Innocent Ltd Integrated Marketing Plan

Inno cent Ltd interconnected commercializeing PlanCurrently Innocent discount be considered as the colossus of natural result drinks in the smoothie manufacturing industry. Innocent is headquartered in London with a workforce ab discover 273 quite a little and a global network of more than 10, 000 traders over 13 European countries (Datamonitor, 2009).Innocents fruit portfolio has been recently expanded to almost 40 different overlap selections and thus companys success over the competition is the natural ingredients that used in its products and as well the aspiration to conserve the nature in its products until the end user (Innocent, 2010).Potential Market Analysis and Resultant merchandise ObjectivesRegarding Pickton and Broderick (2005), PRESTCOM depth psychology bottom serving the business in building up the best possible knowledge of the internal and external environment in which the company is preparing to enter. Consequently, an analysis has been carried out and c an be viewed belowConsidering the Political and Regulatory factors, the UK Department of Health has launched 5-a-day discharge, as a way to influence peoples life in order to be fitter (NHS, 2009). Therefore, the governments goal is to increase peoples knowledge of the benefits of healthy consumption as well(p) as to buy more fruit and veget commensurates. Additionally, legislations that occasionally come from various governmental health and food departments can also affect the merchandise. A good example is that of the Food Standards Agency which has altered a new labelling legislation where people can be witting of the level of trans-fats used in the product they consume (BBC, 2007).Recession can be characterised as one of the most influential factors of UKs Economic environment. The high amount of unemployment and the low peoples income be significant factors for the market. Such economic conditions, people are more aware of their expenses that mainly spend cash on necessa ry daily items (LaForey, 2010). Finally, the recent rise of shabu cream taxes, oil and milk prices can also affect the market at a great extent (Jofre, 2010 BBC, 2010).Lifestyle, value, trends and ethics are some elements that characterise the Social window of the externals environment. In instance, Mintel (2010) states that ice cream consumption is not seasonable anymore but for the whole year. In adjunct, most adult consumers buy ice cream for pleasure where a high number of people are aware and care of healthy consumption.The Technological concept has recently taken another dimension as social networks and brand communities have gave the ability for consumers to give-and-take opinions for products and serve (Mitchell, 2001).In order to belowstand the Competitive environment of an industry Johnson et.al (2008) suggest that the five forces framework can assists the process. Taking a brief Porters 5 forces analysis of the company, the bar pass oning power of the suppliers have been assessed to be moderate to high since the company hires a small yet diversified supply chain as the fruits are being provided by suppliers across the world (Annual overlay, 2008). Thus a possible concentration of suppliers discharges this power stronger. The bargaining power of the purchasers has been assessed to be high for three reasons a) buyer concentration due to premium priced products, b) small repoint market, and c) product standardization. Threats of substitutes has also been assessed to be moderate to high due to up-to-date pricing strategy of the products that provides opportunities for cheaper substitutes products. Barriers to compliance in the UK market has been assessed to be low due to external threats to the country such(prenominal) as terrorism, recession etc. all discouraging foreign investors go into into the UK market. Lastly, rivalry amongst the competitors has also been assessed to be high due to leading competitors Haagen-Dazs and Ben Jerrys (Mint el, 2010).The evolving changes in the external environment of the businesses today are evidently observed since businesses have been under strict scrutiny for ethical business practices. Additionally the adapted ethical business practices have also been assessed to be competitive advantage of the company on with its strong product portfolio, observe to provide the company with critical success factors in the competitive market (Annual Report, 2008). The strategic advantage of the company capitalizes on discernment and busy customers with little time for taking a meal during the mid-day (Innocent, 2010). Hence, the food products offered by Innocent Ltd. promises healthy and balanced diet options using healthy ingredients such as oats, yoghurt, fresh fruits etc. Finally, the corporate social responsibility policy practiced by Innocent Ltd. as reported in the annual report (2008), continuously indicates towards the importance of the implied approach of the business ensuring that bus iness initiatives shouldnt mess up with the excogitateet (Annual report, 2008). Such elements reflect the current environment of the Organisation.Aaker and McLoughlin (2010) recommend that an examination of the Market can benefit to determine Innocents current and future attractiveness. Even the recent negative period of recession, is expected a positive growth for the market in the next few years. According to Mintel (2009) is expected that the market depart have a growth from annual sales of 0.2 billion until the end of the year 2014. In addition, the weather instability of the ice creams seasonal nature (summer) has made manufactures to seek on developing take-home ice cream (Mintel, 2009). With Unilever controlling up to 43% of the markets share, ice cream has struggled to be as a special treat.Marketing ObjectivesBrassington and Pettit (2006) define selling objectives as the goals that companys selling strategy must be able to achieve. In order to come up with the best poss ible strategy, Fill (2009) argues that objectives must be SMART such as the company can visit that its goals are clearly and well defined. Regarding the SMART concept, merchandise objectives have been carried out and can be view to the table 1 below.Table 1 Marketing objectives based on SMART modeSpecificInnocents main business objective is to promote