Report on Growth Strategies, Business Planning for Oak Cash & Carry

This report examines growth strategies and business planning for Oak Cash & Carry, a grocery wholesaler based in the UK. It begins with an analysis of key considerations for evaluating growth opportunities, including a PESTLE analysis and Porter's Five Forces. The report then evaluates opportunities using the Ansoff growth vector matrix, exploring market penetration, product development, market development, and diversification strategies. It also discusses potential sources of finance and their implications for the business, followed by the development of a structured business plan. Finally, the report addresses succession and exit plan strategies for the company, providing a comprehensive overview of strategic options for sustainable growth. The report emphasizes the importance of research, development, and adapting to changing market trends to achieve competitive advantages and increase revenue and productivity.

Planning for growth

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
P1 Analyse the key consideration for the evaluation of growth opportunities ..........................1
P2 Evaluate the opportunities and applying Ansoff growth vector matrix.................................4
P3 Potential sources for raising finance and their implications to the business..........................5
P4. Development of an appropriate and well-structured Business plan......................................7
P5 Succession and exit plan strategies for the company ............................................................9
CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Planning is the process of deciding in advance that what is to be done and it help in
deciding the course of action effectively. Planning help in gaining competitive advantages which
increase the growth in the business (Brinckmann and et., al., 2019). Growth is consider as the
important aspect and it is the strategic business activity which help the business to increase the
revenue and productivity of the company. The present report is based upon Oak cash & carry
which deals in grocery wholesalers company. It was founded in 2011 and head office is located
UK. Further this report covers about the advantage of competition which leads to expansion and
growth. Along with this, various kind of funds and their implication of the business is explained
effectively. The business plan also been executed in this report and the critical evaluation of exit
and succession option for the business.
MAIN BODY
P1 Analyse the key consideration for the evaluation of growth opportunities
For making proper planning and growth company has to indulge in research and
development process which aid in identifying the opportunities for improvement. For the
organisation it is essential to determine the macro and micro factors of the business environment
which can effectively acquire profitability for longer time duration. In the context of Oak cash
and Carry management should emphasis on different factor which aid in providing constant
growth and development.
Pestle analysis:
Political: This is the factor which include governance, regulation and different policies
which constantly effect the business activity of the company. In the country like UK the
government is stable as well supportive this provide edge for Oak cash & carry to operate the
business activities. Along with this government also provide funding for small companies in
order to improve the positioning of the company(Baran, P.A., 2019). Due to BREXIT the
business has got effected which aims to slow down revenue as well as sales of the firm.
Economical: This factor include fiscal policy, inflation rate and per capital income of
the country. The GDP of UK is developing which provide competitive advantage for SME
company like Oak cash & carry to sustain for the longer time duration(Lamker and et., al.,
2019). In order to minimize the inflation rate organisation must implement new policies and

trends which help in making effective decision for the company for betterment. The economical
condition is favorable in UK which aid in promoting business and attracting more and more
customer in well define manner.
Social: This component include customer age, gender and income of the particular
nation. In this present the taste and preferences are changing day by day so in this case company
has to act effectively towards changing environment (Brugère and et., al., 2019). In the context
of Oak cash & carry manager should identify the needs and wants of the people which aid in
reducing risk and uncertainty present in the market. Company has to deliver product and services
as per the changing trends in order to capture large market share.
Technological: This is consider most essential aspect for the company to meet the
technological needs. It include artificial intelligence and robotics which is used to improve the
efficacious in work along with maintaining demand supply. For small and medium company it is
difficult to use such big technology so in this case Oak cash and Carry can take help of
government for expansion and growth of the company. Further company use advertisement and
promotion strategies for gaining customer attention(Sarin, 2019).
Environmental: This has been recently focused as nation are worried about the
environmental issue create by organisation. This factor include carbon emission, waste and
pollution. So company like Oak cash and Carry ltd to focus on reducing the waste which help in
creating brand image in the minds of customer(Perloff and Wingo 2019). In UK there are
different rules and regulations are made which use to handle all these activities and also provide
protection to environment.
Legal: It include various kinds of laws and regulation which is made for the proper
functioning of the company (Hunt and DeVries 2019). This is also provide to avoid unethical
practices done by the organisation. Along with this also provide protection to employees and
their rights in effectively manner. In the context of Oak cash & carry to follow all the rules and
regulation which assist growth and sustainability for the company.
Pestle analysis is essential tool which is used by the organisation to understand the
external environment and make changes for improving market and to maintain constant growth.
In order to identify the solution for the internal environment organisation can use Porters generic
five forces model which is given below:

