Part
01
of thirteen
Part
01
Gourmet Garden
Column C, rows 3-7 of the attached spreadsheet have been completed with the requested information. A competitive advantage for Gourmet Garden is its use of patented technology to extend the shelf life of its herbs. One strength for the company is that it owns a herb preparation facility in Palmwoods that uses patented processes to prep herbs within 18 hours after harvesting. A weakness for Gourmet Garden is that some of its products are highly-priced, making customers feel like they are being ripped off.
Value Proposition
- The value proposition for Gourmet Garden is in offering "herbs that stay fresh for weeks with no waste, so one can have a herb garden ready when they need it every day."
Competitive Advantage
- One competitive advantage for Gourmet Garden is the use of patented technology, including Eva Fresh to prolong the "shelf life of fresh herbs, through refrigeration, without heating, or cooking them."
- The company also partners with trusted suppliers to use only non-GMO ingredients in formulating and processing products.
- Gourmet Garden works with dedicated farmers to sustainably and organically grow herbs, using optimum conditions discovered through years of research. This includes the growing of herb varieties with the best flavor and oils, using GPS systems to sow and water herbs, and the use of optimal growing and harvesting times.
Strengths
- Gourmet Garden owns temperature-controlled vehicles that deliver harvested herbs to its processing facility within 8 hours of leaving farms.
- The company also operates a herb preparation facility in Palmwoods that is accredited by independent quality auditing agencies. The facility uses patented processes to wash, chop, and prepare herbs within 18 hours after harvesting, preserving the natural essential oils in the herbs, and maximizing their fresh flavor and aroma.
- Gourmet Garden has an excellent distribution network of dedicated distributors, merchandisers, and supermarket partners who coordinate to ensure that customers receive quality herbs and spices, no matter the season.
Weaknesses
- According to product reviews, Gourmet Garden products are often out of stock, inconveniencing customers. Also, the prices for Gourmet Garden products are high, and some customers thought that the quantity was small for the price charged. Some customers felt that they were being ripped off and that it was cheaper to grow their own.