Analyses and proposals

Introduction
In this report it will be firstly analysed the Coffee-Mate brand and current position on
the market place in the UK based on the information from case of study the CoffeeMate (Kotler at al, 2008). Secondly, it will be given proposals for future strategic
development of the Coffee-mate brand in the UK.
Firstly, there should be asked the key questions in strategic marketing management
(Wilson and Gilligan, 2005).
I.

Where are we now?

II.

Where do we want to be?

III.

How might we get there?

IV.

Which way is the best?

V.

How can we ensure arrival?

The Nestle Coffee-Mate brand background

The Coffee-mate was first introduced in 1961 as first non-diary powdered creamer in
US by Nestle. In 1989 was introduced Nestle Coffee - mate liquid, which was number
one of non- dairy product on the market. Nestle Coffee-Mate developed a different
flavours of powdered cream to keep their customer interesting in and buying their
products. Nestle changed the view of "kitchen coffee" to "cafe coffee" made in the
kitchen (http://www.coffee-mate.com/Faq.aspx). Customers of Coffee-mate can enjoy
the different flavours also seasonal flavours (Gingerbread and Eggnog) and special
edition, furthermore Coffee-mate can be found in fat free, reduced fat and sugar free
in powdered and liquid products. The brand is playing important role for the CoffeeMate. The Coffee-Mate is part of the Nestle, well known brand which will add value
to the product and will differentiate Coffee-Mate from its competitors. The Nestle is
using corporate umbrella branding where the 'company's name is attached to the entire
product portfolio' (Wilson and Gilligan, 2005). For Heinz the umbrella is covering a
wide range of products - drinks (NESCAF Gold Blend), breakfast cereals, and
chocolate - full Nestle portfolio. There are advantages of corporate umbrella branding.
Firstly, in Nestle case it can be reduced cost for a new campaign (promoting only the
new product not the brand) and the brand name of Nestle is already well-known and
established. McDonald at al (2008) believed that using corporate umbrella branding
can be a disadvantage 'the brand name to not be as strongly identified with any one
product' also it can be argued that Nestle will lose the name as a coffee and chocolate
brand. McDonald at al (2008) agreed that the brand dilution 'occurs when consumers
no longer associate a brand with a specific product or highly similar products and start
thinking less of the brand'

Market and environmental analysis

Where are we now?
Wilson and Gilligan (2005) believed that the importance of organization's
performance in the market place is influenced by three key factors:
I.
II.
III.

The organization's current market position

The nature of environmental opportunities and threats
The organization's ability to cope with environmental demands.

The Nestle Coffee-Mate current position on the market is seen by managers of Nestle
as less growth potential than for example Nestle food products. In the result, the
budget for marketing campaigns was minimized, however the budget for ground
coffee increased '43 million campaign aimed at reminding people that instant coffee
is 100% real coffee made from pure and natural coffee beans and nothing else' (Nestle
press releases,2009).
The coffee creamer market has advantages and disadvantages. Coffee creamer
products have a better whitener use than dried or powdered milk, however consumers
sees coffee creamer as something for special occasions but not for their daily coffee.
The market for coffee creamer is complicated with different types of consumer's
behaviour. Firstly, there are consumers who will not use powdered milk or cream at
all. Secondly, there are users who will use powdered milk into their coffee but will not
use cream (the taste is changed). Thirdly, users will use Coffee-Mate only in case of
emergency (run out of milk or cream). Fourthly, there are users who are using coffee
cream daily however consider creamer as a treat. The use of Coffee-Mate correlates
with consumption of coffee in UK. The average consumption of coffee is about 3kg
per head in the UK, which is about 1.5 cups per day which is low compare to Italy,
France or Germany (5kg) and in the Scandinavian or Benelux region (11-13kg)(Kotler
at al, 2008). The national Food Survey suggests that there is correlation between
weekly income and consumption of coffee (the higher income the higher consumption
of coffee). The UK coffee market is up 19% from 2002 (720 million in 2007).
Instant coffee contributes 81% of market share however it can be seen shift from
instant coffee into premium non-instant coffee (Mintel, 2008). On the other hand,
Mintel researchers found that 'one in five consumers agree that it is too much effort to
make ground coffee at home' (Mintel, 2008).

The strengths and weaknesses (strategic and marketing analysis)

The main strengths of the Coffee-mate are its capability to replace the real cream or
milk and the length of the life time storage, however legally it cannot be defined as
non-diary because it contains ingredients such vegetable fat and dried glucose which
contains a real milk derivates. The weaknesses of the Coffee-mate are firstly its
limitation in sales. Secondly, the Coffee-mate it is not weekly shopping item and
preferably consumers are buying fresh cream or milk instead of the powdered.
Consumers see using powdered cream or milk just in emergency situation and

furthermore not all the coffees are made with milk or cream. Thirdly, the Coffee-mate
is not independent product and can be consumed only with coffee.