Cost leadership: In this leadership the firm set out to become the low cost producer of the
product for the company. The source of cost advantage is varied from organisation to
organisation and depend upon the structure on which activities are carried forward. For the Oak
cash and carry management should keep there pricing policies low for the initial stage as this aid
in capturing large market share with exponential growth. Entity should also focus on economies
of scale, proprietary technology and preferential access to raw material. The company can
achieve and sustain overall cost leadership which help in maintaining price for the longer time
duration.
Differentiation: In this firm usually seeks seek to be unique and different from other
rivals present in marketplace. For Oak cash & carry ltd management should focus on making
product more effectively which ultimately leads towards expansion(Li and Yeh, 2020). Firm has
to select more than one attributes which many buyers in an industry preserve as most important
factor for gaining success. The company can make differences by identifying the demand and
need of end user and offer the services for making better product and services.
Mckinsey model:
Strategy: This is consider as the plan which firm use to develop to create competitive
advantages in order to succeed in the market (Brugère and et., al., 2019). For Oak cash & carry
management should create effective strategies with the help of reinforced strong vision, mission
and and the value. This is difficult for the company to maintain the system for smooth
functioning of the company.
Structure: It represent the business division and the units which are organized and
include different information in which operational activities take place. This is crucial for the
company to maintain proper structure which leads towards maximum output from the
employees(Portugal, Hernández, and Lugo, 2020). Oak cash & carry administration should
create proper hierarchy for easy flow of information in a well define.
System: This include process and procedure of the company which help in revealing the
business daily activities and how the decision are made. This are the area where the firm
determines how business is done (Samper, Eldali and Suryanarayanan 2019). The top
management of Oak cash & carry to develop efficacious method by analyzing the system closely
as this improve growth and sustainability of the company.

Skills: These are the abilities that employees should posses in order maximize the
productivity and growth (Samper, 2019). Oak cash & carry HR should provide proper training
and development program mes for improving the skills for better result.
Staff: This is the element which leads towards growth in the limited time frame (Konvitz,
2020). The main responsibility of HR to maintain the staff and hire employees which add some
value to the company. Along with this employees should trained, motivated and rewarded to
encourage them to achieve the common goal.
Style: This mainly represent the way how company is manged by the top level managers
and how the interact with there employees(Seo, and Cho 2020). For the company like Oak cash
& carry to should develop management style which employees should follow for expansion.
Shared values: The shared values are the commonly accepted standards and norm in the
company which influence and temper the individual behavior of the entire staff as well as
management (Ahmed, 2019). Oak cash & carry ltd administration has to share firm core values
among the employees for better planning and growth.
P2 Evaluate the opportunities and applying Ansoff growth vector matrix
This model describe about the growth and development model which is created by H.
Igor Ansoff. There are different kind of expansion strategies through which firm can get better
position in the market (Fasbender and et., al., 2019). It is also essential to maintain the constant
growth by developing new product and services to end user. Further this matrix shows four
strategies which is used to help the firm grow and expand but also provide insight about the risk
associated with each and every strategy.
Market penetration: In the market strategy firm uses the products with the existing
market. In other words, organisation aims to expand the business with the assistance of
penetration method. In order to find exposure Oak cash & carry should decrease the price to
attract the existing new customer. Along with this company can use different promotion and
advertisement method which help in increasing untapped market effectively(Capello and
Nijkamp 2019). Acquiring a rival in the same marketplace is essential for the company to sustain
for the longer time period. These is not only used by the company by the different industry
worldwide. Market penetration for organization is typically expressed as a part, meaning the
company's good symbolize a certain proportion of the total market for those products.

