Concluding Case: Custom Coffee and Chocolate

CONCLUDING CASE: CUSTOM COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE

Case Summary:

Bonnie Brewer and Stacy Kim have opened a small caf which sells good coffee and fine chocolate. As their six-month lease is expiring, the two women are trying to develop a strategic plan for how their caf will grow. They see themselves differentiating their duties, expanding their menu, offering delivery service, and even establishing a Web site to help advertise. Chapter Topics Related to the Case: Discuss the process of strategic planning Differentiate between the concepts of strategic, operational, and tactical planning Identify how to analyze external opportunities and threats to a company like Custom Coffee and Chocolate Identify how to analyze internal strengths and weaknesses of a company like Custom Coffee and Chocolate Discuss methodologies to successfully implement a selected strategy in a company such as Custom

Coffee and Chocolate Case Discussion

Questions: 1. What do you think Custom Coffee & Chocolates mission is?

Suggested Responses:

Different students will create different mission statements, depending on the aspects of the company they view as being most important. For example, mission statements could include: Indulging in good coffee and fine chocolate Serving fair trade coffee Serving locally manufactured chocolates Providing a comfortable place to relax

2. Create a SWOT analysis for Custom Coffee & Chocolate.

Suggested Response:

Strengths:

Kim finances, Brewer marketing, understanding of college market, unique, quality products

Weaknesses:

capitalization, small market (need to reach out to more customers), people not staying in the caf, but buying takeout and leaving

Opportunities:

internet, delivery services, wider array of foods & drinks, good supply of coffee/chocolate Threats:

established coffee houses, other online sources for fair trade coffee & local chocolates

3. Using the owners ideas for the future of their caf, as well as your own ideas, outline a tactical plan for Custom Coffee and Chocolate.

Suggested Response: Student responses to this question will vary contingent upon their responses provided to the first two questions. Based on the suggested responses identified in questions one and two above, a tactical plan for the business would include investigating the possibilities of delivery markets, hiring the new part-time staff, looking into baked goods/teas,