Chocoberry evaluated all the ideas and decided to proceed with a new retail chocolate product.

The product development team at Chocoberry has the responsibility of drafting a business plan for the option of marketing chocolate products with basic health claims for the United States' retail consumer market. These products are being developed by the technical departments as bar goods, such as one ounce or larger molded slabs of chocolate in dark, milk, inclusion-containing (nuts, fruit, etc.) products.

Decisions must be made relative to retail outlet types; numbers to be serviced; intermediary channels (including the possibility of refrigerate distribution to retain healthful qualities); sales methods, such as brokers or the use of other candy companies to complement their lines; warehouse locations and control; units of delivery, shelf units; where in the retail outlet does it belong: health food department, check out area, candy shelf; costs of distribution; and so forth.

Your Assignment

You are a consultant who has been engaged by CB to create and evaluate their alternatives and provide a report. The following are some areas your report should address:

You should detail at least three possible distribution options for Chocoberry's new venture. Describe and provide flow diagrams for the alternative patterns. This includes the advantages and disadvantages for Chocoberry for the first year of the new chocolate product mix to reach the target markets identified to date. Select and justify the best for Chocoberry at this time using known data.