Product-development: In this strategy the firms develop a new product to cater in the
existing market. This typically involves extensive research and development of product which
create value for the company effectively. In regards of Oak cash & carry this is essential for
focus on improving the product so to create brand image in the market. However entity must
conduct research and development for the new product to cater the present market. Apart from
this firm should use strategic partnership to gain access in distribution channel or brand. As to
overcome such market organisation management have to focus on achieving desire aims in the
well define manner(Fabos, 2019). There must be constant innovation done the firm as this avoid
the risk from the rival to some extent. This kind of strategy bring success and also help in
developing sustainable business model for long run.
Market development: In market development firm enters in the new market with the
existing product. For expanding into new market which means expanding the business into
different segments, region. In the context of Oak cash & carry manager should utilize this
strategy by creating awareness about the existing product . Beside this company can also enter in
domestic market which include local shops and regional vendors for expansion and growth.
Entering into global market is important step for market development exponentially(Fasbender
and et., al., 2019). Apart from this firm have to indulge in proper research and development and
figure out the trends which is beneficial and help to overcome all the problems. This also provide
satisfactory service to consumer.
Diversification: In this stage firm enters in the market with completely new product as it
is also consider as the risky step for small and medium organisation. For proper implication
company have to conduct proper product and development process. This is essential for the
company to diversify the product as this provide maximum service to the company. It has the
high risk involvement in the organisation which leads towards unpredictable future.
From the above information, it is analyzed that the management of Oak cash & carry
must adopt product development method which improve the market and its productivity for
expansion and growth. With assistance of product-development manager can able to create the
value and brand image for the company.
P3 Potential sources for raising finance and their implications to the business
Business often needs to raise external funding or the capital funding , to expand the
business into new market or the location to invest in research and development. And the

company aims to use profit from ongoing business operation to fund such kind of projects. The
funds are consider as the most essential elements for SME company to expand the business and
explore the untapped marketplace. There different kind of sources present in the market and
company may choose the best possible for expansion and growth.
Bank loan:
This is the loan which is given by bank to small enterprise for expanding there business
activities and promote product to the larger audience. The bank provide loan on the basis of
assets. This important for the company like Oak cash & carry must avail loan for the bank as it is
consider as easy and most efficient mode of getting loan (Rojas and et.,al., 2019). There are
different ways through which company can use proper method to avail such loan from work.
Benefits: The bank provide loan at the low interest which become beneficial for the
company to repay the loan in time. The bank personal do not take any kind of ownership position
of the company and do not get involve in any kind of business activity. This mean company get
full control over the business with no external interference. Compare this with equity finance,
where the company may be paying out dividends to shareholders for as along as the business
exists(Hamel, Mancebo, and Hamel 2019). Once the company take loan from the bank and pay
off the amount as per the given time frame so this tend to increase the balance score card of the
firm. This mean firm can gain extra benefits for loan which they are going to avail in future.
Drawbacks: One of the greatest disadvantage of bank loan it is very difficult for the to
avail loan for SME organisation. The bank are careful to lend the money to that business who
can repay the loan on time. Business borrowers can be needful to provide private guarantees,
which means that the borrower's individual assets can be seized in the event the business fails
and is unable to repay all or part of a loan. Apart from this firm requires to charge high interest
rate which increase the cost and slow down the revenue for the company.
Angel investors:
These are the investors who provide financial support to small companies to expand the
business. This is done on the basis of exchange for ownership equity in the company. Often,
angel investors are found among an entrepreneur's family and friends (Baran, 2019). The funds
that angel investors provide may be a one-time investment to help the business get off the ground
or an ongoing injection to support and carry the company through its difficult early stages.

Benefits: The Angel investors are willing to take risk and they easily provide loan to
different SME companies for further expansion. On the other hand angel investors provide
flexible option of repayment which help in making easy for the company to expand the business.
Drawback: The major drawback of the company is that company tend to loose its control
over the company as there is involvement of angel investors. This reduce the efficiency and
productivity of the company.
P4. Development of an appropriate and well-structured Business plan
Business plan: This is the document which is written for expanding the business. There
are different factors which are included in business plan are marketing, financial and operational
activities. The main purpose of plan is find out the best possible out to fulfill the desire aim and
objectives of the company. This is essential for the Oak cash & carry to create the business plan
which is consider as the business plan for expansion and growth. Further the firm is trying to
expand the business and going global. The business plan will be formulated in context of
launching existing products in new market with the purpose of increasing profit and productivity.
Oak Cash & Carry Ltd: It is small medium grocery firm which operates in retail sector.
Further company was founded in year 2011 is head office in Banbury UK. This firm operates its
business at the small level and it involves employees, caters and licenses of selling goods.
Mission: The mission statement of Oak Cash & Carry Ltd to provide quality products
and services to its clients at given period of time.
Vision: The main purpose of the company is to create value for the user and to gain
lifetime trust of user and to create brand image in marketplace.
Area of strength: The company as excellent customer service which is consider as the
main area of strength . Oak cash & carry offer high services and timely delivery of the product
which creates strong image in the minds of customer. Along with this, personal relation of the
company is better with customer which is consider as the strong point of the company. Further
company provide effective after sale service which is essential for the company for reducing the
competition present in the market.
Identified opportunities: There are different opportunities which are present in the
organisation such diversification and product development. This help in providing better chance
to avail services to the untouched market which will increase the sales of company. Further the
opportunities lies in taking company at the global level where new customer can use these

