External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Essays

External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Essays External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Paper External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Paper The PEST analysis on the other hand examines the macro-environment, looking at potential political and social threats to industry. The utilization of these two models together will better equip organizations to face ever changing industries and see potential threats. Below the author will discuss the different aspect of each model as well as provide useful web links to gather additional information. Porter Five Forces Analysis The Porter Five Analysis was developed by Michael Porter as a tool utilized by organizations to help identify the structure and competitiveness within an industry (Porter, 2008). It encompasses five different forces that shape the industry; threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and rivalry among existing competitors (Porter). The ability to analyze and understand trends and threats within an industry is critical for effective strategic planning that will render organizational success (Porter). Below is an analysis of Kraft Foods utilizing the Porter Five analysis model. Buyer Power With so many different varieties of brands available to consumers it is essential that organizations research consumer needs and demands in order o remain successful. As competition increases within the industry, organizations must create new products that adapt to the changing lifestyles and preferences of consumers, which have shifted to a focus on health and wellness (Hathaway, Mark-Plumber, Weaker-Oberon, 2006). Consumers have no loyalty or obligation to stay with one brand and will easily switch as prices and nutritional labels fit their needs. Conducting analysis of competitors financial statements will also help paint a picture of consumer trends helping organizations to adjust their products. Below are several websites that roved different information on the power that consumers hold. 1. This website discusses Some very important facts relating to the immense power that consumers possess in the food industry and how the demand for healthy food is increasing the price of raw materials resulting in organizations absorbing the overhead costs to keep prices low. It also provides some information of Kraft Foods biggest competitors. Analysis of competitors can help strategists determine future marketing strategies and how to establish brand loyalty. Monitoring competition allows for change and adaptability remitting one to stay on top of their industry by tailoring products to consumer needs/demands. Http://win. Wackiness. Com/stock/ 2. This website provides information that describes the growing demands of consumers and the growth of the healthy food craze. This website really demonstrates the power that consumers hold in the food industry. Consumers are mandating healthy food choices with no SMOG labeling. This has caused organizations to generate new products that are healthy and cater to consumer needs if they are to stay successful. Analyzing consumer trends is extremely important as it will allow a business to better tailor their DOD products and draw in new consumers and maintain loyalty of old consumers. Towpath. Inspirational. Com/vote-yes-on-37. Tm Supplier Power Although there are only ten major suppliers for Kraft Foods they have extreme power over the food industry. Walter is one of Kraft Foods largest clients with the most revenue generated and with so many competitors on the market Kraft Foods must absorb the additional costs of producing cheap food in order to Stay competitive. An individual supplier must offer something special to stand out from the crowd, such as a lower price, faster livery time, more flexible credit t erms, higher product quality or volume discounts (Sullivan, n. . ) 1. This article provides a thorough discussion and different view point on supplier power and monopoly in the food industry. It provides a discussion on how big organizations, such as Wall-Mart, exert their power over their suppliers. Different suppliers have monopolies at supermarkets and can pay for primary shelf space and promote their brands. This leads to smaller suppliers struggling in an industry dominated by large supply companies and large retailers. Http:// documents. Featherweights. Org/doc/Arteriosclerosis-web. UDF 2. Pratt provides a good discussion on how to analyze the bargaining power of suppliers. Understanding the questions he poses will enable an organization to potentially avoid competition and build quality relationships with suppliers thus enhancing chances of industry success. Http://centralizes. Com/ ? Understanding-the-Bargaining-Power-of-Your-Suppliers=4251948 3. This informative website provides a list of the Kraft Foods suppliers. Determining the number of suppliers in an industry can help strategist determine the bargaining power of the suppliers. In hard times suppliers can ration their rodents causing organizations to spend more money upfront and lose revenues. When an organization is able to differentiate their product from competitors it is easier for them to bargain with suppliers for fair pricing. Http://www. Deliberately. Com/as-Kraft-foods/suppliers. HTML Threats of Entrants When an industry is booming the threat of new entrants is high as everyone wants to make profits. The threat of new organizations creates competition among an industry and influences their ability to maintain profits (Wilkinson, 2013). Firms in this industry preserve market share through brand loyalty, versification and the barriers placed within the industry to enter the market (Porter, 2008). It is therefore imperative that these brands maintain quality at a competitive price and drive off new competition. 