CASE ANALYSIS: PANERA BREAD COMPANY

Case Analysis: Panera Bread Company



Case Analysis: Panera Bread Company

PBC (Panera Bread Company) is a market leader in the restaurant industry business. Started business in 1981 with three bakery cafes and by 1997, their bakery cafes were 160 with branches in five countries and cafes in domestic airports and hotels. PBC's concept is to sell only fresh dough and no preservatives (Arthur, 2008). Their mission is 'a loaf of bread in every arm' with 18 different products. It intends to establish Wi-Fi access in 2003, and has many awards in its kitty.

They have a good distribution network, franchise operations, management information system and supply chain management and highly professionalized staff.

Strategies are set of actions that firms use to achieve its goal. While strategic management focuses where an organization is at present and where it intends to be in the future. The task of analyzing a firm's internal and external environment and selecting an appropriate strategy is known as strategy formulation. Strategy implementation involves putting appropriate controls and organization mechanisms to keep the company's chosen strategy into action. Vision statement is the long run aspirations of the organization while mission statement means what is expected of the organization by its stakeholders.

Strengths of organizations are the committed leadership zeal of managers, experience in the industry, clear and articulate line with external stakeholders, strong product design and commitment to consumers in the area of innovation (Feingold, 2000). The strengths or core competencies PBC has at the moment over its competitors include the product, distribution and franchising, operations, marketing mix, general managerial ability and low personnel turnover.

These can be in the form of no clear management styles, poor image, research and development issue, competitive disadvantage, poor track record, insider problems, financing problems and possible training problems by managers and supervisors (Arthur, ...