(3) Two current news reports based on current business news
obtained from
the Internet are
required. Report due dates are in the Calendar/Assignments tab to the left. Each report MUST be on a management related topic (similar to the topics covered in
your text and discussed in class). Each report should be a good, quick
summary of the main issue/topic/point/etc. of the article expressed in your own words. You may include a few direct
quotes for emphasis, but not simply copy (plagiarize) your report directly from
the written article. After the summary include a statement of how the
article applies to a topic(s) in the course.. If possible copy/paste the actual article into
the document.
At the top left of the report include Your
Name, BUS 200-201A, Day, and Current News Report
Report articles must be dated within the last 30 days of the
date of submission to be considered current news.
Do not use blogs, news releases, and company publicity
materials as current news reports. The information must be from a source
outside the company.
Summarize the article in your own words.
Include as a hot link the Internet address of the article. The
link must work and will be checked by the instructor.
Reports must be typewritten and should be 1 – 2 pages,
double-spaced, font size12, one inch margins all around.
No periodical/source can be used more than once. For
example, if you use any issue of Time then you may not use any other issue of Time.
Examples of Current News Stories can be found under the
calendar/assignments tab in blackboard
Each report will be graded on relevancy to the class, how
informative it is and neatness, spelling and grammar (use
spell check and grammar check) and whether it adheres to the requirements
listed above. Students should be prepared to present/discuss their
current news reports during the class period due. (20% of
grade) ( the example is attached )
student_example_currentnews_1_.doc

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NOVA Student
BUS 100-XXXA
June 9, 2013
Article Title: Target plans an organic, natural grocery brand
This article announces Target’s plans to raise its grocery business by integrating a new
organic natural store brand. Due to the growth in popularity of organic foods and
the fact that organic foods are growing at twice the rate of conventional groceries
Target’s Senior Director Amanda Irish says it plans to expand its organic food selection
by 25% by the year 2017. In the article it also mentions how stores in general are trying
to improve brand imaging as well as give the consumer what they want. The new line
will be called Simply Balanced and will introduce nearly 250 products over the next
several months. As well as product lines they have already, Archer Farms and Market
Pantry ; brands intended to challenge national name brands by offering cheaper
alternatives. The overall goal is to make Target a place where someone can go and get
a multiple of needs without having to shop anywhere else to contend with its rivals like
Wal-mart. Target’s grocery and pet supply sales have gone up from 16% to 20% since
2009 and are expected to continue to rise. I selected this article as it relates to such
topics as Branding, Planning, as well as Social Responsibility, Social Responsibility by
providing a product which is to be considered a healthier option.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/06/08/target-organic-grocerybrand/2400315/
Target plans an organic, natural grocery
brand
7:07 p.m. EDT June 8, 2013
Big-box store tries to expand into emerging organic food market
(Photo: SAMUEL M. SIMPKINS GANNETT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS


Target will call organic line Simply Balanced, plans to boost organic food selection by 25% by
2017
Organic foods are growing at twice the rate of conventional groceries

Supermarkets have tiered store brands with a cheap and premium alternatives for shoppers
NEW YORK (AP) — Target is planning a new organic and natural store brand as it works
to rev up its grocery business.
The big-box retailer said the new brand, called Simply Balanced, will start with drinks and
snacks like corn chips on Sunday. The line is an outgrowth of similar products within its
existing Archer Farms store brand, which is positioned as a premium alternative to national name brands.
Amanda Irish, senior director of Target’s store brands, said the new line is in response to
the growing popularity of organic foods. Although they still account for less than 10% of
overall grocery sales, she said organic foods are growing at twice the rate of conventional groceries.
As such, the Minneapolis-based company also plans to announce next week that it will
boost its organic food selection by 25% by 2017.
The rollout also reflects a broader push by supermarkets and big-box retailers to improve
the image of their store brands. Store brands usually carry fatter profit margins for retailers than name brands and help lure shoppers with exclusive offerings to fend off competition.
Supermarkets aren’t just focusing on cheaper prices when it comes to store brands, either. Many now have tiered store brands, with a line intended as a cheaper alternative,
as well as more premium lines that compete with or seek to be better than those made by
companies such as Kraft Foods and General Mills.
In addition to Archer Farms, for example, Target also offers a store brand called Market
Pantry that is about 10 to 30% cheaper than national name brands.
The new Simply Balanced line, which will eventually include about 250 products over the
next five months, will be priced more in line with Archer Farms and national brands.
About half the items in the line are organic and three-quarters of it is free of genetically
modified ingredients. Target says it will eliminate all genetically modified ingredients from
the line by the end of 2014.
Groceries tend to have lower profit margins for Target than other parts of its business.
But the retailer has nevertheless been touting its groceries in recent years as a way to attract more shoppers and become a “one-stop” shopping destination.
Last year, groceries and pet supplies accounted for 20% of Target’s overall sales. That’s
up from 16 % in 2009.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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