During the last years, the pharmacy market undergone major changes. Re-regulation that has been done in 2009 meant that monopoly was unlocked for competition. In a market where firms offer equivalent products, increases the importance of delivery service as competitive tool to differentiate themselves among the crowd. This also applies to pharmacy market where the supplies of goods in large way consist of equivalent products regardless of the company. This case study observes the importance of delivery service in terms of competitive tool on pharmacy market by focusing on a company’s improvement in delivery service. This study is based on an abductive research method. The data is collected by qualitative method in form of semi structured interviews and quantitative method in form of survey research. In order to investigate and analyze relevant subject, the study applies following theories: Porter five forces, logistics as a competitive tool, delivery service and its elements, improvement cycle and logistical goal mix. The conclusion of this study is that delivery service has a significant importance for the company to differentiate itself from its competitors and create competitive advantages. Between the various elements if the delivery service, the lead time is considered to be the most essential one, which is followed by delivery reliability, level of service and supply reliability. The result from the quantitative survey shows that customers have high expectations for a smooth delivery service which harmonizes with Apoteket AB's strategy to improve the delivery service.

Konkurrensen bland företag har blivit allt hårdare och det har således blivit svårare för företag att utmärka sig gentemot konkurrenter. Företag måste därför differentiera sig för att bli ihåg komna av konsumenterna, och de företag som erbjuder identiska produkter och tjänster måste arbeta än mer intensivt för att utmärka sig. Ett sätt för företag att differentiera sig är genom varumärkesdifferentiering. Av den anledningen har syftet med denna studie varit att få förståelse för i vilken utsträckning konsumenter kan urskilja företag som agerar på homogena marknader. Denna studie använde sig av teorier som har fokuserat på varumärkesdifferentiering. Brand Equity och Customer-based Brand Equity är teorier som främst ser till konsumenters varumärkesmedvetenhet, deras associationer, hur de uppfattar kvaliteten och lojaliteten de känner gentemot ett varumärke. Baserat på teorierna som användes, tillämpades huvudsakligen en kvalitativ metod. Detta då det ansågs mest lämpligt för att få en sådan djup förståelse som möjligt för fenomenet, vilket genomfördes via fokusgrupper. Däremot har även kvantitativa inslag använts genom en enkätundersökning, vilket bidrog med en övergripande insikt och hittade områden som belystes mer ingående i fokusgrupperna. Studien visade initialt att konsumenterna trodde att de kunde urskilja företag som agerar på homogena marknader och de uttryckte starka åsikter och tankar gentemot dem. Vad s omdäremot framkom i denna studie var motsatsen till detta. Slutsatser som kan dras från denna studie var att konsumenterna i själva verket var ovetande om vilket företag de faktiskt besökte och kunde därav inte urskilja dem. Vilket tyder på att konsumenter inte är kapabla till att urskilja företag som agerar på homogena marknader. Funderingar väcktes därav kring hur viktig varumärkesdifferentiering verkligen är på homogen marknader.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur lojala konsumenterna på apoteksmarknaden i Katrineholm är. Eventuella samband mellan kön och lojalitetstyp samt åldersgrupp och lojalitetstyp undersöktes även. För att uppnå syftet genomfördes en kvantitativ undersökning med hjälp av enkäter, där 240 svar samlades in. Konsumenterna delades in i de fyra lojalitetstyper som tas upp i Dick och Basus lojalitetsmodell. Analysen visar att kön inte spelar in i vilken lojalitetstyp individen tillhör. Åldersgruppstillhörighet har dock en signifikant påverkan.

<p>The aim of this thesis is, from a business perspective, to examine how the pharmacy chain Medstop is working with their positioning in order to achieve competitiveness in the re-regulated pharmacy market. This is studied through a theoretical framework that demonstrates five forces that affects the competitiveness in an industry, the five-force model by Michael Porter.</p><p>The thesis is a qualitative case study where data collection was done through interviews, literature, articles, websites and internal information from Medstop. The data was then complied into the theoretical perspective the authors have chosen for this paper, the five-force model by Michael Porter. This model was chosen because it gives a broad description of the competition a company faces by describing five different forces that affect the competition within a branch. The fact was collected on the basis of the marketing strategy positioning, and the essay is written from a business perspective.</p><p>Our cunclusions are that the pharmacy chain Medstop are in their initial positioning and has chosen to position itself on the basis of their core values; credibility, safety and security. The company believes that their customers will base their choice of pharmacy based on the geographical location and the customer experience. Customer experience is based on service and customer relations. Medstop also wants to be perceived as available to the customers and want to target customers who value a small pharmacy with good advice.</p>

The aim of this thesis is, from a business perspective, to examine how the pharmacy chain Medstop is working with their positioning in order to achieve competitiveness in the re-regulated pharmacy market. This is studied through a theoretical framework that demonstrates five forces that affects the competitiveness in an industry, the five-force model by Michael Porter. The thesis is a qualitative case study where data collection was done through interviews, literature, articles, websites and internal information from Medstop. The data was then complied into the theoretical perspective the authors have chosen for this paper, the five-force model by Michael Porter. This model was chosen because it gives a broad description of the competition a company faces by describing five different forces that affect the competition within a branch. The fact was collected on the basis of the marketing strategy positioning, and the essay is written from a business perspective. Our cunclusions are that the pharmacy chain Medstop are in their initial positioning and has chosen to position itself on the basis of their core values; credibility, safety and security. The company believes that their customers will base their choice of pharmacy based on the geographical location and the customer experience. Customer experience is based on service and customer relations. Medstop also wants to be perceived as available to the customers and want to target customers who value a small pharmacy with good advice.