1 . The following website points out the current economy/industry sales for Kraft Foods and their top competitors. This is a good website as it will paint a picture for future companies as to the market capital, net income, dividends, operating margin and growth revenue. All of which are great indicators as to expenses and revenue generated and allows them to determining if starting a business in his industry is worth the overhead, time and effort. It can also help determine how different products by different companies are comparing to each other. Http://financial. Mornings. Com/competitors/industry- peer. Action? T=KRAFT=usa=en-US 2. This web page provides a table with Kraft Foods top competitors broken down by categories allowing easy access to different aspects of the business. This also allows potential companies to determine which industry they would have the most impact in to succeed. Additionally it provides revenue, income and market share. Http:// scimitars. Com/stocks/competitions. PH? Ode=KRAFT 3. NASDAQ is a great reference for organizations looking at trends in the food industry as it provides information on the financial, size and growth trends as well as market cap. This information is essential to determine if an organization can compete in certain industries. Http://www. NASDAQ. Com/ symbol/Kraft/competitors 4. This informative document discusses current economic indicators and the growth of the food industry over the last 10 years. It talks about nature of the industry, market overview, demand and annual food spending at home. Additionally it provides a discussion on the issues affecting the industry. This resource will help paint a vivid picture of the economy of the industry and help determine if a new product will succeed. Http://trade. Gob/tad/cog/ reporter_predecessors. PDF Threat of Substitutes The growing health trends have led many companies to adapt and change products to fit consumer demands. With a variety of brands available it is imperative organizations cater to consumers in order to avoid losing their loyalty to another company. Consumers in the industry have minimal switching costs and there is never the guarantee Of brand loyalty (Hathaway, Mark-numbers Weaker-Oberon, 2006). In order to keep loyal consumers organizations in this industry must offer new and innovative products. 1 . This document provides valuable information on consumer trends, healthy eating industry dynamic, emerging products, and success factors. This valuable information helps organizations determine current trends and how they can adapt to remain successful and ahead of their competition within the industry. Http://www. PWS. Com/us/en/transaction-services/publications/ assets/functional-foods. PDF 2. This is a very informative website that discusses current trends in the food industry while stating growth regenerates specifically relating to the healthy snacking options. This is a good site to gain a better understanding and insight to healthy alternatives that competitors may be producing as well as market trends http:// www. Knackerys. Com/articles/84475;snack;food;industries 3. Organic Trade Association website provides information on industry statistics and projected growth trends which is can assist organizations in determining their future products based on consumer trends. Http://www. Tot. Com/ organic/met/business. HTML Rivalry Among Existing Competitors In every industry there is rivalry amongst organizations to wi n over nonusers. This can generate new and innovative products, intense sales promotions and pricing wars (Porter, 2008). On the outside this activities may appear to be beneficial but in reality it can lead to increased costs and decreased profits for organizations (Porter). 1. CSS Market online provides a nice graph detailing growth rates Of the major competitors in the food industry. This is an extremely useful tool to help determine where you stand financially next to your competition. Utilizing this information may assist in determining if a new product should be launched and if new marketing tactics are needed. Http://scimitars. Mom/stocks/competition. PH? Code=KRAFT 2. If an organization is to remain successful and on top of their organization they must produce numerous products that cater to consumer demands, I. E healthy food choices. This innovative thinking keeps consumers coming back to the same brands and generates loyalty. Http://www. Fool. Com/investing/ genera 1/201 3/04/22/these-food-companies-are-the-best-at-inspiring-bra. Asps PEST Analysis PEST analysis tool was developed by Francis Jugular to help organization see the macro-environment of their business environment in order to make changes and maximize financial success (Mind Tools, n. D. ). The ability to adapt and change business tactics to meet consumer demands can create new and improved products enhancing brand loyalty (Mind Tools). The PEST analysis focuses on political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological changes in the industry, helping organizations to determine different opportunities (Mind Tools). Political 1 . This website provides information on regulations of the food industry, agricultural industry and federal regulations. Understanding the political implications and regulations of the food industry will assist with licensing and production of food products.

