THE WORKPLACE ASSESMENT

Name – Jaskaran Singh Ahuja

Student Id – A00156054

Name of the Company – Loblaws

Course – Field Placement SCM225-200

Due Date – December 3rd, 2022

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 CONTENTS

1. Industry Profile…………………………………………………………….. 3
2. Industry Leaders……………………………………………………………. 4
3. Company Profile……………………………………………………………. 6
o History…………………………………………………………….... 6
o Product Profile……………………………………………………… 7
o SWOT Analysis…………………………………………………….. 7
o Competitors…………………………………………………………. 9
o Stakeholder Analysis………………………………………………... 9
4. Objectives of the Project…………………………………………………… 10
5. Scope of the Study…………………………………………………………. 10
6. Importance of Study……………………………………………………..... 11
7. Research Methodology……………………………………………………... 12
8. References…………………………………………………………………... 13

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1.1 Industry Profile

A retail business may be any company that offers goods or services directly to the public.
Examples of worldwide retailers and types of stores include grocery stores, convenience stores,
discount stores, independent stores, department stores, hardware stores, electronics stores, and
specialty stores. Retail is a growing industry that provides millions of people with jobs
throughout the globe, especially as online shopping grows in popularity.

The intense rivalry in this dynamic industry has been increasingly noticeable in recent years.
Until 2022, stores will have to reevaluate the practices that have contributed to their success over
the years. The importance of retail sales to the economy is emphasized by the recent shifts in the
global supply chains of many well-known brands.

Thanks to the proliferation of digital media, consumers have more access to data about
environmentally responsible corporate practices and resource management, as well as more
channels through which to voice their opinions and recommendations to others. Shop layouts and
online profiles evolve to keep up with the ever-changing retail landscape.

Supermarkets have finally joined the digital age. To a customer, your online store is as important
as your physical one. Maintaining a competitive edge in the retail industry requires that
businesses adopt the most recent innovations in the field. Knowing and capitalizing on these
trends may help businesses stay ahead of the curve and keep their customers happy.

 Consumer Behavior - Competition is rising in many industries, forcing organizations to

differentiate themselves in a variety of ways. Today's consumers anticipate and deserve
instantaneous responses to their inquiries and a pleasant, stress-free shopping experience.
It is evident from the development of multi-channel retail that this is the case.

 Online Shopping - Even while in-store sales did increase somewhat during the COVID-
19 lockdowns, internet shopping is still the most popular method of purchasing goods.
When shopping online, consumers will have more flexibility and convenience. You may
do price comparisons and find what you're looking for without ever leaving your home.
Staff members benefit greatly from being given more independence in the business. The
outcome of this might be a rise in output and earnings. Because of this, businesses can

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 track customer habits and likes in real time. This information might be used to fine-tune
future advertising and selling initiatives to increase conversions by more closely fitting to
client preferences.

 Industry Leaders

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1.2 Company Profile

"Loblaw is focused on improving its core retail business and growing into areas like as digital,
healthcare, payments, and rewards," Sarah Davis, president of Loblaw Cos., said in a statement.
"Loblaw is focused on expanding into areas such as digital, healthcare, payments, and rewards."
Choice Properties is dedicated to the creation of mixed-use communities, and the company's
assets are spread out over a wide variety of real estate asset classes.

Approximately 1,050 supermarkets, 500 branch pharmacies, and 1,400 Shoppers Pharmacy Mart
and Pharmaprix pharmacies are within Loblaw's purview. Other private brands include PC
Financial Services, Joe Fresh fashion, and clothing, as well as President's Choice (grocery), No
Name (grocery and home items), and Life Brand. PC Financial Services and Joe Fresh also fall
under the category of fashion and apparel (health and wellness).