Customer analysis
The customers of the Coffee-mate are consumers who are buying instant or ground
coffee and using powdered milk or coffee creamer. The survey was done by TGI and
divided consumers into five potential groups for Coffee-Mate. The key variables used
by TGI to segment the market are: income, age, social grade, concerning about health
and environment, shopping activity and budgeting, social places (pubs, restaurants),
brand versus own label, travelling, media (TV, radio, newspapers), number of children
at home, area where they live, level of consumption of Coffee-Mate and creamers and
occupation. TGI user survey divided consumers into five clusters.

Cluster 1: Sharon and Tracy Experimentalists (Sample proportion: 15.4 %)

Cluster 2: Eileen and Mary - Cost constrained, older, and conservative

(Sample proportion: 23.6 %)

Cluster 3: Sarah and Anna - Affluent, Young foodies (Sample proportion: 24.4
%)

Cluster 4: Dawn and Lisa - Cost constrained, Young families (Sample

proportion: 13.9 %)

Cluster 5: Dorothy and Amy - Affluent (Sample proportion: 22.7 %)

Competitor analysis
The main competitors of the Coffee-Mate on the market place are fresh milk and
cream. For the coffee creamer market the main competitors are Compliment, Kenco,
Compleat, own label and others. Coffee-Mate has about 55% market share on the
coffee creamer market. To be successful and better than competitors Coffee-mate has
to concentrate on advantage for example a capacity to replace the milk which the
Coffee-Mate has. To be better than competition it has to be known how the
competition markets their products. The four main questions have to be asked: What
is each competitor's current strategy? How are competitors performing? What are
their strengths and weaknesses? What can we expect from each competitor in the
future? (Wilson and Gilligan, 2005).

Strategic direction and strategic formulation

Where do we want to be? Market segmentation, targeting and
positioning
It can be argued that the market for cream powder is segmented, however not mass
targeted. The segmentation of market helps to identify group of buyers or potential
buyers and divide them into groups within similar buyer's pattern (Wilson and
Gilligan, 2005). It is advantage for marketer to segment the market because 'the

marketer then decides which segments present the greatest opportunity - which are its
target markets' (McDonald at al, 2008). Not everyone likes the milk or cream into
their coffee. Therefore, the marketers will divide up the market into the segments by
exploring behavioural, demographic and psychographic differences within buyers
(McDonald at a, 2008). The Coffee-Mate developed strategic marketing to target the
market segment. The particular segment cannot be contented with only one product. If
the Coffee-Mate was targeting only one segment 41% of the 55% (McDonald at al,
2008) the current market share however it will lose 14.5% which is owned by CoffeeMate Lite. The Coffee-Mate has to use multiple segments and obtain a greater market
share of coffee cream market

How might we get there?? Strategic choice - which way is the best?
The American Marketing Association (AMA) in 1985 said "Marketing is the process
of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of
ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and
organizational objectives". To achieve the needs of the target segments the right
marketing mix must be developed. The product (Coffee-Mate) has to be accessible in
the right place (distribution), at the right price and in the right time (McCarthy, 1960).
Thomas (1987) also believed that 'the product or services offering of a company or
organization ultimately determines the nature of the business and the marketplace
perception of the business. In this sense it is the core of the marketing management
function'. The product Coffee-Mate will have to satisfy the target segment. In this
case, it will be difficult to satisfy many segments for this reason the preference
segments will be identified - clustered preferences (natural market segments). TGI
user Surveys identified five potential consumers for Coffee-Mate. Based on the
Appendix 3 it can be seen and argued who are potentially the most profitable group
and which should be targeted. It can be said that Dawn and Lisa (young families,
13.9% sample proportion) and Sharon and Tracy (experimentalist, 15.4% sample
proportion) will become Eileen and Mary (older and conservative, 23.6% sample
proportion) and Sarah and Hannah will lose attractiveness for this segment (Kotler,
2008).

The Coffee-Mate marketing MIX

Product
Abbot (1995) highlighted about product 'What people really desire are not the
products but satisfying experience, however Levitt (1976) argued that the products
have to be seen as the benefits not the functions. The Coffee-Mate is the product with
a strong position (55% market share) on the market place, however it can be argued
that one of the important aspects is brand name. Nestle is a strong, well -known brand
and instead of creating, developing and maintaining a new one the Coffee-Mate
become part of it. Wilson and Gilligan (2005) also agree that 'it is only in this way
that the organization is able to promise and continue to deliver to the consumer a
superior value than that offered by competitors'. The importance of the coffee-mate
product is in which phase of the product cycle is. The Coffee-mate cream powder is
probably in the mature stadium. There is not a rapid growth on the UK market also
there is not a sign of the new entries on the market or decline in demand for the
Coffee-Mate.