Juventus FC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Juventus FC - Essay Example won by Juventus would be handed over to Inter Milan who had finished second in the league behind Juventus and in addition to this Juventus were also relegated, which meant that they were supposed to play in the Serie B which is an inferior league for a club like Juventus, the punishment did not stop there, points were deducted for Juventus even in Serie B. The whole scandal was discovered in May of 2006 by Italian police who had tape records of football managers and referees trying to rig football games, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were all involved in fixing the games of the Italian league, these are some of the top clubs in Italy and it was really shameful. The fans must have also felt cheated when they came across this shameful incident. It was found that games were fixed by selecting referees who would favor their clubs, the recorded tapes were heard by the Italian police and it was found out that most games were indeed rigged much to the dismay of all the football fans across the globe. Luciano Moggi who was the general manager of Juventus back then tried to heavily influence the appointment of referees for top Serie A games, he wanted referees who would favor his club so that they would easily win the Serie A title. Once the clubs were found guilty it was earlier suggested by prosecutors that Juventus should be sent to a division below Serie B, the prosecutor also suggested heavy punishment for the other clubs involved which also included points deduction. The prosecutor also wanted Juventus to be stripped of their Serie A titles which they had won in the year 2005 and 2006. The initial punishment suggested by the prosecutor was wavered; Reggina stayed in the Serie A but had to face a 15-point penalty and a hefty fine. The club president of Reggina was banned from the game for a few years but this punishment was just a slap on the wrist compared to the punishment that Juventus received. Juventus were stripped of their titles which they had

Armed Conflict and International Humanitarianism Essay

Armed Conflict and International Humanitarianism - Essay Example The intervention works with or without the use of force, with or without support from the local population and even with or without legal ambiguities. However, it is my firm belief that without a cultural understanding of conflict and the culture of the people involved in the conflict, no intervention or humanitarian action can be completely successful. Since the age of traditional war as history has known it to be has more or less ended with the devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11, the war against terrorism has also created situations where humanitarian aid may be required after both the terrorists and the alliance forces have left the region (Akhavi, 2003). The case of Afghanistan is a prime example where humanitarian aid is desperately required after the country has seen both the ravages of the Taliban and the carpet bombers from America. However, the area still remains a conflict zone and must be treated as such. This also means that conflict must be understood in a cultural context since the reaction, acceptance and acts performed in a conflict zone certainly change from culture to culture (Ehrenreich, 1998). A generation of Afghanis has grown up without knowing a place to call home and have lived with conflict as a part of their lives (Akhavi, 2003). On the other hand, a humanitarian aid worker from Denmark may have a completely different view about both war and humanitarian aid. It has been accepted by both active soldiers and humanitarian workers that an understanding of culture is essential for conducting any operation in a given environment. However, the need for understanding culture and how the conflict is viewed in a cultural context is even more pressing when the humanitarian work has to be done in an area which is considered to be a combat zone. Moreover, the nature of humanitarian work has broadened enough to the point where the battle for ‘hearts and minds’ does not have to be fought by those wearing red