 History –
George Weston Limited's subsidiary is Loblaw Companies Limited. It owns and runs
supermarkets, pharmacies, liquor shops, and clothes stores. Loblaws Companies Limited
As of 2018, he has over 2,400 locations, making him Canada's largest supermarket and
pharmacy company. It is a publicly traded firm based in Brampton, Ontario. The symbol
L is used on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Theodore Pringle Robleau ran his food store in Toronto from 1910 until 1919. It was
your ordinary full-service supermarket. Loblaws spent a year after leaving the firm
working for the Ontario political party United Farmers’ Cooperative Company (UFCC).
A potential competitor, Dominion Stores Limited, has bought his Loblaw Stores. Loblaw
returned to the supermarket industry while working for the UFCC. He and his business
partner John Milton his cork founded the first Loblaw Groceterias store in Toronto's
Junction neighborhood in 1919. Cafeterias and new convenience stores, such as the
Pigley Wiggly chain, popularized the notion of a "grocery store" throughout the United
States. Instead, then waiting for a service member, customers may choose their own
bento. They paid in cash rather than monthly. They also chose to pick up the products
instead of having them delivered.

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  Product Profile –
Loblaws is a well-known Canadian supermarket that provides a broad range of shopping
choices and product categories to meet a wide range of preferences and budgets. Because
no two Canadians are exactly alike. Loblaws product developers traverse the globe in
pursuit of exciting new culinary experiences. Therefore, several brands and goods have
become synonymous with excellence and innovation.

Furthermore, we provide the greatest health and wellness services in Canadian areas.
They make their goods and guidance accessible to Canadians through operating retail
shops, pharmacies, and specialist facilities around the country as well as online.
They also bring contemporary fashion trends to life. Everything is covered, from
exquisite fashion and cosmetic necessities to the current season trends.

 SWOT Analysis –
 Strengths:
1. Strong brand name
2. Canada's largest food distributor
3. Position of market share - sales of more than $32 billion, 1,000 stores,
and 136,000 employees

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 4. Economy of scale and large knowledge and experience in Canadian
market
5. Wide geographic coverage (all Canadian provinces)
6. Company's strategy to control the cost through efficiencies and
differentiate its products and its stores.
7. Several private-label brands such as President's choice, No Name,
Organic Pc, and Joe Fresh)
8. 22 different brand banners such as Loblaw, Fortinos, No Frills, Zehrs,
Wholesale Club, and Atlantic Superstore.

 Weaknesses:
1. Lack of adequate global distribution capability
2. Lack of experience in managing general merchandise inventory
3. Stores are underperforming
4. Weak management
5. Complicated corporate structure
6. High prices of products relative to key competitors
7. No clear strategic direction
8. Too much underutilized plant capacity

 Opportunities:
1. Expanding into new geographic markets
2. Entering joint ventures that can expand the firm's market coverage
3. Online sales
4. Growing its discount segment, becoming the low-price leader
5. Openings to exploit emerging new technologies
6. Proven products innovation capabilities
7. New management team and new business plan
8. Openings to win market shares from competitors

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  Threats:
1. Walmart experience in global market has continually pushed its general
merchandise dominance forward while developing its food business.
2. Intense competition
3. Canadian food market had been growing at less than 1% a year.
4. Canadian market is attracting foreign investors

 Competitors –
Competitors of Loblaws in retails industry are as follows:
1. Metro Inc.
2. Walmart
3. Freshco
4. Food Basics
5. Sobeys

 Stakeholder Analysis –

According to statistics, fewer than 1% of insiders control Loblaw Companies Limited in

their own name. Insiders, on the other hand, may become owners indirectly via more
sophisticated systems. Given the company's size, we do not anticipate insiders owning a
majority of the shares. They together possess shares worth C$94 million.

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 This is significant given that the general public, including private investors, controls
32% of the corporation. While this amount of ownership is significant, it may not be
enough to influence corporate policy unless other notable shareholders agree.

His Loblaw firm looks to be 51% owned by a private corporation. It is possible to

outsource it to a private business. Instead of investing as a person, an insider may do so
via a private corporation. Although generalization is challenging, it is worth mentioning
that it might be a future study subject.

1.3 Objectives of the Project

 To know the effectiveness of logistics management of Loblaws and to benchmark the

organization concerning the industry.
 To have a thorough understanding of how the supply chain techniques are used to
smoothen the overall process.
 To have detailed knowledge about the retail industry and how it functions amongst
multiple competitors.
 To know whether customers are satisfied with the existing range of products and
services and how Loblaws is adapting itself with the changing market needs.
 To know how an organization can be different to sustain in the market.

