FINAL: SITUATION OR SWOT ANALYSIS

'SWOT analysis is an overall evaluation of the company’s strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T). Strengths include internal capabilities, resources, positive situational factors that may help the company to serve its customers and achieve its objectives. Weaknesses include internal limitations and negative situational factors that may interfere with the company’s performance. Opportunities are favorable factors or trends in the external environment that the company may be able to exploit to its advantage. And threats are unfavorable external factors or trends that may present challenges to performance.' (book page 55)

Threats and opportunities analysis 'assesses major threats and opportunities that the product might face, helping management to anticipate important positive or negative developments that might have an impact on the firm and its strategies.' (book page 56)

The current marketing situation is 'a market description, that defines the market and major segments, then reviews customer needs and factors in the marketing environment that may affect customer purchasing.' (book page 56)

Strengths: 
New marketing campaign, new product, new taste. Interesting story line and linkage to other Phileas Fogg snack products. Some of the competing snack foods don't advertise. Having bars give out the product will win over some customers. Using social media like facebook and twitter and online ads may give an advantage over some existing products that don't use it.

Weaknesses: stiff competition from existing brands in a mature market, (the snack food market). Some customers don't like trying new things. The seaweed flavor is familiar in Japan but not in the US and other countries.

Opportunities:

The product is new so customers haven't already made up their minds as to whether or not they like it. The product will be a new, healthy alternative to traditional bar foods. 

Threats: 

There are other snack foods on the market that have been there a long time, these include potato chips, nuts, popcorn, cookies, crackers, and other snack foods. Some of the competitors have well known brands that people trust.