Marketing Case Study: Kudler Fine Foods

Marketing is an organizational function and a set ofbusiness to be successful, when customers are
processes for creating, communicating, and deliveringsatisfy they return because of the product and
value to customers and for managing customerservice. Kudler will need to decide what food item
relationships in ways that benefit the organization andand recipes will be their main attraction. The way that
its stakeholders. Marketing affects all individuals, allKudler can determine their most popular products is
organizations, all industries, and all countries. (Kerin,by using there inventory process to track what items
2006, p.22) In this paper I will explain the value ofare being purchased frequently and more than others.
three pieces of marketing research, the componentsAccording to what customers are buying, by tracking
of marketing mix for Kudler new catering service, faritems in their inventory will tell them what products
as their product, place, price, and promotions. I willare doing well and the ones that are not, with this
also explain how Kudler should determine theinformation Kudlers is able to determine what items
products it wants to offer and how they willwould be put on their menu to entice customers.
determine how they will price their products to beThe way that Kudler can determine its price is by
relative to other catering companies. I will also explainknowing the community, competition, the cost of
what term place means, how Kudler will go aboutstart-up, employees and preparation of meals.
promoting their catering service and describe howUnfortunately, with the quality of product that Kudler
technology will be used by Kudler in their market,is providing the price for their food will be higher than
lastly I will explain if Kudler decide to go with cateringtheir competition, but if Kudler can appeal to
how that mesh with their decision to contract withcustomers about their great quality and began to
organic growers.build loyal customers then they will pay the price
Marketing research is an important part ofbecause of the great quality. To be competitive in
understanding the market and where there is a needthe market Kudler must be aware of the competition
for a service. The product and service will have to beand the items and prices of their products and
targeted to the right people who are in need of theservices. One of Kudler's successful strategies is the
service. The three pieces of market research allowfocus on customer needs; these needs are met by
you to specify, identify, and determine the currentoffering an open menu with possible adjustments
market. The three pieces of market research are:based on customer requests. With no set menu
"Specifying Constraints- The constraints in a decisionKudler will be competitive in the market because they
are the restrictions placed on potential solutions to awill cater specifically to each customer's needs and
problem. Identifying data needed for marketingtheir willingness to alter their menu keeps customers
action- Often marketing research studies wind uphappy and coming back for future services. As a part
collecting a lot of that are interesting but irrelevantof Kudler's advertising strategy they need to focus
for marketing decisions that result into marketingon the customer satisfaction aspect and the
actions. The data should be able to provide manageropenness to meeting and exceeding the customer
with information that allows them to make clearrequests received.
choice of action to take for their product. DeterminePromotion is the key to starting a new business and
how to collect data- Determining how to collectthe right decisions must be made to be successful.
useful marketing research data is often as importantPromoting communicate messages to potential
as actually collecting the data. The two key elementscustomers and clients. Kudler already has a clientele
in deciding how to collect data are concept andbase of customers due to their existing business that
method. Concepts are ideas about a product orwillcost them little to no money to advertise to them.
service. To find out about consumer reaction to aWith the use of existing customers Kudler will be able
potential new product, marketing researchersto get word out that they have started their
frequently developed a new product concept, that is,catering business. When customers are satisfied with
a picture or verbal description of a product or servicea service or product they will not only come back
the firm might offer for sale. Methods are thebut began to recommend the services to their
approaches that can be used to collect to solve all orfriends or anyone they come in contact with. Finding
part of a problem." (Kerin, 2006, p.22)out the needs of potential customers and adding this
Kudler has a new idea of starting a catering servicekey message to advertising will draw business. For
but before they can start they will have to researchspecific forms of promotion Kudler should use
the market to determine the right course of action.newspapers, in-store fliers, direct mailers to current
Kudler will have to define the marketing problem andloyal customers, and advertising over the intercom at
the opportunity for increased customer satisfaction.each store location. Technology will allow Kudler to be
The company will have to develop an organized planmore efficiency, cut cost and labor. Kudler right now
to determine the effectiveness of their decision.is not using technology to its full potential but as
People today are looking to eat healthier and stay inbusiness begin to increase this will become important
shape. Consumers have become interest in theas the business grows and the clientele grows to an
quality of their health with today's 54 percent ofunmanageable amount. Organic growers will mesh well
Americans is considered overweight. ( As peoplewith the catering service because of the increasing
begin to look into other foods the diet of manyinterest in organic foods.
consumers are now change to foods that areAs Kudler continue to grow they must remember
healthier such as organic. This type of change inthat the most important thing is to continue to
consumer's diet has allowed companies like Kudler tosatisfy their customers and meeting their needs. As
provide these different types of food options.the business grows they will need to upgrade on
Before starting the catering service Kudler had decidetechnology to cut down cost and labor to be more
to contract with local farmers for organic produce.efficient. Kudler can also utilize their existing customer
The organic and gourmet food market in the Unitedbase to advertise their product as well, as customers
State has soured through the sky. There are morecontinue to love the services offered the existing
cooking show and more people cooking healthy thancustomers will recommend the services to their
ever before. With this type of increasing marketfriends and so on. Marketing is essential for success,
Kudler can began to advertise and market theirresearch and planning must be done in order to know
organic product to their consumers. As organicwhat course of action to take. After the
continue to gain popularity with consumers the salesimplementation phase Kudler can review and look
potential will continue to increase.back to see what results were achieved and were
To ensure that their decision will be the best actionthe processes was most beneficial for the company
to take for Kudler, the company will have to dooverall.
research were they provide an atmosphere forReferences
customers to try their products and receive feedKerin, R.A., Hartley, S.W., Berkowitz, E.N., Rudelius, W.
back. One method that Kudler could use is allowing(2006) Marketing. [University
customers to try their organic produce for free byOf Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text].New York: The
providing samples. This can give Kudler a chance toMcGraw-Hill Companies.
introduce their new product and service to gain moreKudler Intranet. (2005). July 5, 2008, from
customer loyalty. Customer loyalty is what drives aGomez-Mejia, L.R. & Balkin, D. B.