Loblaw is Canada's largest food retailer operating grocery stores across Canada under various banners. It has a mission to be the best food, health and home retailer through innovative products at great prices. A SWOT analysis finds that Loblaw has strengths in private label products, store locations and scale, but weaknesses in its complex structure and underperforming stores. Its growth strategy focuses on discount expansion, growing food sales, and launching new services like a mobile phone program.

1. Nov 21st 2012

2. Loblaw Mission and Vision Statements
Loblaw History
SWOT Analysis
Customer Loyalty Programs
Store Design
Growth Strategy

3.  Loblaw’s mission is to be Canada’s best food, health and home
retailer by exceeding customer expectations through innovative
products at great prices.
 Loblaw is committed to a strategy developed under three core
themes: Simplify, Innovate and Grow

4. Loblaw was acquired by George Weston Ltd.
 Loblaw was built as a food empire through the
purchase of grocery manufacturers, retailers and
wholesalers.
 Credited with inventing premium private brands
in North America
 In 2005, Loblaws was the largest supermarket
chain in Canada, with an estimated market share
of 34.9%.
 In 2008, Loblaw has 609 corporate and 427
franchised stores in every province and territory
in Canada (21 banners).
 Loblaw’s President’s Choice and No name control
brands are the #1 consumer packaged good
brands by sales in Canada.

5.  Largest and most profitable food retailer in
Canada
 7000 Private-label products (No Name and
President’s choice)
 Less expensive advertising system
 Well trained employees and professionals
 Good stores locations
 Diversified store formats
 Economy of scale and large knowledge and
experience in Canadian market
 Wide geographic coverage (all Canadian
provinces)

6.  Too many store names
 Stores are underperforming
 Complicated corporate structure and weak
management
 Loblaw is not doing fresh food as well as the
others are right now
 Weak data communication system
 Customers find difficult to navigate the
superstores

7.  Increasing population
 Growing its discount segment, becoming the
low-price leader
 Growing food retailing sales
 Changes in consumer trends in food buying
and consumption
 New management team and new business
plan

8.  Intense competition- Wal-mart in Canada
 Imitation by competitors
 Canadian market is attracting foreign investors
 Grocery sales are growing slower than others
year’s average
 Consumer satisfaction is decreasing due to the
company poor performance

9.  Wide range of products and services to meet
the everyday household needs of Canadian
consumers
 President’s Choice Financial services offer core
banking facilities such as bank accounts,
popular MasterCard®, PC insurance services
and specially PC points loyalty program
 PC points are accumulated as we use PC bank
cards for shopping which can be redeemed
later at Loblaw’s stores

10.  Creation of private labels
 Closure of unprofitable stores
 Standardized store design
 Last month the launch of The Mobile Shop (La
Boutique Mobile in French Canada) in over 500
of its grocery stores across the country, as part of
its push to become one of Canada's major
retailers of mobile phones