Question

Midlands Pork Products Limited is Zambia’s leading company in the processing and sale of pork. However, the company has observed that the demand for pork has been declining in the last two years. Its marketing research unit has attributed the decline in the demand for pork to two factors: First, there is a growing segment of the population in the country that is converting to Islam, a faith that prohibits the consumption of pork. Second, many Zambians are, for health reasons, becoming increasingly wary of consuming pork because it is considered fattening.

Answer 1

Analysis and Recommendations of Midland Pork Products Ltd.

The SWOT strategy tool is used to identify a company's strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.

Strengths

The company is well known for its processing and marketing of pork and hence it has high brand recognition. This is a great advantage of the company. Its advantage is that it has well-equipped processing facilities to produce pork meat. It has a skilled workforce and good financial strength. This is due to the fact that the company has a leading business in the pork industry.

Disadvantages

Company management is unable to take proactive action before customer preferences change. Many customers were reluctant to eat fatty meat or pork, which they perceived to be high in fat. The company's next weakness was not producing healthy foods for its customers. The inability to understand the changing preferences of customers was a weakness that Midland Pork Products had to address.

Opportunity

The company has the opportunity to sell pork foods that are not high in fat and are healthy for its customers.

Threat.

There is a threat to the company from an existing customer base that has chosen to ban pork eating Islam.

Appropriate business strategies

Midland Pork Products Ltd. needs to produce pork products that are not high in fat. The company should also promote the benefits of consuming pork such as the fact that pork is a high protein source that is rich in protein and essential amino acids. The company should target its customer base that wants to build a good body and educate them on the benefits of high-protein pork. It should also communicate the benefits of consuming pork through a communication strategy, such as the fact that pork is a source of minerals and vitamins. It should convey health benefits such as enhanced muscle mass and improved physical performance. The company should target the older generation and showcase the benefits of consuming pork so older people can avoid loss of muscle mass. Communicating the benefits of pork can help people change their perceptions so that they consume pork in large quantities.