Est1 Task1

In evaluating Company Q’s current attitude toward social responsibility, it should to be stressed that small, local, grocery store chains have a tremendous opportunity to lead in this arena. However, it can also be difficult as a business that can be dwarfed by large national chains to not be primarily driven by profits, as acquiring and retaining customers increases in difficulty.

Company Q could be doing a much better job. They are not, today, as socially responsible as they could be. This does not necessarily mean that they need to give up profits to achieve this. In fact, if they can become a leader in social responsibility in their area, this will likely increase profits and customer retention. These profits are often realized in the long term, so it is up to the executive team at Company Q to realize that reaping these profits will come with implementing more socially responsible policies coupled with commitment, patience and differentiation (Robins, 2015).

Examining Company Q’s most recent actions, it is evident that profits are its main focus. Social responsibility has increasingly suffered as a result. Closing stores in high crime rate areas, despite losing money, is not a socially responsible tactic. It is often the case that this contributes to so-called, “food deserts.” In many cities, in the wake of grocers leaving certain neighborhoods, fast food and other unhealthy businesses move in and the residents of these neighborhoods suffer unnecessarily and lose their access to fresh and healthy food. What results is often an increase in Type II Diabetes, childhood obesity and an overall increase in health issues by the population of this part of the city. Supermarkets have, since the 1960s, increasingly moved out to the suburbs, leaving a wider and wider gap in those that have access to fresh, affordable, healthy food and those that do not. (Mead, M. N., 2008).

Demand has, according to what we know about Company Q, only increased for...