William Morrison the establisher and founder of the Morrisons super market was only a merchant of Egg and Butter. It was in 1899 William Morrison started work to form the business recognised as Wm Morrisons. From a very small stall in market of Bradford came the motivation to originate and lead the way in hypermarket retailing.
After stepping on the first step of stalls to counter service, in 1958 a tiny town shop was second step towards the progress. Using the facility of three checkouts it's the first Bradford shop that offers self-service and having self-edge prices.
In 1961 the company's first supermarket opens in Bradford named "victoria". The 5000 sq ft retail market selling greengrocery, fresh meat and other provisional items with free parking service.
In 1997 Morrisons expanding beyond Bradford, Gadbrook park in Cheshire, and in October 1998, In Eirith Morrisons opens its first store in south of England.
The first store in Scotland was opened in February 2004 resulted the company going National.
In March 2004 Morrisons becomes the UK's 4th most significant supermarket group by completing the takeover of Safeway, and currently having 403 stores and 124, 000 colleagues across the UK.
History and data accessed from http://www. morrisons. co. uk/Corporate/About-Morrisons/Company-history1/ [17/09/10]
2. Aims:
Morrisons aim is Food specialist for everybody, and become the No. 1 supermarket in the UK.
Morrisons has made considerable progress in its technique to position the business as the UK's 'Food specialist for everyone'.
Food specialist
They know where it originates from;
They pack it and make it in their factories;
They make it in their stores; and
They employ craft skills in every store.
For everyone
Great food which is also great value
Great food which is for each and every day not simply special days.
Morrison's strategy available from www. morrisons. co. uk/annualreport10 [accessed 27/09/10]
- Consistently deliver market leading availability and product presentation.
- Market leading shop-keeping standard, Execution and Control.
- Prepare and present the freshest choice of product on the market.
- Great service focused on Selling.
In Wm Morrisons there are following departments in their each store.
Market street(Produce, Oven baked, Fresh Prep, Deli, Butchers, Fish, Bakery, Cake shop)
F. F. P. P. (Fresh Food Pre-packed)
Administration
Dry Cleaning
Customer Cafe
Grocery(Frozen foods, Health & Beauty, Toiletries)
Wines and Spirits
Home and Leisure
Petrol Fuelling Station
National Lottery and Tobacco Kiosk
Every store runs with a Management Structure which is really as following.
MANAGEMENT CHART
STORE GENERAL MANAGER
(SGM)
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER STORE PERSONNEL MANAGER
(DGM) (SPM)
ASSISTANT DEPUTY MANAGER ASSISTANT DEPUTY MANAGE
(ADM MARKET STREET) (ADM GROCERY)
DEPARTMENT MANAGER
ASSISTANT DEPART MANAGER
SUPERVISOR
SHIFT SUPERVISOR
GENERAL ASSISTANT
PEST Analysis:
Political:
Change in government may have indirect effects on taxation policies, will lead to extreme competition, which in turn minimises the income for Morrisons. New government has cut several benefits for consumers have resulted in less spending in supermarkets influenced Morrisons Sales.
Economical:
Morrisons got their own local suppliers supplying fresh produce, meat which in turn gives complete control over quality and provenance of their food, another great benefit of this operation is that it helps them keep their prices low to their consumers and it is also believed, it will be the quickest delivered than any supermarkets. Thus giving them high economies of scales to keep their cost down.
Socio-cultural:
Morrisons have launched a fresh way of recognising colleague's job profile by providing with National Qualified Certificate, and this is their intend to changing lifestyles.
Through "Let's Grow" campaign Morrisons provide free gardening equipment to local schools, helps to maintain social balance and values in society.
Technological:
After take-over from Safeway Morrisons experienced down-grade of technology to minimise excess expenditure, which was much needed for expansion.
Morrisons planning to launch "Pegasus" very advance technology which include automated product ordering system and new integrated till system to provide excellent and quicker customer service.
Environmental:
By increasing the sales of long-life reusable bags instead of offering free non-degradable plastic bags Morrisons can also maximise profits along with essential support for Global Warming.
