Company Analysis: Thornton's

Part A of this report examines the resources and capabilities of Marks & Spencer (M&S) up to the mid 1990's and how they lead to creating a superior competitive advantage (CA) over all competitors.

Westminster Company is a giant Global manufacturer of health products whose brand has been recognized by the world. As the company they have three different operations which produce and distribute different product lines. Their main strategy on which they are working and which is a major success for them is decentralized management. Now they are re-evaluating their traditional supply chain strategy because the company is getting too much pressure from their large domestic’s customers and global customers. Now the company has to study on

Hershey’s and Cadburys are moving towards the premium chocolate market through the acquisition or upmarket launches (Zietsma, 2007). The profit potential present in this sector supported by its 20% annual growth rate make it very attractive for large organizations to come forward and avail this opportunity. There is a low threat of new entrants prevailing in this chocolate industry because of the high capital requirements and expected retaliation by current manufacturers. Current players in the industry also possess some barriers to entry for new entrants by maintaining economies of scales with their large production capacity and keeping their product differentiation with their specialized and novelty chocolate products. Even though there are low switching costs and easy access to distribution channels, but still the brand loyalty of the customers including the Rogers’ Chocolate itself make it harder for new firms to come into the competition.

Production line workers are the employees who are usually doing their work by hand or in this day and age, running the machine or equipment to make the products. In this particular case, Canada Chemicals Corporation utilizes their production employees by producing industrial chemicals. These production worker’s jobs are a lot more complete then other production level workers employees as they usually have plenty of skill, knowledge and experience, and have high educational background. In order to reverse recent challenges with production and sales, I have composed a compensation package for these employees that will motivate them intrinsically, and focus on rewards that are extrinsic.

The report provides the analysis of the Harrison Company. The company financial conditions reveal that the company profitability has declined in the last three years making the company to face challenges in settling its short-term obligation. For example, Harrison Company has not been able to settle suppliers' payment on time as being stipulated in the contract agreement. The company deteriorating financial conditions has also made the company todecline the costs of marketing campaign in the last three years. With the implementation of various strategies to improve the company financial conditions, the report forecasts that the company will generate sales totaled $295 Million in the next five years compared to the company sales of $48 Million in the last year.

The premium chocolate industry is having an intensive competition in Canada with the strong growth potential. Industry growth opportunity imposes increasing competition from rivals and threats of new entrance that adds pressure on overall profitability. Even though Roger’s has been able to establish its place in the chocolate industry with its strong brand recognition and products’ quality, it still needs to be on top of ever- going market changes, by continuously

This study will examine Wilmott Dixon Group, a construction company and conduct a case study on how the company began, its growth, market, life cycle and will conduct a SWOT and Pestel Analysis. This work will further state a five-year development plan for the company to move forward in a sustainable and fair trade market.

For the past recent decades, several big corporations took actions to acquire much control through their supply chains. Against the famous phenomena of outsourcing, they decided to go back to acquire a more level of vertical integration. As outsourcing raised consequences to global business, the vertical integration brought number of benefits as well as new affronts. Encouraged by this recent trend, this paper investigates the effects of strategic alternatives on the vertical integration and the corporate performance on these changes. That supports the effects of high performance of the actions on vertical integration level, such changes that benefit the corporation's (Bhutan, 2012).

Loblaw Companies Limited is the leader of Canada’s food and pharmacy, their independently-operated stores, food and household products as well as pharmacies can be found in every Canadian’s neighborhoods.

The premium chocolate market has been growing at 20% annually, showing that buyers are willing to pay more for a better tasting and better quality chocolate. The declining growth of the overall chocolate market and rapid growth of the premium chocolate market is positive for current producers of premium chocolates in that the decline

Nucor Steel is one of the major steel producers in the world and a market leader in America that is facing a threat of competitive pressures from potential international players.

The company has invested more than £1m in Thornton’s Direct, the group’s internet delivery service which allows people to make their own selections for chocolate boxes.

THORNTONS COMPANY CASE STUDY Name Institution Thornton’s Company Case Study 1.0 CASE STUDY It is evident that Thorntons Company faces a number of challenges. This is evident through the observations that have been made. The points that may be highlighted include the issues of fear among investor in the period 2013-2014 on the issues of profit warnings. The other challenge is the challenge of closing up of its stores where the company has closed up stores from the 344 stores it had to the current 247 stores.

In pursuit of upscale segments of the market and an increased market share, Consumer Food Groups (CFG) purchased the rights to become a distributor of Montreaux’s European chocolate products in the United States in June 2011. As CFG is the division which produces confectionery products for Apollo foods, they contribute not only to one-third of the company’s total revenues and net income, but are a vital part of Apollo’s ranking as second in the global confectionery business. Upon acquisition of the rights for Montreaux’s chocolates CFG formed a new division, Montreaux Chocolate USA. Under the leadership of David Raymond as division manager and Andrea Torres

In 1982 they began selling outside UK (sales to Europe & Australia reached 300000 sterling)