Culture report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Culture report - Essay Example The students that attend this high school have many obstacles to overcome in their lives. The reservation is a place of high poverty, high unemployment and high rates of substance abuse. It is the type of environment that keeps people from succeeding in life. Yet, this remarkable high school basketball team seems to find a way to win every year. They have won five state championships against much larger, well-funded schools. One of the secrets to the success of the team is their dedicated coach Al Redman. The movie focuses on Beaver C’Bearing and the work he and his coach put into winning. It shows that the boys on the team succeed by working hard to hone their skills and by working together. The movie shows that unfortunately, the lessons learned on the basketball court often do not translate to life on the reservation. Much of the conversation in the movie centers on players that were once great but have failed to have successful lives. II. Relevance of the movie CHIEFS to M arketing There is a lot of relevance in the movie CHIEFS to cross cultural marketing. One of the aspects of culture that was displayed in this movie of Native American culture seems to be the aspect of a focus on shared ownership of public goods. The Chiefs basketball team belongs to the reservation. It occurs to me that this is truer for this community of Native Americans than it is for the typical American community with a more Euro-centric culture. The Chiefs literally belong to the community, no one person or group has more of an interest in them than anyone else does. That is why everyone leaves the reservation to go see the Chiefs play their games in the playoffs. What this means for marketing is that any attempt to market the mystique, culture or logo of the Chiefs would have to be done in a way that benefits the entire community. If any one single individual or group were to try to monopolize access or attempt to brand the Chiefs in a way that excluded the community at large , I believe that this person would have a difficult time succeeding. This team is truly the heart and the soul of the Wind River Reservation in some ways. It is more than a source of pride, it is a public good, and therefore the public will have to be supportive of any marketing efforts involving the team. III. Personal Reaction to the viewing of the movie CHIEFS. I really enjoyed the movie and the crowd that had gathered to watch the movie. I really got caught-up in the stories of these basketball players and how difficult their lives were. I never felt sorry for them, because they seemed so determined to succeed at basketball. I felt that the writer and director of the film did a great job depicting the challenges Beaver C’Bearing and his teammates faced, without sensationalizing the challenges they face off the court. At times, the movie was sad, but always made me feel as though in the end the people on the team would somehow, against all the odd succeed in life and in th e game of basketball. I could not help pull for the team in each one of their games, even though the players were flawed and imperfect people. Right to the end of the movie, I believed that these people were going to win. I wanted them to win because it appears as though they were dealt such an unfair hand by fate and by their circumstances. However, I liked the fact that the

Joan of Arc :: Essays Papers

Joan of Arc One hundred years before the time of Joan of Arc France was developing a situation, which would thrust it into turmoil. At the time the ruler of France, King Charles IV, was sick and without an heir. Charles decreed that if the child that his wife was pregnant with turned out to be a boy, the boy would become king of France. However, the boy would rule with a regent until he reached an age of enough maturity to rule on his own. Charles’s decree also stated that if the child were to be a girl, then the twelve peers and the great barons of France should convene to decide upon the new rightful ruler of the country. The reason for this in a girl’s case was that there was an old French law that forbade women from claiming ownership of property, this meant that a woman could not be the heir to the throne. The child turned out to be a girl so the twelve peers and the barons convened with their meetings in Paris. While the meetings were taking place to make the momentous decisi on, the English sent a diplomat, which argued that the King of England had a claim to the throne of France. The English’s reasoning for this was based behind the fact that King Edward III was born by a French princess. The old French law would apply to the newly born French princess. However, Edward’s mother had married an English king, this in turn made her English and English women were allowed to own property. Edward III would then inherit the throne. The French, however, did not agree with their logic saying instead that they wished to follow their law and Charles’s decree. The committee chose Phillip of Valois as the new king of France. The English then went home without any land and thinking of the lands of France they had left behind. Shortly after began the Hundred Years’ War. The English won the majority of the battles and all of the large conflicts. They were, however, unable to conquer France. They were able to win the battles and take control of cities, but it is nearly impossible to rule a hostile people. After the majority of the war had past, the people of France began to divide and the favor eventually rested with the English. The Duke of Burgundy was one of those who allied themselves with England.