Legal:
Morrisons have their own policy for energy conservation it can help government with pollution control. Morrisons as a public limited company also follows the legal basis for business by following Joint Stock Companies Act of 1862. (A. Cowe et al. Edi; p 67)
4. SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
Recent Morrisons adverts of offering fresh fish rather than frozen from their fish mongers have proved their particular set-up, own suppliers and manufacturing facilities that it is really Value for Money. A major benefit for Morrisons and its uniqueness is the fact it prepares wide and fresh food range in store itself which helps those to keep their prices low. Morrisons is the only supermarket whose all own-brand eggs are British and free natures nest range.
Weakness:
When United Kingdom's economy was damaged through the recession and fall-down the UK's grocery store it was a disaster for Morrisons, as having less diversification characterises and has covering only UK market. All major leading supermarkets expanded into foreign market and can not be damaged by way of a decline in the united kingdom industry.
Opportunities:
Let's see how Morrisons Faces following Industrial opportunities.
(Porter, M. (1980), Competitive strategy)
Difficulty to enter in retail business.
Convenient way of expanding stores.
Allowing Internet shopping for customers.
Low bargaining power of customers.
High bargaining capacity to supplier.
1. Difficulty to enter in retail business
As Porter has explained existing companies in the industries provide a security. New entrants faces many difficulties one of the normal and major is to get in distribution channels. Only probability is by firmly taking over the existing company or through merger. Since Morrisons has taken over Safeway the threat of entering in market resolved.
2. Convenient way of expanding stores
According to Porter's forces substitution of company could affect the marketplace. Comparing to major competitor supermarkets/restaurants/takeaways Morrisons found the best way to combat this by expanding convenient stores. Launching of Fresh to go, customer cafe, deli, cake shop have been tailored High Street retailing identical to Tesco Express, and Sainsbury's Local.
3. Allowing Internet shopping to customers
One of the key upcoming opportunities Morrisons was awaiting for is, Online grocers and family-run convenience stores been targeted by Morrisons- as U. K's fourth most significant supermarket chain outlined its arrange for expansion.
An, internet delivery service would increase competition with market-leader Tesco and other rivals with web procedure including Ocado.
(Metro-UK, 10/09/2010, 51p)
Another opportunity, if Morrisons decides to jump in financial sector, than it will be very crucial and highly profitable move. In addition, if Morrisons diversify their stores with highly margin range products like Clothing and Home ware such as Tesco Extra, it'll boost their profit as well as the shares prices.
4. Low bargaining power of customers
Customers are King and, always have right to find the best value with their money. In simple language to convey that customers have the reduced bargaining power as a result of supermarkets reality, which is, Supermarkets shopping is a single-visit shopping. And according to current market position customers have a number of supermarkets to choose from. The ratio is as lower the coast, as higher the amount of customers. That is why leading super markets have started the schemes of Membership, such as Tesco Club-card and Sainsbury's Nectar card. This is one way the reduced bargaining is the key for the tight competition and attraction of customers in the retail industry.
High bargaining capacity to suppliers
It is mandatory to convey that High bargaining capacity to suppliers gives company an chance to gain more profit. The marketing gurus of the primary supermarkets have long integrated and quality network with supply chains, and as a customer company have amounts of suppliers to choose from for the best offers. Because supplier also have a risk of losing a loyal customer (the company), allows company a high balances of economy to keep low expanses hence low prices.
Threats:
Price wars among existing rivals are really intensive. New trend in supermarket is not only predicated on food-market as explained in opportunities earlier, that involves clothing market, non-food sales, financial sector and expansion into convenience stores and customer membership(loyalty schemes) cards. This all services are already implemented in leading supermarkets could be a big threat for Morrisons.
Conclusion:
According to SWOT analysis we can evidently see many industrial opportunities than the threats proves a certain success. For delivering the better value with their consumers Morrisons may use their strength like higher net margin than the rivals. By maintaining certain level of productivity as far as cost concern more profitability is predictable.
