Strategic Analysis of Countdown: Business-Level, Corporate-Level, Competitive Dynamics, Merger-Acquisitions and Global Strategy

Running head: MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student: GAURAV SHARMA
STUDENT ID: 20181261
SUBMITTED TO SAIDA
Author note:

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Executive Summary
Client service expectations are in elevation when retailers offer self-service in addition to
automated systems. At the same time as, numerous retailers continue to be indeterminate
regarding e-commerce services which have steered them to focus on brand development, client
information accompanied by feedback as well as sales transactions. Retailing involves the
business activities engaged in selling goods and services to customers in support of their
personal, family or household use. Idea of retailing in current times is placed at a thought-
provoking junction. Porter’s Five Forces analysis aids organization in shaping the structure of
respective industry. With the implementation of this framework, Countdown, one of the leading
organizations in New Zealand, formerly known as Woolworths New Zealand, has been able to
mark out a position which not only displays augmented level of profitability but also shows
certain degree of susceptibility towards threats. The report has offered comprehensive insights as
to the way theoretical knowledge will be applied in developing strategies for Countdown.
Additionally, the paper analysed Countdown’s business-level, corporate-level, competitive
dynamics, merger-acquisitions and global strategy and the way core competencies are used to
implement the strategy. Implementation of alternative resources can be taken into account as the
concrete appreciation as well as reassurance of the respective retail unit. In addition to
supplementing in the interesting image of the respective retail unit, the proficiencies have
seemed to be extensively reliant on the resources. Moreover, it has been concluded that the NZ
retail domain is at a fluctuation and customer demands have been consequently changing every
moment.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................4
Business-Level Strategy applied by Countdown.........................................................................4
Porter’s Five Forces.....................................................................................................................4
Corporate Level Strategy applied by Countdown NZ.................................................................8
Analysis of Competitive Dynamics.............................................................................................9
Analysis of Merger and Acquisition of Countdown..................................................................10
Analysis of International Strategy.............................................................................................11
Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
Retailing involves the business activities engaged in selling goods and services to
customers in support of their personal, family or household use. Concept of retailing in recent
times is positioning at an interesting crossroads. On one hand, retail sales are at their most
elevated position in history. Wal-Mart is now known as the leading company in the world in
relation to sales ahead of Target, Amazon, Kmart and Giant Eagle (Varley, 2014). However, on
the other hand, retailers encounter several challenges as number of consumers tends to shift their
purchase decisions with increasing rate of options available to them. Similarly, Countdown is the
one of the leading retailers in New Zealand formerly known as Woolworths New Zealand which
to thrive in the long term has been requiring a strategic plan and a preparedness to adapt new
strategic concepts for future strategic formulation. As per the official website of Countdown, the
company in June 2018, Progressive Enterprises Limited changed its name to Woolworths New
Zealand. Countdown is known as a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain as well as
subsidiary of Woolworths NZ that is also a subsidiary of Australia’s Woolworths Limited
(Countdown.Co.NZ, 2019). Reports of Fernie and Sparks (2018) have mentioned that
Countdown stores operating in NZ retail sector with an employee base of over 18,000 are larger
in comparison to average New Zealand supermarket. The first Countdown store opened in the
year 1981 and currently the retail chain has expanded to around 180 stores till 2018. It is
renowned as the largest single supermarket chain in New Zealand in relation to number of retail
stores, while its major competitor Four Square chain comprises of a significant number of
premise that entails smaller retail stores in rural regions. As per the opinion of Ayers and
Odegaard (2017), Countdown has been known as the first supermarket in New Zealand
to publicize all stores nationally will phase out single-use plastic carrier bags at counters and