STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The person behind this is Ingvar Kamprad, a dyslexic, who established IKEA in Almhult, Sweden at the age of 17. The ownership is under a Dutch-registered foundation which is run by the family of Ingvar Kamprad. The owner and franchiser is Inter IKEA Systems B.V. which also holds the IKEA trademark and the IKEA concept. The mother company of IKEA Group of Companies is INGKA Holding B. V., who is also the owner of Swedwood Industrial group, and is owned solely by Stichting INGKA Foundation which is registered in Netherlands. The said IKEA concept is based on different functional home and furnishing products that are sold in cheap price – enough to make it affordable to many people because the concept aims to cater to the needs of people to have a good life by having a nice and comfortable house. The IKEA concept is still maintained up to now and can be seen through the transaction of every business. IKEA has also the idea of getting out of the status quo of producing high quality materials with a high-end price and producing low quality product at low price. For them, it is better to produce high quality products that are affordable. This is possible according to IKEA through having devises that are cost-efficient and innovative at the same time. With this thinking, IKEA is successful in creating good products with nice designs at affordable price. The IKEA brand has complex ownership because it is owned by so many companies and foundations. Then those companies which are considered retailers pay 3% royalty of the total sales to the original owners, which is the Kamprad family. The distribution of products is made through different outlets around the world. There are 251 stores which can be found in 34 countries dominantly in Europe, United States, Canada, Asia, Middle East, and Australia. The countries which have the first IKEA store are Sweden (1958), Norway (1963), Denmark (1969), Switzerland (1973), Germany (1974),

Food and Culture Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Food and Culture Report - Assignment Example The most prominent nutritional ailment is obesity, which has a higher prevalence among African-Americans, as compared to any other group in the United States. These facts have motivated the interest on focusing on this ethnic group’s health habits. Approximate number of people belonging to this group living in the U.S. According to the 2011 U.S Census Bureau estimates, African-Americans number approximately 40 million and account for 14.1 percent of the total population in the United States.1 Traditional Food Habits Core or Staple Foods When African slaves were brought into the United States, they carried along their food practices and styles of cooking. Some of the staple foods they brought along include okra, peanuts, sesame seeds, rice and black-eyed peas. The slaves also learned to prepare the food provided by their masters such as pork, vegetables and cornmeal. They also used molasses as a sweetener in food dishes and drinks such as iced tea. These are still being applied to date. African-Americans also celebrate their cultural holidays through the promotion of unique cooking, characterized by ethnic styles which are sometimes referred to as soul food.2 For instance, fish has always been considered a staple food among the African-Americans. ... Food Preparation Methods and Seasonings Many African-Americans prepare food using a frying or barbecuing method and serve the prepared dishes with heavy sauces and gravy. They also prefer making baked goods from scratch, as opposed to using commercial mixes, which come pre-packaged in a box. Meal Composition and Cycle It is customary for African Americans to consume a lot of food for breakfast. In the morning, they prefer eating grits, sausage, ham and freshly baked biscuits with syrup and butter. Lunch usually consists of bologna, which is eaten in sandwiches. The dinner is normally baked chicken with corn bread, baked ham, green vegetables, rice, candied yams and baked macaroni and cheese. Dessert is comprised of fruit cake and/or apple pie. Foods Associated With Superstitions Most of the superstitions revolve around the consumption of black-eyed peas. If the black-eyed peas are served with greens the food represents money i.e. the peas represent coins while the greens represent no tes.2 If the corn bread is added to the black-eyed peas and greens meal, this represents gold. If eaten with stewed tomatoes, it represents health and wealth. The culture dictates that for one to witness everyday luck, they should eat at least 365 black-eyed peas during New Year’s Eve. Foods Used For Therapeutic Purposes Most contemporary African Americans have become more health conscious and realize the significance of ensuring that their diets contribute to their well-being.3 This has resulted in an increase in the addition of fruits and vegetables in every dish. They have also ventured into healthier and lighter cooking with the traditional fattier foods being left for special holidays and occasions. Foods for Traditional Celebrations