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Market orientation strategy for South African wineries

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African wine industry has rich traditions, human and knowledge resources
and ideal climatic conditions for producing wines. South Africa's wines ought to be a
strong contestant on the overseas market; however, this is not the case. To
complicate the matter further, the market is changing even while the South African
wine industry is attempting to understand the global scenario. Wine producers are
faced with numerous challenges: overproduction, a changing consumer demand,
increased competition between the old and new wine countries and an increased
effect of marketing and branding - all of which have an influence on the strategy
that should be followed.
This research project investigates selected South African wineries in order to
determine if their strategies, management systems and processes are geared
towards creating a globally market-oriented and competitive company. The
document will focus on the wineries' strategies and will continue to compare the
strategy to that suggested by Winetech's Vision 2020. The methodology followed
was to do a literature study of the current status of the South African wine industry,
which included looking at strategy, marketing and general information regarding the
wine industry. Top management members of five wineries were interviewed by
means of a questionnaire. The Winetech Vision 2020 document was used as a
guideline in structuring the questionnaire. The questions focused on the wineries'
wine strategy and the methods or processes the wineries are following to achieve
their strategy.
The study found that globaJisation has seen the power of buyers increasing to the
point where it is forcing suppliers to change the way they do business - that is to
become market-oriented. External forces have forced the wine industry to take a
stringent look at itself and how it conducts business; as how it can, in fact, deliver
consistent quality brands cost-effectively. Globalisation forced the industry to see
that, though it may have many strengths such as good human capital, terroir,
technology, good winemaking practices, established brands and innovative products,
there are some weaknesses, namely inconsistent quality of product and service, lack
Designing a market orien8iion for South African Wineries
of marketing and business expertise and a lack of finance, which can potentially
harm or threaten its business in the global arena.
South Africa will have to make some adaptations to satisfy the market demand. This
will require, among other things, changing vineyards to include more premium
varietals and red wines and being innovative regarding new products and new
markets. Besides focusing on the domestic market, the industry will have clearly to
understand the segment it is serving to be able to deliver exactly what it demands.
The industry has seen some positive changes and is definitely starting to move
towards producing what the market demands, which, combined with the favourable
exchange rate, is one of the reasons why exports are increasing. On the other hand,
there still seems to be a lack of quality regarding distribution and logistics,
marketing, finance, government support, human capital and a strong South African
brand.
Recommendations are made as to how quality can be sustained on all levels of the
value chain. This means that strong strategic change management is required to
offer consistent quality of product and service - the underlying factors in the creation
of a sustainable, globally competitive brand. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse wynindustrie het ryk tradisies, menslike bronne en kennisbronne
en die ideale klimaat vir die produksie van wyn. Suid-Afrikaanse wyn behoort 'n baie
sterk kompeteerder op die internasionale mark te wees en tog is dit nie die geval nie.
Die situasie word gekompliseer deur die feit dat die mark besig is om te verander
terwyl die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie probeer om die globale scenario te verstaan.
Wynprodusente staar vele uitdagings in die gesig naamlik: oorproduksie, 'n
verbruikers aanvraag wat verander, verhoogde kompetisie tussen die ou en nuwe
wynlande en die verhoogde effek van bemarking en handelsmerke.
Hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek geselekteerde Suid-Afrikaanse wynverkopers om
vas te stel of hulle strategiee, bestuursisteme en prosesse gerat is om 'n firma te
vestig wat globaal markgerig en kompeterend is. Die dokument fokus op die
wynverkopers se strategie and vergelyk dit met dit wat voorgestel word in die
Winetech Visie 2020 dokument. Die metodologie wat gevolg is, was om 'n
literatuurstudie te doen oor die huidige stand van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynindustrie -
dit sluit in om te kyk na strategie, bemarking en algemene inligting aangaande die
bedryf. Daama is daar onderhoude gevoer met die topbestuur van vyf wynverkopers
na aanleiding van 'n vraeboog wat gestruktureer is rondom die Winetech Visie 2020
dokument. Die vrae het gefokus op die wynverkopers se strategie en die metodes
wat gevolg word om hulle strategie te bereik.
Die studie het bevind dat globalisering die mag van verkopers so sterk gemaak het
dat dit verskaffers forseer om te kyk na die manier waarop hulle besigheid doen -
om markgerig te raak. Eksterne kragte het die wynindustrie forseer om nousluitend
te kyk na hoe hulle besigheid doen; na hoe hulle handelsmerke met konstante
kwaliteit koste effektief kan lewer. Globalisering het die industrie forseer om te sien
dat, hoewel dit baie sterk punte, 5005 menslike kapitaal, terroil; tegnologie, goeie
wynmaakprosesse, gevestigde handelsmerke en innoverende produkte, het, daar oak
bale swakhede is. Dit sluit in onkonsekwente kwaliteit in beide die produk en diens,
De.o;fgning a market orientation for South African Wineries
'n tekort aan finansiele ondersteuning en bemarkings- en besigheidskundigheid.
Hierdie swakhede bedreig tans hulle besigheid in die internasional mark.
Suid-Afrika sal 'n paar aanpassings moet maak am die mark se aanvraag te bevredig.
Dit sluit in am wingerde te verander am meer premium varieteite en raoi wyne in te
sluit en innoverend te wees rakende produkte en markte. Behalwe dat hulle sal
moet fokus op die binnelandse mark, sal die industrie ook moet leer am die
segmente wat hulle bedien deeglik te verstaan am sodoende te kan lewer wat die
segmente vra. Die industrie het al positiewe verandering ondergaan sedert 1997 en
is besig am te begin produseer wat die mark vra. Laasgenoemde, in kombinasie met
die gunstige wisselkoers, is die rede waaram uitvoere aan die toeneem is. Aan die
ander kant is daar steeds 'n tekort aan kwaliteit rakende verspreiding, logistieke,
bemarking, finansies, regeringsondersteuning en 'n sterk Suid-Afrikaanse
handelsmerk.
Die aanbevelings wat gemaak is, dui aan hoe kwaliteit op aile vlakke van die
waardeketting volgehou kan word . . Dit dui oak aan dat sterk strategiese bestuur
nodig is om konstante kwaliteit te verseker in die praduk en diens - die

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/21216
Date12 1900
CreatorsLochner, Anelda
ContributorsLoubser, Stephanus, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
RightsStellenbosch University

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