Business Strategy Report for Quaker Oats Essay

External Environmental Analysis We chose Kellogg’s cereal category because Kellogg’s has over 100 years history and we have14 kinds of breakfast cereal products. Our products sell to 180 countries across the world. Our mission is still to provide you and your family with better breakfasts that lead to better days, and now you eat flake corn is the same way W.K. did back in 1898. It just tastes better that way. Kellogg’s cereal provides a variety of nutrition’s cereals that deliver the benefits of grains, and provide important nutrients like iron, B vitamins, zinc and fibre.

The cereal industry is very adamant on using a differentiation strategy to make one’s brand stand out in the minds of certain people. The companies break down the public into different target markets; and then make products that will be attractive to their target markets. Companies make different brands for young kids, teenagers, adults, and people who are health conscience. Currently, there are 387 different brands of cereal sold in the United States and each family is estimated to purchase 17 different brands per year. (O’Connor, Amy) Companies continue to brainstorm for new product ideas to attract the various market segmentations.

The threat of customers finding substitute products from other manufacturers in the food industry is high. In the ready-to-eat breakfast cereals segment, General Mills’ primary business focus, there are a variety of similar products being

The Kellogg is continuing to innovate a century later, offering cereals that are affordable, convenient to prepare and eat, and tasty. It will also reduce ingredients such as sugar that consumers want less of while increasing fiber, whole grains, vitamins and other nutrients(Kelloggcompany, 2011).

Weakness- A major foreseeable weakness OMG Active Cereal may encounter is that the cereal could be perceived by the public as just another “nutritious cereal”. There are many kinds of nutritious conscious cereals in today’s market produced by several different companies. Each year, a few more of these cereals are created and placed on each and every grocer’s shelves. A weakness for our newly released cereal could be that breakfast-eating consumers will group OMG Active Cereal along with the average nourishing cereals before eating or becoming cognizant of our cereal’s fantastic features other than especially served for the teenagers.

Strategy formulation has been acknowledged as one of the most crucial factors of ensuring the long-term growth of the business. However, the manner in which strategy is formulated, and most importantly, the nature of the strategy chosen for the company determines its future position in the marketplace (Grant, 2005).

In order for a business or corporation to grow and expand at a calculated pace, they must be able to strategize the proper business plan to get there. A strategy is a set of analytic techniques for understanding and influencing the firm 's position in the marketplace (Raimundo, 2001). Having a business

General Mills competes in a dynamic environment. Some of their competitors are Kellogg’s in the cereal segment. Cereal was a product that used to be the number one election for breakfast in American. As time and new knowledge evolved, consciousness about products with less sugar or gluten free arose making the cereal industry tumble. Products like protein bars, Greek yogurts, and even fast food are the new options to start the date, gaining market share over the cereal industry.

The case explains the economics of the soft drink industry. There activities that add value to consumer at nearly every stage of the value chain of the soft drink industry. The war is primarily fought between Coca-Cola and PepsiCo as market leaders in this industry; who combined have roughly a ninety percent market share in their industry. The impact of globalization on competition has allowed both of these major players to find new markets to tap which has allowed each continued growth potential.

Quaker’s strategy eroded Snapple’s positioning and appeal for consumers, alienated channel partners, and left them with a large product portfolio that is difficult to

Answer: Based on the case study, Kellogg’s main competitors in the ready-to-eat cereals market are General Mills and Kraft Foods and PepsiCo. In the convenience foods market, the main competitors are Frito-Lay unit of PepsiCo which is the largest maker of salty snacks while the Nabisco unit of Kraft Foods which is the largest maker of cookies and crackers. Except from these competitors, Kellogg also has been facing competition with the new entrants or the improved store brand products which intent to get some shares of these two markets. Also, Kellogg’s brand

They hoped that by employing this distribution rationale they could fuel synergy within Quaker’s Beverage Division. Despite Quaker’s efforts distributors resisted this hybrid, and the strategy resulted in being far from successful.

In a global environment, the strategies that managers pursue have a significant effect on a business performance as compared to the competitors. Hill and Jones define strategy as a set of actions that a company’s managers put in place in order to increase performance of the company (2013). When the strategies lead to a superior performance of a company relative to its competitors, then the company is said to be at a competitive advantage. This is a case study of Federal Express, in the small package express delivery industry. It

“Competitive strategy involves positioning a business to maximize the value of the capabilities that distinguish it from its competitor’s” (Porter 1980:47). A successful business plan requires first and foremost the formation of an appropriate strategy. Through the implementation of a suitable strategy, the company is able to obtain its own industry niche and gain an understanding of its customers (Porter 1985). Whichever strategy is adopted it must be adequately integrated within the firms goals and missions to achieve a competitive advantage (Parker and Helms 1992).

Quaker oats which is a recent addition is also increasing in demand. Thus, the turnover resulting from the Food products is helping the bottom line of the company.