Business Strategy Case Analysis – Cheap Research Essays

Respond to the following questions to analyze the Panera Bread Company in 2014 (C-9, C-121 – 139) case.
Panera Bread management has employed you as a consultant. You are tasked to assess the company’s strategy, competitive market position and overall situation.
Prepare a report to the senior executives at Panera Bread that addresses the following:
1. In your own words with no quoted material a 3-5 sentence executive summary your understanding of Panera’s approach to the “quick dining” or “fast casual dining” experience, its target consumer segment, management’s long-term objective and strongest competitors
2. Using the Panera’s 2013 financial data for 2013 (Ex. 2, p. C-123), select 3 companies from Exhibit 3 that you believe are Panera’s closest competitor and compare their “Select Financial Data, 2013-2014” with Panera’s. Based on this comparison, what are your insights or conclusions about Panera’s position in this market space visa vis these three competitors.
3. Which of the five generic competitive strategies described in Chapter 5 do you believe Panera Bread is employing. Using quoted material with citation regarding the strategy you identified and with corroborating quoted material with citation from the Panera case, justify your selection.
4. Describe Panera’s “horizontal scope strategy” (Thompson, 2016, p.155). Is this strategy effective in supporting Panera’s growth? Explain supported with quoted material and citation.
5. Evaluate Panera’s financial performance (based on the data in case Exhibits 1, 2, and 7),
6. Assess Panera’s Bakery-Café Supply Chain (Supra. C-135-136) using information from Figure 4.3, page 96 and Figure 4.4 page 99) that from your perspective is the most useful and relevant to Panera’s Bakery-Café Supply Chain.
7. What are two most important strategic issues or problems that Panera Bread’s management needs to address to maintain its competitive advantage? Explain why you selected these two.
8. Provide recommendations address these issues and problems.
Your report should be at least 7 pages, and as appropriate include charts, tables, and exhibits in the appendix to support your analysis and recommendations.