Price
The price is one of the important factors of the marketing mix. If there is wrong
pricing decision the competitors will win and Nestle will lose their customers.
Managers have to know the pricing strategies of their competitors and how big are
their financial resources to cope with their competition. The Coffee-Mate should
concentrate on 'the maintenance and improvement of market position' (Wilson and
Gilligan, 2005). Advantage of this objective is the improvements of the market share
however it can be very costly and not often cost effective. Coffee-mate is already in
leading position (55% market share) but there is danger that they will lose it. One the
factors can be the lack of finance for campaign and promotion.

Promotion
Promotion is also important aspect of the marketing mix. It can be said that promotion
is 'the visible face' (Wilson and Gilligan, 2005) which symbolize the product and
communicate with customers. In 2002 Nestle spent 1m on the Coffee-Mate
campaign to change customers opinion on the coffee whitener from ''coffee whitener''
to ''coffee enhancers'' with main slogan 'Coffee-mate does it for coffee - so deliciously
creamy tasting it's almost improper' (http://www.campaignlive.co.uk, 2002). In 2007
there was marketing campaign which promoted the Coffee-Mate ''Even when there is
milk around''. It was previously discussed that young families, experimentalist, older
and conservatives are the market which should be targeted. The tools which can be
used to target the market can be: the TV, newspaper and a new medium Facebook and
Twiter. The new campaign should be more concentrated on the product
differentiation. There are not other competitors who are producing powder cream or
liquid with different taste and sticks pad which can be used on the go. The CoffeeMate should have distanced more from other in the market and create a major
competitive advantage. To create competitive advantage there have to be
understanding of particular segment, however the disadvantage of product
differentiation can be 'limited opportunities for the sector growth and creating
differences that customers do not value' (Wilson and Gilligan, 2005). Furthermore,
they have to convince the customer that the Coffee-mate is better than competitor's
products.

Place
The distribution plan is final and also important part of marketing mix. The right
choice of distributors and volume distributed can make huge impact on the volume of
products sold. To achieve the competitive advantage the right distribution channel has
to be recognized. The Coffee-mate is sold by retailers (Morrison, Tesco, Sainsbury,...),
Internet and through other channels however there should be considered other options
- workplace, universities and hospitals. There is a huge opportunity to be a successful.
Full-time working women agreed ''first thing in the morning I tend to have coffee with
semi-skimmed milk, but towards 11 o'clock I want something which is more relaxing,
more substantial, so I have coffee with Coffee-Mate. It seems to be comforting.''
(Kotler at al, 2008). The distribution of the Coffee-Mate into the coffee machine
which are in the workplace, universities or hospital will bring benefits, improve a
market share and bring a new customers. To select a right channel of distribution the
plan has to be considered (Wilson, 1983).

Marketing MIX in use

The different option (Coffee- Mate Lite, Gingerbread, Pumpkin...) will influence the
marketing mix of the Coffee-Mate. There have to be concentration on the segment
which is targeted and the product which is offering to this segment. The product has to
convince the segment market which is for example colour of packaging, the size and
quality. It will be impossible to convince a lot of segment markets with only one
product like the Coffee-Mate. The price will be influenced by the cost production,
consumer demand and advertisement cost. The launch of the new favour such Lite,
Mocha or Latte there have to be research that there will be high consumers demand
for this products.

Conclusion
In this report the current marketing positions of the Coffee-Mate brand was analyzed
and after were given proposals for future strategic development of the Coffee-mate
brand in the UK. The Coffee-Mate is currently in the leading position, however the
managers do not see the potential growth in the future. Despite this believe, the
Coffee-Mate has a benefit of the length storage compare to fresh milk or cream,
however powder cream is still seen as the treat by users and as the emergency by nonusers. The market was divided by TGI into five clusters and the most profitable group
was chosen and will be targeted. The best way how to achieve the success such as
market growth and profitability can be done by better segmentation of the market and
better clustered preferences. The Coffee-Mate is not just cream powder and the
campaign has to say it to the potential costumers. The Coffee-Mate should create the
competitive advantage from the differentiation. The Coffee-Mate has to persuade the
consumers that they are better than their competitors. The crucial is the concentration
on the segments which are targeted and chose the right product for this segment.

References

Abbot, L. (1955), Quality and Competition, New York: Columbia University

Press

Kotler, P at al. (2008), Principles of Marketing, Harlow, Essex: Prentice Hall

Inc. 5th edition

Levitt, T (1976), 'The argumented product concept ', in Ruthberg, R. R(ed.),

Corporate strategy and innovation, New York: Free Press

McCarthy, E (1960), Basic marketing, Homewood, IL: Irwin

Mintel (academic.mintel.com) report Coffee - UK - January 2008

Thomas, M. J (1987), The Marketing book, London: Heinemann

Wilson, R. and Gilligan C. (2005), Strategic marketing management,

Burlington: Elsevier

Wilson, R.M.S. (1983), Cost Control Handbook, Aldershoot, Gower, 2nd

edition

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/News/EmailThisArticle/161197/Nestle-puts1m-behind-relaunch-Coffee-mate

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk

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