AGEC 333

Food Distribution: A Retailing Perspective

Spring 1998

Instructor: Dr. J. N. Uhl
  692 Krannert Building
  tel.: (765) 494-4219;
  fAX: (765) 494-9176;
  e-mail: uhl@agecon.purdue.edu
Office hours: 3-5pm, Mon., Wed., Fri.

Secretary: Ms. Sandy Dottle, 494 - 4262.

Teaching Assistant:

Class Meetings: Tues, Thurs. 12-1:15, Krannert G-7
Course Objectives
Class Organization and Participation
Traffic Study
Supermarket Game
Grading
Class Schedule and Assignments

Text: Self Study Program in Retail Food Store Operations, The Quaker Oats Company, 1995.

Related Literature and Sources:
                                               The Wall Street Journal,  Food Broker,
                                               Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store,
                                              Supermarket News,  Advertising Age.

WWW Sites: Food Marketing Institute, Peapod, Quaker Oats, etc.

Course Objectives:
 This course deals with the U.S. food distribution system, including food retailers, wholesalers, brokers and processors.  We will study the problems and challenges involved in this sector of the food industry, the economic functions of these firms, and the changing nature of the food distribution system.

 The objective of this course is to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the food retailing sector.  The class will develop principles and skills useful to the student in either working directly in food retailing or in careers closely allied with food retailing, such as food wholesaling or processing.

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Class Organization and Participation:
 This is a lecture/discussion course. Class participation is important.  The accompanying course outline indicates the topics to be addressed.  You are expected to read the assigned material before it is to be discussed in class.  You will be graded on your contributions to class discussions and your demonstration of understanding of assigned materials.

Performance Evaluation:
 There will be two hourly exams (March 4 and April 16) and a comprehensive final exam. These will cover lecture materials, reading assignments, and exercises.  You will also be graded on class participation.

 All written work must be word-processed.  Late reports will be penalized.  Although attendance is not taken, frequent absences will affect your grade.

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Traffic Study:
 For this exercise you will be assigned to a management team of 4-6 students.  You team will be responsible for conducting a customer traffic study of a local supermarket.  This project will be discussed early in the semester so that your team can initiate work on the project and complete traffic studies throughout the semester.   Each team member must contribute to the work of the team.  The team members will all receive the same grade, unless there is evidence that contribution was not equal.

 Your completed report will contain information on customer shopping patterns, store demographics, store layout, merchandising strategies, and other pertinent information.  The completed team traffic study report will be presented to the class in April and also to the store managers.  Each team will prepare a written report of results.  This is due one class period before the in-class presentation of the report. All team members must participate in the presentation. Use appropriate visual aids.

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Supermarket Game:
 Teams will also participate in the Purdue supermarket game.  You will work in competitive teams making decisions on the operations and competitive strategy of a supermarket. You should formulate an overall store strategy, establishing some realistic and measurable goals in the areas of sales, market share, and profits.

 Each team will make 5 decisions over a three week period. Teams will also make a class presentation of their results and lessons learned.
 
Grading Procedure:
 Final grades will be calculated as a weighted average of your scores in these areas:
  2 Hourly Exams..........................30%
  Team Traffic Study..................... 20
  Supermarket Game..................... 20
  Class Participation...................... 10
  Final Exam..................................20
  Total..........................................100%
 
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Class Schedule and Assignments

Topic Assignment 
 1.  Course Introduction: Goals, Procedures, Expectations,
      Evaluation Purchase text. Read How to Use the Quaker Program.
 2.  The Grocery Industry: Past, Present and Future Unit 1, pp. 1-48.
 3.  From the Producer to the Consumer Unit 2, pp. 49-113.
 4.  The Supermarket Today Unit 3, pp. 115-169.
 5.  Profit and the Supermarket Unit 4, pp. 171-236.
 6.  The Supermarket Customer Unit 5, pp 237-274.
 7.  Store Layout, Traffic Study Handout, team assignments.
 8.  Grocery, Meat Departments  Units 8 and 9.
 9.  Dairy, Frozen Departments Units 10, 11.
10. The Supermarket Game Handout.
11. The Future of Food Distribution.


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