Meat Industry Essay

People all over the world eat meat for its nutritional value and taste. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that in the year 2011 people in the U.S consumed 25.6 billion pounds of beef. Most of this meat was produced in America. A Holistic approach to food production is important in order to improve the quality of beef. What we feed our cattle, the housing conditions and the slaughter procedure directly impacts our food. What the farmers feed cattle directly affects the quality of beef for the consumer. The cow has many more benefits from eating grass than being fed corn. It is a lot healthier for cows to consume grass because that is what their stomachs are made for. The stomachs have three sections that are made specifically for digesting grass (Healthy Theory -Corn-Fed Vs. Grass-Fed Beef). Today, most cows are put on a diet that is based on corn. The cows used to be fed grass and roam free but since than there have been changes. The idea about feeding cattle grain began during World War II. It all started when farmers were producing more grain than the American population could handle, so the rest of it was fed to cows. It was discovered that feeding a cow different types of grains fattened them up a lot faster than when cows were consuming grass. With a grass fed diet, it takes cows about five years to reach 1,200 pounds. However, with the grain-based diet it takes a cow about 390 days to get to a reachable weight for slaughter (Healthy Theory -Corn-Fed Vs. Grass-Fed Beef). Also, the producer benefits more from feeding his cows corn because it is cheaper than grass. Therefore, a diet based on corn is more cost effective but the quality of meat has less nutritional value (Why Grass Fed- Health Benefits of Grass Fed Beef). The consumer benefits more from meat that comes from cows that consume grass rather than in-taking different types of grains. The cow is a lot healthier and happier when it is eating grass, which results in higher quality meat. Since cows’ stomachs are meant to break down grass, a corn based diet causes changes in the digestion of a cow leading to serious health problems, such as diarrhea, ulcers, and a weakened immune system. As a result of these issues, the cows are given antibiotics to help prevent this from occurring, which makes the meat unhealthier (Healthy Theory -Corn-F ed Vs. Grass-Fed Beef). Another huge topic of concern is the disregard of animal welfare. These animals aren’t being cared for and they are treated as units of production (Learn About The Issues). In order to fatten up cows in time for slaughter, many farmers put them in feedlots. The conditions these cows go through are unbearable. As many cows as possible are crammed into each pen. The result of this is massive amounts of waste covering the animals living space (The Issues Animal Welfare). This causes the air to be unhealthy and creates many gases and diseases that aren’t wanted. During the whole time the cows are in the feedlot they are breathing in methane gas. Large amounts of methane are bad for animals because it takes away oxygen from the air, which can affect the central nervous system (2- Health Effects of Methane). The alternative is a more holistic way, which allows the cattle to roam around freely on huge pastures until they get fat enough to get slaughtered. In the United States, animal welfare is being ignored, because cows are being treated i n a cruel and unhealthy way. When they are living in the feedlots, they are covered with manure and aren’t being cared for. As soon as cows are fat enough to get slaughtered, they are sent to the closest slaughterhouse. On their journey they are faced with heartbreaking situations. They are often transported from 1,200 to 1,500 miles away in scorching hot weather or freezing temperatures. Dr. Lester Friedlander, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian inspector said, â€Å"They are crammed onto trucks and go without food or water for days†. When it is cold, they are in the back of a trailer with nothing covering them. As the driver drives sixty miles per hour, cows are being exposed to a variety of extreme weather. Many cows collapse in hot weather. While they are traveling they urinate. After sometime it begins to freeze while their hooves are standing in it. Also, the fur of the cows â€Å"†¦ freezes to the sides of the trucks until workers pry them off with crowbars†(Cow Transport and Slaughter). When the cows get to the slaughterhouse, they are often in bad conditions. Most of them are sick and cannot walk because they are too weak. In order to move weak and injured cows they are dragged along with a bulldozer by a chain around their neck or leg. Even though they are in bad shape, cows are still being used for their meat because it means more money in the producer’s pocket. If some of the cows are able to walk, they are still abused. Workers beat them with a metal rod in order to move them faster (The Humane Society of the United States). Also, before they are killed the cows are lined up to wait for their turn to be stunned so that they will pass out before they get slaughtered. Sometimes the stunning procedure does not work. Ramon Moreno, a slaughterhouse worker has stated that he often has to cut the legs off of cows that are completely conscious. â€Å"They blink. They make noises,† he says. â€Å"The head moves, the eyes are wide and looking around. †¦ They die piece by piece.† If workers try to report that the cows are still alive they risk loosing their jobs (Cow Transport and Slaughter). After cows reach a certain weight they are ready to be slaughtered for meat consumption. The process of tu rning cows into packed meat can cause the meat to be infected. Before they are slaughtered, cows are cleaned. However, in some cases not well enough. The waste of the cow can get into the processed meat that is being cut by the workers. This can contaminate the meat with E-coli, which is a type of bacteria that can lead to death. â€Å"According to Centers for Disease Control estimates, up to 20,400 cases of E. coli infection and 500 deaths from E-coli disease occur annually in the United States† (Escherichia Coli 0157:H7). Another disease that is created in these fast paced industries is mad cow disease. (the issues-slaughterhouses and processing). Mad cow disease affects the cow’s nervous system and it causes the cow to act confused and loose control of the ability to walk (What is Mad Cow Disease). When people eat infected beef they may contract a human version of mad cow disease. It affects the nervous system causing depression and loss of coordination. As it becomes more severe, it causes dementia (The Basics of Mad Cow Disease). With our modern day technology, slaughterhouses are able to kill thousands and thousands of cow’s every day. There are many solutions that can change the food industry to produce their meat in a more animal friendly way. To help cut back more meat being produced in factories, consumers can support local farms by eating food that is grown locally. Holistic farming care for their animals and focus on getting delicious, healthy meat than just producing more and more for profit. The food quality of holistic farmed meat is a lot better because the cows are raised and treated well as opposed to when the animals are abused their whole life. If we really want a change, it is up to Americans to demand that. Currently, laws support the industrial farming methods and lack the attempt of helping small farms grow. An example is that American tax money goes to support research and the operating cost of large food producing companies (Learn About the Issues). In order for there to be a change, citizens need to become aware of the process. Change will happen by the consumer supporting politicians who are looking to change the food industry. Consequently, producers would need to be more focused on the care of the animals than earning as much money as possible. What American farmers feed their cattle, where they raise them and how they get slaughtered directly impacts the quality of our food. It is important for consumers to be aware of the United States food industry because there is so much more behind the food brought to you in the supermarket. If the consumer buys meat that is produced holistically, and legislation puts focus on the care of animals, the food industry will be forced to improve their methods.

