Maintaining and Improving TJ's Performance in the Food Retailing Industry: A Consultant's Report

You are a consultant hired to help TJ to maintain and improve its performance in the foods retailing industry.  Please present your recommendations to ensure this objective, while ensuring that you answer the following questions: Although the TJ CEO has left the assignment somewhat open to interpretation, he has made it clear that he wants to be able to use the final report to better understand the firm’s past performance and future prospects. 

Therefore, the final report should address (but not necessarily be limited to) the following questions:
1.How attractive is the Food Retailing Industry?  Defend your answer with a detailed analysis of the industry. (25).   
2.How do the data provided in Exh. 2 of the case help you identify better the strategies of different firms in the industry and more broadly help you understand better how grocery firms make money and reward their shareholders? (5)
3.How would you describe TJ’s’ strategy? What is your evaluation of their strategy? What if any competitive advantages do they enjoy? (50) 
4.What do you see as the most significant opportunities and threats facing TJ at the conclusion of the period described in the case, as they look into the future ?  (10)
5.Going forward, what recommendations would you suggest be made to TJ’ strategy to help the firm to navigate through these opportunities and threats? (10)
Use the attached case, class notes, class slides, and the textbook Understanding MIchel Porter by Joan Magretta (TEXTBOOK LINK: https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B005OVTMAY, ) to complete the final report paper. In preparing the paper, you may of course use exhibits to support your arguments or conclusions.  The results of the application of various analytical tools, for example, are appropriate for exhibits.  You may use as many exhibits as you deem necessary.  Be sure to refer to each exhibit in the relevant places in the paper.  Some general guidelines:
1)    The main analysis can be up to 4 single-spaced pages in 12 pitch font.  Please do not exceed this page limit for the main text.  No separate executive summary is required.  Appendices, exhibits, if any, can be additional.
2)    3)    Focus on analysis, not description.  Think of the exam response as a Consultant’s Report that you would provide to the CEO of the featured company treating them as a client.  For instance, you don’t need to give the CEO an extended introduction to what the company does and essentially repeat case facts.  Presumably she/he knows that.  Focus on the implications of things.
4)    Pay close attention to the assigned questions and ensure that you answer them all.  
5)    I do not look for any “single correct answer” or “solution”.  Instead I will look at each report as a self contained document and analyze it on its logical consistency and depth and breadth in addressing the relevant issues.  Your recommendations should be supported by persuasive and logically consistent arguments and data where available.