product and services effectively. Oak cash & carry management should focus on new target
customer which help in expanding the business effectively. Further the opportunity is present in
using different channel of distribution channel for the company.
Value and ethics: Values and ethics of Oak cash & carry is to provide quality product
and services to the respective customers. Along with this, company has to maintain moral values
which help in increasing image of the company. Work culture should be maintain by the
management of the firm to maintain the quality and productivity of the employees in the well
define manner. Timely incentives and bonuses should be given to employees as the part of value
and ethics which increase market share effectively. These values are the basis of a company’s
culture, form the workday experience worker. The organisation can increase the employees
retention by sharing there values with the employees. As this also bring the positive culture and
workers are willing to work for the longer time period.
Source of finance: There are different kinds of finances which can be used by the
company to have proper exposure and expansion. The company can avail the loan from the bank
because they provide loan on less interest rate. Apart from this, government is also applicable to
provide loan for SME company to expand the business.
Budget planning: These are the planning which is done by organisation to maintain the
inflow and outflow of cash in a effectively manner. This consist of different elements such as
reimbursement of different assets and disbursement of liabilities for reduce the risk and loss of
pay of the company. Oak cash & carry should maintain the proper budget plan for effective
expansion.
PARTICULARS 6 months 6 months 6 months
Initial investment 12000 15000 18000
Borrowings(Bank loans, credits) 6000 7000 90000
Retaining earnings 7000 8000 9000
TOTAL 25000 30000 45000
MARKETING OUTLAY
Promotion activities 8000 10000 11000
Sales publicity 6000 10000 11000
Distribution and supply expenses 3000 10000 9000

TOTAL 42000 60000 76000
P5 Succession and exit plan strategies for the company
Oak cash& carry limited can use various exit strategies which like acquisition and initial
public offering.
Acquisition: Acquisition is process where one company purchase another company with
the consent of their board of directors to in order to increase market share in the respective
industry. Oak Cash and carry can use this exit strategy to get rid of intense competition.
Company can get handsome amount if firm sell of their entire to a big multinational giant
company. Company would not get lose its existence totally as the patent processes and
technology would still in existence. Consumer can enjoys expertise of both the companies.
There are several successful acquisition happens in the corporate world like acquisition of flip
kart by Walmart was the most expensive deal in the E-commerce industry. Hence this exit
strategy help Oak to bound further financial loss.
Initial Public Offering: Initial Public Offering is the practice of selling entire stakes of
company to another company. This is the most profitable exit strategy if properly executed.
Organisation get immense quantity of monetary value in a very short span of period. Firm have
to take into account that deal with the company would not go open to the people. Corporate
entity business in situations should be well worth. Company conditions must match the public
expectations. Sometimes business value is worthy enough but industry situations may failed to
attract the public. For smaller business cost of executing formality exceed the budget.
Voluntary/compulsory Winding up: This is used when organisation are willing to
dissolve by making changes in its legal structure. In this method all creditors are paid off and all
the assets of shareholders are sold. This can be in two types voluntary or compulsory. voluntary
options is availed by the concerned authorities and in case of compulsory it is done because of
orders of law.
Drawback: Major drawback is that organisation can be liquidated and. In case of
compulsory liquidation companies have to close their operations even if they are not willing to
do so at a give point of time.

Benefits: In this there has to be a large procedure which has to be followed there are
strict legal procedures in this business have the option to get dissolved by following of all the
legal procedures
Selling of asset: In this method, all the assets posses by a business is sold to another
organisation. This is consider as the most popular use of exit strategies which most of the
company. In the context of Oak cash & carry organisation can sell their assets in order to rap the
loan and debt.
Benefit: This a smooth closing down of a business as there is no need for following of
any legal procedures and it is a voluntary decision of companies.
Drawback: There is a drawback of this method that many times in this scenario, there is
no best price at which business are selling their assets. There is low bargaining power of
companies in this case.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report this has been analyses planning is crucial for effective
growth of the company. In order to attain the growth company has to use evaluate the market
keenly such as external factor which include Pestle analysis and make changes to avoid risk and
uncertainty present in the market. Along with this, there are Ansoff matrix model is taken into
account for identifying the area of improvement for the company. There are different sources
which company use funds are angel investors and bank loan which to provide support for
expansion and growth.

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