For this week's class discussion on 'Place' there is:

1) A short video to watch on Pepsi and its wholesaler operations and Discussion Questions 1-4 to answer. Make sure to read below 'About the PepsiAmericas A Bottler & Wholesaler video

2) A second video, shorter in length, that shows an independent wholesaler/distributor for PepsiCo, G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, and gives insight into their business and use of technology and Discussion Question 5to answer

3) Question 6 and 7 are to discuss in relation to a retailer of Pepsi products that you identify

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PepsiAmericas a Bottler Wholesaler in the Pepsi Channel of Distribution

Note: A few comments on the PepsiAmericas A Bottler Wholesaler in the Pepsi Channel of Distribution video This video highlights PepsiCo and its distribution system. Specifically, the video focuses on PepsiCo's bottlers (now called Pepsi Beverages Co.) and their role in distribution.

1. The video tells the role of PepsiCo (that is the corporate company that manufactures the concentrate, owns the brands, develops new products, and promote the brands) and the role of PepsiAmericas (their bottler that takes the concentrate from PepsiCo, bottles the product, and distributes the products to retailers. Note that PepsiAmericas is now called Pepsi Beverages Co., see the note below).
2. The video discusses the retail channels that carry PepsiCo products. They refer to the retail channels as being a) large format such as Walmart, b) small format such as Walgreens, and c) on-premise such as restaurants.
3. The bottler, Pepsi Beverages Co., discusses the activities they do with the retailer to help sell product.
4. A retailer, Kroger, discusses their needs and expectations of the bottler/wholesaler.
5. Note: PepsiAmericas is no longer an independent/merchant wholesaler or franchise as the video states. PepsiAmericas and Pepsi Bottling Group, the two largest bottlers of PepsiCo products, are now owned by PepsiCo, the manufacturer. They are called Pepsi Beverages Co and are now a company owned wholesaler vs. independent wholesalers. Keep this in mind as you watch the video. Also, note that the percentage of sales through the various retailers the video covers is not up to date. Just note the types of retailers they mention such as supermarkets, c-stores, gas stations, mass merchandiser, club stores, and drug stores. These are examples of the breadth of retail channels where PepsiCo products can be found.

I. Discussion Questions for PepsiAmericas A Bottler Wholesaler in the Pepsi Channel of Distribution

Q1. What is the market exposure for PepsiCo's Pepsi products: intensive, selective, or exclusive?

a) Define the market exposure you select (define intensive, selective or exclusive - whichever you select)

b) Give your reasons for saying this is the marketing exposure PepsiCo uses for its Pepsi products in a few sentences.

Q2. Is distribution for Pepsi products from manufacturer to consumer direct or indirect? State why in a phrase.

Q3. What does the Pepsi bottler (the wholesaler, Pepsi Beverages) do in its role as bottler and distributor? List the activities mentioned in various parts of the video as things the bottler does as a bottler and distributor.

Q4. What does the retailer, Kroger, say they need from the distributor and if they do not receive it, it is not good business?

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G&J Pepsi Cola's digital transformation with PowerApps

II. Discussion Questions for G&J Pepsi Cola's Digital Transformation with PowerApps

Q5. Give your overview or main take-away that you have from viewing this video on this independent wholesaler for PepsiCo.

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III. Discussion Questions for a retail chain that carries Pepsi beverage products that you select

Select a specific large national/international retail chain that carries Pepsi beverage products. This could be a U.S. retail chain that is only/mostly in the U.S. or in the U.S. and international markets OR a retail chain that is more in an international market or country and not in the U.S.

Note: YES, you can choose a retail chain that is specific to an international market or discuss only the international side of a global retail chain. Adjust your answers accordingly.

IMPORTANT - do not repeat a specific retail chain already selected by a classmate (i.e., only one original post on Walmart, Pizza Hut, 7-Eleven, KFC, CVS and so).

• State in bold the name of the retail chain you are selecting.
• State if this retail chain is an off-premise channel and what type (a convenience store chain, a supermarket chain, restaurant/fast food chain, mass merchandising chain and this could include Amazon, drug store chain) or on-premise channel and what type (a fast food chain, a casual dining chain, a sports stadium where Pepsi is served by a food service organization, a university campus where Pepsi is served by a food service organization).

Note: an off-premise channel includes retailers where the Pepsi product is bought and then consumed away from the retailer's premises, i.e., a supermarket. An on-premise channel includes retailers where the Pepsi product is bought and consumed on the retailer's premises, i.e., a restaurant chain.

Answer the following question prompts:

Q6. How many outlets (number of stores) does this retail chain have in the U.S. (and how many internationally or both combined) OR if you choose an international retail chain, how many outlets (number of stores) does this retail chain have in the international market/country? Search and try to obtain a number or estimate as recent as you can. 'This retail chain has x number of outlets in the U.S. and this many outlets internationally.' OR this retail chain has x number of outlets in this international market or this country.

Q7. Identify if this retail chain:

a) Has a presence on any of the social media platforms listed below and if so, look at their site and give their engagement metrics (followers, subscribers)

• • • Facebook - # of followers (i.e., retail chain I selected has 12,453,800 followers on Facebook)
    • Instagram - # of followers
    • YouTube - # of subscribers/or other metric
    • Pinterest - # of followers and/or monthly viewers
    • Twitter - # of followers
    • Others specific to a country

b) Offers any of the following for their customers, (tell us if they do or do not offer these):

• • • a loyalty/rewards program - yes/no
    • a mobile app - yes/no
    • a store credit card - yes/no
    • membership program - yes/no

c) What types of data would this retail chain be able to collect on their consumers/customers/users from these social media platforms and/or from their loyalty program, their mobile app, or store credit card.Specifically, give at least 6 key metrics or data information that the retailer would be able to collect on consumers/customers. Also describehow these metrics/data would be useful to the retailer. How these metrics allow the retailer to know or understand things and how the retailer can provide further engagement with users based on these metrics. To gain or expand your knowledge in this area of data/metrics, do some searching. What are key metrics that can be obtained from customers/users that can be valuable for retailers in gaining insight?

Important notes:

• Please enter your original discussion post by Thursday of this week. Read all other student's original posts and respond to 2 students (2 students in total for the week) by the end of the week as you have thus far in the course. Make sure to note upfront in bold in your original post the name of the retail chain you select to discuss in your post.
• Organize your post by stating the question first then your discussion/answer. Make your points clear and easy for the reader to understand.