ECO600: Economics and Finance for Business- Supermarkets & Grocery Industry- Report Writing Assignment

Internal Code: 1HBAF

Report Writing Assignment:

Task: This assignment covers the topics of market structure (Week 5) and the growth and pricing strategies of businesses (Week 6). Write a report entitled, ‘The competition between Australia’s major grocery retailers and their pricing strategies’. The report should have the format of an academic report. There should be a title page (containing the title of your report, word count, your name and student number). There should be an abstract (a summary of what your report is about and its key findings in no more than 250 words). Next come the introduction, body, a conclusion sections, followed by a references section (which will contain details of the sources of secondary data that you refer to). The word limit for your report is strictly 2,500 words. Keep it brief because brevity is beautiful (read this). Brevity also means you know what you are talking about. As Albert Einstein remarked, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”. Take note: the word count applies only to the introduction and body of your report; the title page, abstract and references section are not counted. Keep them in mind while carrying out your research for primary data and for secondary data. They help you keep your writing focused. Questions that relate to your research involving primary data: A. Analyse the pricing and non-pricing strategies used by ALDI and Coles 1. What kind of pricing strategies are the grocery retailers using against each other, against other producers (‘supermarket’ brands vs. other brands), and how are they using them? Why? Compare between these two retailers. 2. What kind of non-pricing strategies are they using? Are there differences in the quantities offered, in the branding, or are similar goods packaged differently with different brand names or labels? What other non-price strategies are used? Why? Questions that relate to your research involving secondary data: A. Describe and evaluate the state of competition in Australia’s grocery market 1. Who are currently the main players in this market (Coles, ALDI, Woolworths, IGA)? What kind of market structure is it? Can you provide a review (an interesting story that provides an up-to-date overview) of the competition in this industry? What is the drama unfolding in this industry? 2. Are there (or have there been) emerging competitors or recent entrants in this market? How might they be different? How are they able to enter the market? What makes it easy or difficult to enter this market? Evaluate. B. Analyse the growth strategies used by the major retailers (Coles, ALDI, Woolworths and IGA) 1. What kind of growth strategies have the major grocery retailers used to expand their market share, company size or their profits? What actions have they taken to grow their businesses, to reduce costs or to reach out better to existing or new consumers? Investigate and contrast.