Access Of Mental Health Resources - 2519 Words

Access to Mental Health Resources in Developing Nations Introduction Mental health is a term used to describe a person’s psychological state in regards to their emotional and behavioural performance. Those considered with good mental health are thus satisfactory in their psychological state and are able to function normally without any emotional or behavioural barriers. Likewise, those with poor mental health or those diagnosed with other mental illnesses and disorders are at an unsatisfactory state and are unable to function as optimally as those with good mental health. Mental health may also encompass neurological, mental and addiction disorders. Currently, there are over 450 million people suffering from mental health disorders,†¦show more content†¦Such absences of basic mental health care leave those with mental illnesses with very few options. Many of those with mental illnesses, disabilities and disorders are met with stigma and excluded from society and lack basic human rights such as food, clothing and shelter. A significant number are also denied rights to vote, marry and have children and discriminated against within the workplace, education and housing. As a result, people with mental illnesses are a vulnerable group and are generally forced into situations of poverty from the lack of treatment or extreme discrimination. In turn, people are forced into situations where they are not able to access the mental care they require in order to cope with their situation and thus, perpetuating a vicious cycle. Timeline 1945 – During World War I, many soldiers were diagnosed with ‘Shell Shock’ which was believed to have been a physiological disorder from a soldier’s horrible sights in battle which have led to the inability to participate in war. 1946 – US President Harry Truman singed the National Mental Health Act and created the National Institute of Mental Health 1960 – Declared the World Mental Health year by the World Federation for Mental Health 1990 - Infant Health and Development Programme, helps to teach maternal mothers the importance of proper diet to low-weight newborns. This brings light to the connection between proper physical and mental health. 2008 - WHO’s Mental Health