CH.7-BUSINESS MARKETING

Business marketing is the  marketing of goods and services to individual and organizations for purpose other than perosnal consuption.

The internet is playing an inportant role in business marketing nowdays.It is 2011 and mobile websites have become a "must have" for retailers. Customers are walking with their internet enables mobile phones in their pockets. Making customers' information and storefront available to customers' anytime/anywhere is criticle.Whole Foods moblie website is eCommerce Enable ans allowes to search,browes and order products using their smartphones. Customers are getting comfortable with mobile commerce-brands need to keep up.

Whole foods market also focus on the relationship marketing and strategic alliance

Ch. 6 - Consumer Decision Making

Customers are the foundation for the companies of the development of productions. In order to make a proper marketing mix, companies have to understand consumer behaviors. There are several stages for marketers to make well decision for making profits.

The first stage in the consumer decision-making process is need recognition. for this stage, we need to know the Want and Stimulus for customers to buy the productions. For Whole Foods Company, the Want for customers to buy food is that customers want to eat healthy natural and organic food. For the Stimulus for customers to buy foods in Whole Foods Market, there are internal and external stimulus. For the external stimulus, customers buy food in the Whole Foods Market because the influence of the advertisements.

After recognizing a need, customers search for information about various alternative available to satisfied it. there are two information search: internal information external information search. For the internal information search is that people to buy the foods in whole foods market again because their experience direct them to buy these foods. For the external information, customers buy their productions because of the other people recommend them to buy these things.

The third stage is evaluation of alternatives. Whole Foods Market is a leading foods company focus on selling organic and natural foods. After the recognition and collecting of information, customers may decide what productions they would buy. Because the high standard of Whole Foods production, customer prefer to buy the more healthy foods in whole foods market.

The fourth stage is the action of purchase.

The final step is the postpurchase behavior. According on the whole foods annual report, productions from whole foods market satisfy and delight the customers so much.

Ch. 5 - Developing a Global Vision

Whole Foods Market is the leading foods company focusing on providing natural and organic foods in American society. As the target markets throughout the world, global market has become an imperative for business, and Whole foods market consider to trade abroad now.

Whole Foods Market has subbranches in Alabama, Arizona, California, and New York. As the global market plays an important role in the companies’ economic development, Whole Foods Market expands their shops abroad. Right now, Whole foods market has stores in Canada and Unite kingdom. As time goes on, Whole Foods market will open more stores in these two countries.

What is more, Whole Foods Market also provides job opportunities to the other countries people. And they also provide special foods into Canada and United Kingdom’s market in order to make profits.

Ch. 4 - The Marketing Environment

Whole Foods Market' target market does not just aim at a single group but to all people.
As beinging,Whole Foods Market' target market is a large number of college educated residents. Whole Foods Market knows that their foods price are more expensive than the other normal foods because they mainly sell the organic and natural foods. As a result, they think that the college educated residents who have disposable income are more interested in the benifits of eating natural and organic foods. However, Whole Foods Market's target market changed with the social factors and economic factors changed in American Society. For example, they produce The Summer Deal to customers family and finance. As the social factor changed, people are more care about high quality life. And summer is the best season people consider to go out with family to enjoy the outdoor activities.So Whole Foods Market produced The Summer Deal, they are on the meal with the best meats for grilling, the best ingredients for simple suppers, the best summer skin care and the best value for customers' buck. As the economic depression, Whole Foods Market also provides the $45 coupon to attract more customers.

Ch. 3 - Ethics & Social Responsibility

The ethics of whole foods market

Whole foods market, the leading natural and organic company, has been recognized as the “World’s Most Ethical Companies”. Whole foods market locates the code of ethics at the core position of the company. “Our core values are the very heart of the business philosophy that drives Whole Foods Market’s unique culture, growth and success,” said Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market senior global vice president of purchasing, distribution and marketing. “We base all of our business practices on our passion for natural and organic foods, our commitment to our communities and our respect for the planet. We are honored to be recognized by Ethisphere as a company with a conscience.”

The social responsibility of whole foods company

The whole foods company not only is concerned about the long-term profitability but also the social responsibility. Whole foods market focus a lot on for protecting environment and  caring about communities. Whole foods market have taken many actions to achieve the social responsibility through thirty years.

 Organics

Organics is at the root of everything they do. Organic agriculture produces food that promotes the health of consumers, farmers and the earth, with an eye to maintaining that health far into the future. Organic farming is a hopeful enterprise, practiced with compassion and empathy for the land and the creatures upon it.

CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES & OUR ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable Agriculture

They support organic farmers, growers and the environment through our commitment to sustainable agriculture and by expanding the market for organic products.

Wise Environmental Practices

They respect our environment and recycle, reuse, and reduce our waste wherever and whenever we can.

Community Citizenship

They recognize our responsibility to be active participants in our local communities. We give a minimum of 5% of our profits every year to a wide variety of community and non-profit organizations.

Integrity In All Business Dealings

They trade partners are our allies in serving our stakeholders. We treat them with respect, fairness and integrity at all times and expect the same in return.

CH.2-Strategic Planning for Competitive Advantage

Whole Foods Market was the biggest retailer of organic and natural foods in the world. It was also credited with popularizing natural and organic foods by becoming the first retailer to sell them under a supermarket format. Although WFM was not the only retailer selling natural and organic foods in the US, it was the most successful, with one of the strongest growth rates in the industry.

This case discusses the factors that contributed to WFM's success over the years. It talks about how the company grew by differentiating itself from competitors through its unique value proposition and commitment to natural foods.

It also talks about how WFM managed to build a strong brand by offering an unmatched in-store experience, and promoted itself by converting customers into brand ambassadors.

The case also analyses the unique aspects of the organizational culture at WFM, and how they might have helped the company in its growth. It also mentions the criticisms against WFM, especially with regard to its strategy of charging premium prices. The case concludes with a commentary on the future plans of WFM and the increasing competition from other retailers.

» To examine the factors behind the growth and profitability of a major natural and organic foods retailer in the US.

» To analyze the strategy adopted by the retailer to differentiate itself from the competition

» To study how the retailer managed to create a valuable brand by providing an unmatched in-store experience.

» To analyze how culture can be a source of competitive advantage for a company.

» To study the future prospects of the retailer in light of increasing competition and its own shortcomings.

» To suggest possible future courses of action through which the retailer can maintain an edge over the competition

WHOLE FOODS MARKET INC MISSION STATEMENT

The following list of core values reflects what is truly important to us as an organization. These are not values that change from time to time, situation to situation or person to person, but rather they are the underpinning of our company culture. Many people feel Whole Foods is an exciting company of which to be a part and a very special place to work. These core values are the primary reasons for this feeling, and they transcend our size and our growth rate. By maintaining these core values, regardless of how large a company Whole Foods becomes, we can preserve what has always been special about our company. These core values are the soul of our company.

• Selling the highest quality natural and organic products available
• Satisfying and delighting our customers
• Supporting team member happiness and excellence
• Creating wealth through profits & growth
• Caring about our communities & our environment
• Creating ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers.