Review the case entitled “Chapter 9 Case: Brewing a Better World: Sustainable Supply Chain Management at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), Inc.” in the Sustainable Business Case Book. Analyze the case responding to the following questions:
Describe how GMCR was able to grow and increase profitability by selling single-cup coffee. Then discuss the significance of single-cup coffee packaging and how it relates to sustainability. Is single-cup brewing compatible with sustainability? Why or why not? Can GMCR maintain its leadership in sustainable business practice and continue to grow its single-cup coffee business?
View the following websites:
Keurig Recycling
https://news.keuriggreenmountain.com/sites/keurig.newshq.businesswire.com/files/image/additional/Recyclable_K-Cup_Fact_Sheet_June_2016.pdf
Press Release: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Introduces Smart Technology to Small Office Brewers with Launch of Keurig® Vue® Brewing System with RFID Technology
3. How does the Vue support, if at all, GMCR’s claims that its new brewer technology and its packs of plastic cup are more environmentally friendly? Is GMCR doing enough to address its environmental critiques?
4. What happens to GMCR now that its main competitor, Starbucks, is selling single-cup brewers in their stores and after its K-Cup patent expires? Will this increase the company’s reliance on sustainable business practices with Vue and other similarly focused initiatives? Within the single-cup segment of the coffee market will GMCR be able to continue to distinguish itself by its sustainability effort and can sustainability efforts contribute to future profitability and stock price appreciation?
Instructions:
Label your Word document as follows: yourlastname.docx (ex: Johnson.docx).
Use the attached, APA Word Document, template provided.
Essay format; not bullet format.
Minimum 5 full pages of content (Word Document) of strategic material (does not include cover page, abstract, nor reference pages).
All charts, graphs, pictures are to go in the appendix (not a substitute for content).
Make sure you use credible and reliable resources–5 minimum (2 peer-reviewed); format in APA.
Refrain from excessive use of quotes in your response (less than 5%).
Once you submit your document to the assignment folder it will automatically be loaded to TURNITIN.COM within the course. Your similarity scan score must be 20% or less (the following will be excluded: headers, bibliography, etc.) prior to instructor grading paper—focus on the content of scan percentage.
Plagiarism will result in an automatic zero for this assignment.
There are no late assignments accepted after the last day of the course.
