information about clients, rivals and the market. Its uses include helping create long term business plans, launching new products or services, fine tuning existing products and services, and expanding into new markets. Market research can be used to determine which additional areas of research are needed for Kudler in the areas of customer satisfaction, and a need based analysis to determine if expansion of a new store is necessary or continued growth and development of existing locations. The customer service satisfaction survey that is currently in place on the Kudler website will help to identify what the customer’s like and don’t like about a minimum number of variables but market research needs to also include other vital information like culture, socio-economic background, health, and other marketing mix elements.
This marketing initiative will track the customer’s buying habits and allow Kudler to target to specific customers. Looking at the current information technologies databases, Kudler foods has a system that tracks internal sales data but wants to enhance the system so they can track the demographic information and buying trends of each customer (Kudler Virtual Organization, 2010). Strategies and Tactics The company, Kudler Fine Foods, must insure that all marketing initiatives align with the company’s mission statement. When selling gourmet foods, it is more important to have the highest quality foods and customer service than it is to have low prices. Kudler must stay focused on this aspect at all times when developing new tactic and strategies as not to succumb to the pressures of the discount shopper.
“Competitive Intelligence is the ethical gathering and analysis of competitor and market information from open sources. This analysis is used by organizations to make better strategic decisions.” (Cipher, 2012). Competitive intelligence and analysis is important because it provides a method that Kudler Fine Foods can use to assess and evaluate the marketing tactics that are successful for their competitors. By employing competitive intelligence Kudler Fine Foods can gather information concerning their competitors marketing strategies and then use that information for their own advantage by incorporating certain strategies that will fit into their marketing plan. Competitive intelligence will also allow Kudler Fine Foods to gain knowledge concerning certain trends, such as legal, environmental, industry, international, regulatory, and economic, which they can use to further develop successful marketing strategies and