DISCUSSION 1

Please make a comment on the following student answer/discussion.

A) Using the same product category, predict what products in your category will be replaced with new products and new segments. Provide a rationale for your choice.

I really believe that some of the Lean Cuisine options will be replaced with a new "organic" frozen food category. It will still be owned by the same company as Lean Cuisine, they will just change one of their many lines of offerings to the "organic" variety. People are really getting into this whole organic thing. You know that for a fact because it's in Wal-Mart now, and that's the sign of anything becoming mainstream. I think this is a good thing because it will make people more healthy overall, but I really want to know what the prior generations think. It would seem to me that they're saying, "Organic? Back in my day we called this ‘food'."

Please make a comment on the following student answer/discussion.

B) Using the same product category, predict what products in your category will be replaced with new products and new segments. Provide a rationale for your choice.

New products and new segments would be now that Progresso started a line with Dinner starters, that is used to help with starting a meal with type of soup, so Campbell soup has the complete meals in a box, so Campbell would soon come out with meal starters as well. They should soon be soup made with organic products, since everything is been made organically lately. The new segment is to target segements that want a quick meal and leading toward a more healthy meal. The marketing target soups as a healthy alternative.

Please make a comment on the following student answer/discussion.

C) My prediction for the future brands of cereal is that they will have intertwined Organic and weight loss ingredients into cereal bars. And we will probably see a drastic change in cereal boxes. I see now that they are importing more of the smaller bowls of cereal that are packaged as "ready to eat" with all the brands. I also believe that specific brands are going to follow in the footsteps of Special K. Not only will you be able to purchase just the cereal, but the snack bars and other meal replacements that follow the brands. But my personal opinion, just from discussion with many of my coworkers, they are starting to incorporate organic foods into their diets and I think this is the route that many Americans are starting to take as well.

The following is a professor question, there is no minimum or maximum word counts to answer the professor, just answer clearly, concise and precise.

D) So what environmental trend is driving the product development and promotion?

NOTE: The professor is asking the above question (D) based on the following students comments:

STUDENT COMMENT weight loss ingredients into cereal bars. And we will probably see a drastic change in cereal boxes. I see now that they are importing more of the smaller bowls of cereal that are packaged as "ready to eat" with all the brands. I also believe that specific brands are going to follow in the footsteps of Special K. Not only will you be able to purchase just the cereal, but the snack bars and other meal replacements that follow the brands. But my personal opinion, just from discussion with many of my coworkers, they are starting to incorporate organic foods into their diets and I think this is the route that many Americans are starting to take as well.

STUDENT COMMMENT That is so true, I always get frustrated with the organization of the cereal isle, my family all have their favorites, and yes I too tried the special K, and I did not loose ether, but I am loosing from exercising and eating right. I also know that the cereal bars are used to lure those that do not have time to make breakfast, but still try to have the same nutrition as eating a bowl of cereal. I agree on the changes that will take place with organic bars, and probably be hitting the markets real soon.

DISCUSSION 2

Please make a comment on the following student answer/discussion.

A) From the case study, develop a marketing strategy that will encourage the villagers to pay for a WaterHarvester.

This would be tough, but I think I've come up with a good idea. You would have to find a male that holds a good deal of influence within the community and is educated enough to understand why your idea was a good one. It would also help if this man has many wives, but we'll get to that later. You pay this man to build and implement the WaterHarvester on his house. This gets the buy in from him and makes him feel like he's accomplished something. As soon as he does such, he will realize the vast benefits from having this system, and he will tell his buddies. This is where his polygamist nature will come in handy, as all of his wives spread the tale of their fantastic husband and his clean water collection system. Thus, your product becomes viral, and you make tens of dollars selling it to the local populace (that's a joke, I realize the purpose of this is to raise a community out of poverty, not make money).

The following is a professor question, there is no minimum or maximum word counts to answer the professor, just answer clearly, concise and precise.

NOTE: The professor is asking the following question based on the above student comment (A):

Yes, it is a little different way to look at things.
So, how does marketing change from county and culture to another? What are the implications?