首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
The merger was expected to help the combined company to The Chairman’s plans for improving the company’s performance include
The merger was expected to help the combined company to The Chairman’s plans for improving the company’s performance include
admin
2010-01-24
75
问题
The merger was expected to help the combined company to
The Chairman’s plans for improving the company’s performance include
Today’s case study concerns a merger between two supermarket chains, and subsequent problems. Before I hand out the’ documentation, here’s a quick overview.
Five years ago, Kelway Supermarkets merged with ’its low-cost rival Duncan, to form a company called KD. Although the new business was still far smaller than the chief players in the retail food sector, analysts believed its increased size would allow KD to put pressure on its suppliers to keep their prices down. However, Duncan and Kelway both had strong, rather different images, and doubts were expressed about how well they fitted together
The merger wasn’t Successful. The company maintained both chains, while converting some of the low-cost Duncan stores to the Kelway format, which meant these rebranded stores took on Kelway’s name, product range and higher prices, The conversion was possible once the supply chains of the two brands had been unified. But this policy seriously underestimated the difference between the customers of the two chains, and the rebranded stores lost customers. However, fears of competition from foreign supermarkets moving into the country failed to materialise.
Another problem resulted from the new structure introduced after the merger With two sets Of senior managers competing for positions, there was a risk of allocating them equally to the two chains, rather than on merit. The negotiations led to a satisfactory outcome, however, which included Kelway’s former chief executive becoming responsible for stores, and Duncan’s taking charge of systems, supply chain and logistics. Both worked conscientiously for the good of both chains. However, certain problems slipped between the two of them and failed to be resolved.
After two years of poor results, increasing KD ’S debt burden, the company decided to sell off a number of stores, particularly on out-of-town sites, which were too large to fit its new concept. The sale was intended to fund the transformation of both chains into convenience retailers, operating particularly in town centres, on petrol forecourts and within department stores. Unfortunately, though, few companies were interested in purchasing the sites which were for sale.
KD believes its appeal to customers is the fact that it’s a discounter, and hopes that the resulting high sales volume will compensate for its thin profit margins. This is a strong feature of its advertising, which even makes direct comparisons with its competitors, and the company has never felt the need to follow other supermarkets in setting up loyalty schemes to encourage repeat custom.
Despite its efforts, though, sales are still falling. Last month the Chairman admitted that this wasn’t caused by the general market slowdown, as KD is underperforming most other supermarket chains. While rejecting claims that the company is still suffering from internal stresses, he acknowledged the chief cause by launching a change of philosophy: for the first time the company will find out what purchasers actually want in its supermarkets.
The Chairman also announced several further moves to turn round the company’s performance. One is to examine new ways of promoting .the brands, in order to spend the advertising budget as effectively as possible, Secondly, the company will take a close look at all its suppliers, to ensure that they are the best ones to use: And thirdly, the range of goods on offer will be significantly broadened, to attract a wider spectrum of customers.
OK; that briefly is the recent history of KD. Your first task is to identify all the factors which have contributed to the company’s troubles since the merger, and assess how it dealt with each of them. Take the merger itself as given. Alter that we’ll look at where the company goes from here. So could , you pass round these papers, and then start work.
选项
A、introducing high-quality product ranges.
B、increasing its advertising spend.
C、assessing its suppliers.
答案
C
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://www.kaotiyun.com/show/PLzO777K
本试题收录于:
BEC中级听力题库BEC商务英语分类
0
BEC中级听力
BEC商务英语
相关试题推荐
PROBLEMSFACINGPOTENTIALEXPORTERS1Inordertobesuccessful,afirmmustclearly______,objectivesandpotentialproble
YouwillhearpartofaninterviewbetweenheadofLeoBurnettEntertainmentandaninterviewer.Foreachquestion(23-30),mark
YouwillhearpartofaninterviewbetweenheadofLeoBurnettEntertainmentandaninterviewer.Foreachquestion(23-30),mark
SELLINGTACTICSNOTESBusinessPresentationPayAttentiontoGettingAttention1Amajorobstacleofsellingthingsisthatyou
SELLINGTACTICSNOTESBusinessPresentationPayAttentiontoGettingAttention1Amajorobstacleofsellingthingsisthatyou
TaskTwo—FeelingForquestions18-22,matchtheextractswithwhatpeoplesay,listedA-H.Foreachextract,decidewhichfeeli
YouwillhearpartofaninterviewbetweenaHumanResourceManagerofacompanyandacandidate.Foreachquestion(23-30),mar
Youwillhearpartofaconversationbetweentwocompanyemployees,awomancalledRoseandamancalledSteve.Foreachquestio
Youwillhearadiscussionbetweentwomanagers,KathyandDuncan,whoworkintheHumanResourcesdepartmentofacompany.For
随机试题
简述传统式损益平衡图的绘制方法.
甲掉进一个没有设置明显标志且未采取安全措施的基坑中,造成腿部受伤,花去医疗费8000元。甲多次找该项目的建设单位、施工单位索赔,双方互相推诿。根据我国《建设工程安全生产管理条例》的规定,承担该责任的主体应是()。
按演练目的与作用划分,应急预案演练不包括()。
基金的存款利息收入计提方式为()。[2014年9月证券真题]
信托公司推介信托计划时,委托人以______方式认购信托单位,可由______代理收付。()
甲公司成立于2012年,该公司的章程规定:本公司连续3年平均利润不足5%时,则公司解散。由于经营不善,在2015年年终审计时发现公司已经连续3年平均利润不足1%。2016年1月15日,股东会议决定解散公司。股东会作出解散决议后,于2016年2月10日成立了
丹霞山的景观特点为()。
目前世界上的磁悬浮技术主要有()。①常导电式磁悬浮②超导电动磁悬浮③永磁悬浮④粒子束悬浮
当服务器组中一台主机出现故障,该主机上运行的程序将立即转移到组内其他主机。下列技术中能够实现上述需求的是
A、Whichfoodcouldbesold.B、Howfoodsmustbedescribed.C、Whencertainfoodsareavailable.D、Whatnutrientsfoodshouldcont
最新回复
(
0
)