What are some of the five forces driving industry competition that are affecting the profitability of Kroger?

Introduction to Porter Five Forces

EMBA Pro Porter Five Forces Solution for Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods case study

Retail grocery sales represent a significant portion of the U.S. economy. The industry was highly competitive, with companies operating on low gross and net margins. As a result, grocery stores were generally under significant pressure to reduce their operating costs in order to maintain profitability. For the last several decades, the grocery industry grew roughly in line with gross domestic product and was considered a mature industry. In order for companies to succeed, they needed to find effective strategies to steal customers from competitors. Many sought to differentiate themselves through store format, store location, product mix, ancillary services, or quality of customer service. Strategies, however, could easily be imitated by competitors, putting grocery store chains under constant pressure to innovate and remain efficient. In general, growth also required the expansion into new store locations. Companies that failed to grow often went bankrupt or were acquired. This case explores executive compensation at four retail grocery stores: Safeway, Kroger, Costco, and Whole Foods. Consideration is given to each company's strategy and market position and corporate governance structure. Readers of the case are asked to evaluate in a critical manner the appropriateness of each company's compensation strategy and compensation levels, given company performance.


Case Authors : David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan

Topic : Leadership & Managing People

Related Areas : Executive compensation


EMBA Pro Porter Five Forces Analysis Approach for Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods


At EMBA PRO, we provide corporate level professional Marketing Mix and Marketing Strategy solutions. Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan. The Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods (referred as “Grocery Kroger” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Leadership & Managing People. It also touches upon business topics such as - Marketing Mix, Product, Price, Place, Promotion, 4P, Executive compensation.

Our immersive learning methodology from – case study discussions to simulations tools help MBA and EMBA professionals to - gain new insight, deepen their knowledge of the Leadership & Managing People field, company, context, collaborators, competitors, customers, Marketing Mix factors, Products related decisions, pricing strategies and more.



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Introduction to Porter Five Forces

First published in 1979, “How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy” by Michael E. Porter, revolutionized the field of strategy. Popularly known as “Porter’s Five Forces” - not only influenced a generation of academic research but also provided a map to rigorously analyze the competitive forces.



Porter Five Forces that Determine Industry Structure

Porter Five Forces model is heavily borrowed from the traditional field of micro economics. The five forces that determine the industry structure of organization in casename case study are -

1. Rivalry among existing players – If competition is intense then it becomes difficult for existing players such as Grocery Kroger to earn sustainable profits.

2. Threat of new entrants - if there is strong threat of new entrants then current players will be willing to earn less profits to reduce the threats.

3. Bargaining power of buyers of Grocery Kroger – If the buyers have strong bargaining power then they usually tend to drive price down thus limiting the potential of the Grocery Kroger to earn sustainable profits.

4. Threat of substitute products and services - If the threat of substitute is high then Grocery Kroger has to either continuously invest into R&D or it risks losing out to disruptors in the industry.

5. Bargaining power of suppliers of Grocery Kroger - If suppliers have strong bargaining power then they will extract higher price from the Grocery Kroger.


Why Porter's five forces analysis is important for casestudyname?


You can use Porter Five Forces model to analyze the competitiveness faced by protagonist in casestudy. Porter five forces analysis of casename case study will help you in understanding and providing solution to – nature & level of competition, and how Grocery Kroger can cope with competition.

Even though from outside various industries seem extremely different but analyzed closely these five forces determines the drivers of profitability in each industry. You can use Porter Five Forces to understand key drivers of profitability of Grocery Kroger in casename case study.


Porter’s 5 Forces, Competitive Forces & Industry Analysis


The core objective of strategists and leaders in an organization is to help the organization to build a sustainable competitive advantage and thwart competitive challenges.

Step 1 – Defining relevant industry for Grocery Kroger in casestudy
Step 2 – Identify the competitors and group them based on the segments within the industry
Step 3- Assess the Porter Five Forces in relation to the industry and assess which forces are strong and which forces are weak.
Step 4 - Determine overall industry structure and test analysis of consistency
Step 5 – Analyze recent and future changes in each forces
Step 6 – Identify aspects of industry structure based on Porter 5 Forces that might be influenced by competitors and new entrants.