and launch Innocent looking glass Sorbets in the turn outed UK marketMeasurableAim for an overall increase of 15 per cent in the market share of Innocent Ltd. in the UK marketAchievableThe company has to continue with relationship building initiatives with stakeholders of the company so that 20 per cent of existing customers that is accountable for 80 per cent of business revenues, can be retained vividThe firm has to develop market campaign creating awareness and passion of the Ice Sorbets through advertising and relationship marketing and also to develop the brand image, inscription and awarenessTime-ableThe companys objective s have duration of one year this means that Innocent is expected to complete its objectives until the end of the year 2011Integrated Marketing Communications ObjectivesIntegrated marketing communications objectives are usually related with the sales or aims that the company required in order to attract the attention of consumers. They can be also characterised as part of the overall marketing visualize development (Moss and Warnaby, 1998). Such objectives can be generated base on AIDAs model (Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action) which involves the buyers process to begin with the decision of purchase is made (Pickton and Broderick, 2005). Therefore, integrated marketing communications objectives have been produced and can be viewed belowTo create an awareness and increase the demand of the product with in the defined stub market.To persuade the target market to purchase and re- purchase the product.To be clear and concise with the marketing communication message so that the mark eting objectives can be achieved.Target Audience Description and JustificationTarget segments can be chosen on the basis of their psychographic, behaviouristic, and demographic characteristics. Nevertheless, consumers in such segments may have different needs, attitudes and preferences (Kotler, 2003). Once the marketing plan has been executed, further information concerning the target market can also be extracted by means of organizing marketing initiatives such as marketing surveys, focus group, customer etc. so that the process of re- delimitate the target market can take place, if needed.Identifying the current target audience for Innocents product are those people who are health conscious and seek taste and health benefits at the same time. In addition, the target audience are 20 per cent of the current customers of the company, who have been assessed to be generating 80 per cent of the business revenues (Annual report, 2008). Therefore, it is important to tightly define the sco pe of the marketing plan so that the allocated marketing budget can be justified. In order to reach the target market, the marketing communication plan proposes to stabilise and establish communication channels mainly through advertising and marketing initiatives in a valuable approach (Pickton and Broderick, 2005).Conclusively, the target market of this IMC plan comprises of people ranging in spite of appearance age bracket of five years to 45 + years, coming from mostly educated backgrounds male and female both (working men / women, students, housewives, retired people etc.) who are well aware of the disadvantages of processed ingredients, preservatives, added sugar and salt etc.Table 2 Target MarketIntegrated Marketing Communications StrategyAfter defining businesss objectives and audiences it is essential to create a communication strategy. For instance, Innocent can use a combine of push and pull strategies as Pickton and Broderick (2005) suggest that a combination of those c an reduce any potential dangers. Considering pull strategy, the company can focus its publicity activities to increase demand for the product at the end consumer eyepatch push strategy seeks to boost the trade channel to drive and promote the product until the end user (Fill, 2009).In order to create awareness and desire to purchase the product in the target market, the audience should be approached with a compelling marketing communication message that emphasizes on the importance of the pure ingredients oppressed with health benefits that are used in the Ice Sorbets (Palmer et.al, 2007). In addition, the target market should also be informed about the product and its ingredients and how the product can be a no-added sugar and sweeteners, concentrates and preservative. The marketing communication messages should embrace 100per cent fruit quality of the product.Develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for the Ice Sorbets and promote the USP throughout the marketing campaign (Pi ckton and Broderick, 2005). The identified USP of product has been identified as 100 per cent fruits that are being used in devising of the product, inappropriate other similar or substitute products that use artificial ingredients. The USP of the product makes the product safe to be consumed by children as young as five years old so that parents dont have to worry about any unnatural ingredient used in the product. It is very important that the marketing communication message should be persuasive and compelling so that the audience can easily memorize the message since Ice Sorbets may be passing consumed during the summer months (June- August) only. Hence a strong marketing communication message is crucial to the success of the product and the marketing communication plan.The marketing communication plan should be developed while making considerations of relationship marketing as suggested by Peelen (2005). These are obtaining knowledge of the customers establish strong relation ship with the customers, and lastly persuasive communication along with value proposition of the customers.The marketing communication plan should also embrace a combination of exciting and validating plead, persuasive comely for the target audience. An exciting or emotional plead can be formed through connecting the product with peoples hearts such as care for the family by giving them 100 per cent healthy product made only with fruits. This can even extend to family members who are diabetic. Similarly, it is imperative that any element of upsurge marketing should be avoided. For that reason, the advertisements designed for the marketing plan should be able to connect to the customers (Dashlen, 2010). Apparently, extensive marketing research initiatives should be undertaken prior to the development of the marketing campaign. While identifying the validating plead, the communication message should converse the functional advantages of the product such as healthy and full of fruits nutritional value (Peelen, 2005). In addition to above, it is equally significant to note that the marketing campaign is build from the consumers viewpoint rather than from the standpoint of the company. Subsequently, the target audience should be able to connect the precept and emotional side of their personality with the product.Out of the defined target market, 70 per cent should be reached with in the first four months of launching of the marketing campaign whereas the remaining 30 per cent should be reached in the following months of the marketing campaign. However, repeat messages should be broadcasted and any tweaking of the communication message should also be carried out if necessary.The marketing communication campaign should be reviewed and monitored periodically (Schultz and Schultz, 2004). Additionally, in order to select an effective communication mixture of IMC, the AIDAs model (illustrated in Table 3 and Table 4) has to be assessed.Table 3 AIDA model and IMC mixLo wAwarenessIntegrated Marketing Communications TacticIn order to follow out that above proposed strategies, following tactical approach has been projected (Blythe, 2006). The tactics take the shape of the marketing communication plan that is categorized as the 4 Ps of the marketing place, product, price and promotion.Place Even though the existing distribution channel of the enterprise seems to be adequate to assist this particular element of the marketing mix, however some additional retailers need to be employed while distributing the product. Such retailers have been identified as food retailers like Waitrose and Sainsbury, due to the comparatively high priced products sold by these retailers, suitable to sell premium priced products sold by Innocent Ltd (Mintel, 2010). Additionally, some coffee retailers such as Starbucks, Costa java etc. will also be approached. The coffee shops have been chosen because they are eager to sell low fat / healthy food options unlike their high- ca lorie bakery items (Mintel, 2010). Similarly, the existing services of the company such as inventory management logistics, transportation and warehousing will be used to stock certificate and manage the availability and transportation of the product.Product The product is called Innocent Ice Sorbets and is fully concentrated with fruits i.e. no air whipping technique is used to make the product dense as compare to its competing products. This product promises 100 per cent flavour and nutritional content of the fruits. The product initially comes in three flavours mango tree Passion Fruit Banana Raspberry and Strawberry. The product will be sold in eco friendly packages whereas the copy on the packages will carry on the marketing communication message that emphasizes upon the natural ingredient laden with health benefits.Price The pricing strategy of the product should be competitive against the luxury ice cream brands. Hence, the pricing strategy will enable the company to cont inue with its market leading position (Brassington and Pettitt, 2005). The competitive pricing strategy will also aim to take over the market share of its competitors in this regard such as Ben Jerrys, Haagen-Dazs, Solero andCarte DOr Moreover. The product has high potential in doing so because of its USP i.e. no added sugar, sweetener, preservatives and 100 per cent fruit content. However, it is very important that the pricing strategy must deliver product value to its consumers so that objectives of the marketing communication plan i.e. relationship building relationship with its customers can be attained (Blyth, 2006).Promotion This element of marketing mix has been categorized into different elements of the communications mix which is basically a tool for the achievement of companys IMC objectives (illustrated in Table 4) (Smith and Taylor, 2004).Table 4 The Communication MixAdvertising The product will mainly be advertised through different media as explained below magazines V ogue, OK, Grazia, Hello etc, newspapers The Times, Evening Standard, Metro etc., television channels Channel 4, ITV etc, internet and, outdoor billboard, tubes, buses, bus stands shop malls, etc.Collateral advertising The product promotion will also be done through designing product literature such as pamphlets, posters, mail shots etc.Direct mail The product literature will be directly distributed to the target market to ensure the reach of the message to its target audience.Trade shows To provide a further boost to the product promotion, trade shows will be arranged specifically targeted to business- to- business customers. The objective of trade shows will be a) to educate the supply chain partners / stakeholders about the product and its associated health benefits so that their confidence and trust can be instil in to the product and b) to build relationship with stakeholders so as to internally strengthen the enterprise.Sales promotion The product will be offered to its busines s-to- business customers on sales promotion offers such as 15 per cent price reduction in the total bill with the purchase of X amount of volume etc. branding Along with branding the product Ice Sorbets, the brand development of the product portfolio will run side by side. Some of the proposed brand development initiatives are developing online networks and communities so that the company / products can stay closer to the target audiences through listening and valuing their opinions, advertising, customer relationship building and so on.Costed Media PlanThe costed media plan and budget allocation has been carried out based upon the following tables (Table 4 and 5). The budget allocation amongst the choice of the media has been carried on the designated priority level i.e. TV adverts and print adverts gain 64% of priority whereas out door adverts get 36% of the priority.Table 4 Media plan budget CalculationTotal budget is 8 per cent of anticipated sales i.e. 5,000,000 calculated as6 per cent of anticipated sales for marketing 4,00,000 +Total budget