1.4 Scope of the Study

From obtaining raw materials to coordinating inbound shipments and manufacturing processes to
delivering those goods to the client's door, the retail supply chain covers all procedures that
ensure commodities reach the customer. gain. Retail supply chain management is the practice of
reducing the complexity of all these activities in order to make them more efficient and faster.

Retail supply chain management differs from traditional supply chain management due to the
high degree of product mobility and the rapid movement of things in retail. Due to ever-changing
commodities and generally short cycle times, retail supply chains must be tightly regulated and
error-free. All the below mentioned is possible with an efficient supply network -

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  Improve the efficiency of storage spaces
 Take advantage of a wide range of providers
 Investigate client demand trends
 Improve order processes

Other than this, the mentioned below trends are shaping the future of supply chain –

 Artificial Intelligence and Automation

 Customization
 Internet of Things (IOT)
 Digitization
 Risk Management & Resiliency
 Circular supply chain

1.5 Importance of Study

Grocery shops are omnipresent, and I believe many people, like myself, believe that if we go
there at any time of day or year, we will find practically whatever we need. Even in the dead of
winter, fresh oranges and bananas may be plucked. It was intriguing to learn about the subtleties
of the retail sector. Loblaws Company, Ltd. Not just food. That's a lot of money! Loblaws
provides so many services that Supply intended to reflect this in their chain processes.

Another element that affected my choice to do research with Loblaw was that I was a long-term
client. I trust the President's Choice brand and use the perfect loyalty card on a daily basis. In my
perspective, the costs are always reasonable and appropriate for the quality provided. I often

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choose his PC items over name brand ones since I know my money is not being squandered and I
am seldom disappointed. It's astonishing how much time, effort, and knowledge goes into our
supply chain to manufacture so many high-quality and diversified things. Furthermore, all these
high-quality branded goods are accessible in the Loblaw shop. Stores seldom run out of stock.
This study effort provided us with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of what it's like to go
into a Robleur grocery store and anticipate a varied assortment of items on every shelf.

1.6 Research Methodology

The current investigation is an exploratory one due to the fact that this topic has received little
attention; hence, there is limited empirical literature from which to draw. On the other hand, the
overwhelming bulk of the information comes from secondary sources.

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 REFERENCES

1. "Canada's Top 100 Retailers." Retail Council of Canada, 11 Mar. 2020,

https://www.retailcouncil.org/community/store-operations/canadas-top-100-retailers/.
2. "Loblaw Companies Limited." The Canadian Encyclopedia,
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/loblaw-companies-limited.
3. "Helping Canadians Live Life Well®." What We Do | Loblaw Companies Ltd.,
https://www.loblaw.ca/en/what-we-do.
4. "SWOT Analysis for Loblaw Companies Ltd - SWOT Analysis for Loblaw Companies
LTD Loblaw's Strengths:" StuDocu,
https://www.studocu.com/en-ca/document/university-of-manitoba/strategic-human-
resource-management/swot-analysis-for-loblaw-companies-ltd/4763592.
5. Loblaw Companies Limited Competitors | Comparably.
https://www.comparably.com/companies/loblaw-companies-limited/competitors.
6. Simply Wall St. "Loblaw Companies Limited's (Tse:L) Largest Shareholders Are Private
Companies with 51% Ownership, Individual Investors Own 32%." Simply Wall St News,
Simply Wall St, 1 Dec. 2022,
https://simplywall.st/stocks/ca/consumer-retailing/tsx-l/loblaw-companies-shares/news/
loblaw-companies-limiteds-tsel-largest-shareholders-are-priv.
7. Axsom, Tessa. "10 Trends Shaping the Future of Supply Chain Management." Fictiv,
https://www.fictiv.com/articles/10-trends-shaping-the-future-of-supply-chain-
management
8. 01, Mark Hamstra | Dec. "Dollar General Cuts Profit Forecast amid Supply Chain
Snafus." Supermarket News, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-
financial/dollar-general-cuts-profit-forecast-amid-supply-chain-snafus.

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