How is Porter's five forces framework used in developing strategies?

To achieve above average profits compare to other industry players in the long run, Grocery Kroger needs to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. Industry analysis using Porter Five Forces can help Grocery Kroger in casename case study to map the various forces and identify spaces where Grocery Kroger can position itself.
By doing Industry analysis using Porter Five Forces, Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods can develop four generic competitive strategies.

The four generic competitive strategies that can be pursued in casename case study are -


Cost Leadership

In cost leadership, Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods can set out to become the low cost producer in its industry. How it can become cost leader varies based on the industry forces and structure. In pursuing cost leadership strategy, Grocery Kroger can assess – (pursuit of economies of scale, proprietary technology, supply chain management options, diversification of suppliers, preferential access to raw materials) and other factors.  

Differentiation

Grocery Kroger can also pursue differentiation strategy based on the industry forces description in casename case study. In a differentiation strategy Grocery Kroger can seek to be unique in its industry by providing a value proposition that is cherished by buyers. Grocery Kroger can select one or more attributes that  can uniquely position it in the eyes of the customers for a specific needs. The goal is to seek premium price because of differentiation and uniqueness of the offering. Industry analysis using Porter Five Forces can help Grocery Kroger to avoid spaces that are already over populated by the competitors.

Focus - Cost Focus & Differentiation Focus

The generic strategy of Focus rests on the choice of competitive scope within an industry. Grocery Kroger can select a segment or group of segment and tailor its strategy to only serve it.  Most organization follows one variant of focus strategy in real world.

The Focus Strategy has two variants.


(a) In cost focus a Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods can seek a cost advantage in its choses segment in casecategory.
(b) In Differentiation strategy Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods can differentiate itself in a target segment in its industry.

Both variants of the focus strategy rest on differences between a Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods ’s target segment and other segments in the industry.


5C Marketing Analysis of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
4P Marketing Analysis of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Porter Five Forces Analysis and Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Porter Value Chain Analysis and Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Case Memo & Recommendation Memo of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Blue Ocean Analysis and Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Marketing Strategy and Analysis Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
VRIO /VRIN Analysis & Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
PESTEL / STEP / PEST Analysis of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
Case Study Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
SWOT Analysis and Solution of Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods
References & Further Readings

M. E. Porter, Competitive Strategy(New York: Free Press, 1980)

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan (2018), "Attention Shoppers: Executive Compensation at Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.

O. E. Williamson, Markets and Hierarchies(New York: Free Press, 1975)

Kotler & Armstrong (2017) "Principles of Marketing Management Management", Published by Pearson Publications.

What are some of the five forces driving industry competition that are affecting the profitability of this firm?

According to Porter, there are five forces that represent the key sources of competitive pressure within an industry They are:.
Competitive Rivalry..
Supplier Power..
Buyer Power..
Threat of Substitution..
Threat of New Entry..

What are some of the five forces driving industry competition that are affecting the profitability of Apple?

The Porter 5 Forces Model..
Apple in the Marketplace From a 5 Forces Perspective..
Industry Competition..
Bargaining Power of Buyers..
The Threat of New Entrants to the Marketplace..
Bargaining Power of Suppliers..
The Threat of Buyers Opting for Substitute Products..

What are the five forces that drive competition in an industry?

The Five Forces.
Threat of New Entrants. The threat of new entrants into an industry can force current players to keep prices down and spend more to retain customers. ... .
Bargaining Power of Suppliers. ... .
Bargaining Power of Buyers. ... .
Threat of Substitute Products. ... .
Rivalry Among Existing Competitors..

What are the five forces that determine industry profitability?

Porter's Five Forces (listed in no particular order) that affect an industry's profitability are:.
New Entrants..
Supplier Power..
Buyer Power..
Substitutes..
Competitive Rivalry..