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The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The color purple by Alice Walker, it’s a novel which discusses and narrates issues concerning gender inequalities, discrimination and racism within a community based in South America, in the early 1900’s. The main character in the novel “Celie” is a young black woman abused and violated by close members of her family such as, his father and his husband. In this case the novel raised questions to readers of the novel, making them eager wanting to know why didn’t “Celie” tell her mother what his father was doing to her? Another question triggered to readers is; did Celie really do what she was doing to protect her sister or was she doing this for herself?, this is understood differently by each reader who gets to read the novel, of which in my opinion I see it as a protective and caring way of her, to her sister.

The novel talks about the life of Celie as when she was a teenager at the age of fourteen, who is living a very harsh environment, which is full of racism and discrimination. Her mother is suffering from an illness, which because of that she frequently visits the doctor, of which when she does the visiting; Celie is left alone with Fonso her father back at home. Fonso takes full advantage of Celie’s mother’s absence and rapes Celie.

After struggling with her illness for long Celie’s mother dies, and Fonso takes full advantage of Celie’s mother absence and takes chances to rape Celie more and more often, saying “You gonna do what your mammy wouldn’t” (pg.1).

After the continuous rapes Celie is impregnated by her father and has two children by her father, both of which are brutally taken away right after they are born by Fonso. Celie because of her ignorance assumes that he has taken the children into the woods and killed them, but actually and later Celie came to figure out from the help of her sister that Fonso sold her children. Fonso eventually remarries after Celie’s mother death, and Celie is a resemblance of guilty conscious to him, he decides to get rid of her and the guilty feelings, he is forced to be married by her father to a man who is only described as Mr. in the novel.

The life of Celie does not transform with Mr. It’s described that her life does not change from what he had been with from her father. Mr. feels that the only way to keep a woman in her place is to beat her. Celie’s sister, Nettie, is the only person that Celie has ever truly cared, loved and trusted, runs away from Fonso and comes to live with Celie and Mr. Nettie in the novel is described to be beautiful than Celie which makes her more attractive to men. Mr. finds her very eye-catching and tries in any way to seduce Nettie, but Nettie cleverly ignores and stays away from him. Mr. is embarrassed by Nettie’s neglecting him and decides to send her away from the house. Before they Nettie leaves she promised to write letters to Celie. Nettie keeps her promise by sending Celie letters, which Celie never gets to; see them because Mr. Intercepts and hides the letters before Celie can get a glimpse of them. Celie’s ignorance makes her lose interest of the letters and assumes that Nettie must be dead.

During a visit to the South part of the Country Shug Avery, who is a blues musician, falls ill. She has no real home which is a result of her lifestyle, it ends up Shug Avery is hosted by a long time friend who is Mr.

Celie takes care of Shug and helps her back to her health, Celie finds herself falling in love with Shug, Shug decides that she will help Celie back to emotional health which leads to both of them having a homosexual relationship. Shug is now healthy and decides to go and get letters from the mailbox later for her to find out that there is a letter for Celie which has been sent to her from Nettie, Celie is overjoyed to realize that is still alive and good in health. Later Celie and Shug come to realize that a bunch of letters were hidden from her by Mr. as Celie read the letters she realizes that Nettie joined a Christian missionary group that has gone to Africa to spread Christianity. Nettie describes and confronts Celie that the missionaries who are leading them, have two children of which Nettie thinks that they are Celie’s children. She also writes that the man who they thought was their father actually was their stepfather. She goes ahead and explains to Celie that their real father died at an early age and they moved in with another family.

The letters makes Celie relieved that her two children were not born out of incest and hope that they are not dead. Celie is incredibly happy to learn that her sister and her two children are still alive, but on the other side she is also sad and fiercely angry with Mr. for keeping the letters from her. The anger finally gives her the courage to stand up to Mr. when Mr. Attempts to slap her she stabs him with a knife. Then she decides to leave Mr., and move with Shug to Memphis. Mr. terrorizes Celie saying “you will leave over my dead body”, and Celie responds with buoyancy. “It’s time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body is just the welcome mat I need” (p. 207).

In Memphis, Celie starts a new business sewing pants. With the help of Shug she becomes very successful. Shug later leaves falls for a nineteen-year-old boy named Germaine. Shug then leaves Celie to go and live with Germaine, so does Celie’s happiness leave her.

Fonso, the man who claimed to be Celie’s father, dies and leaves Celie to inherit his house. Celie moves in and continues her pants-making business there. Celie eventually becomes friends with Mr., who has malformed her behaviors since Celie’s departure. He has learned about a great logic of absurdity in life and love since Celie left him, and near the end of the novel he declares that: “I start to wonder why us need love. Why us suffer. Why us black. Why us men and women. Where do children really come from? It didn’t take long to realize I didn’t hardly know nothing…The more I wonder, the more I love.” (p. 289)

Celie is develops a friendship with Mr., but decides that she can never love a man again and believes that love will never be back in her life. But then her sister Nettie returns from Africa with her two children. They are reunited, and Celie feels a happiness and love that she has never before experienced. Celie’s final letter to God states that, despite her old age, “I think this the youngest us ever felt” (p. 295).

The major themes behind Alice Walker’s novel the Color Purple is as listed below.

Epistolary

The use of letters in the novel can be described or related to an epistolary novel, this can be experienced by how the letters written to God and to her sister Nettie. The color purple is narrated by a number of diary entries and letters, that’s why it’s described as an epistolary novel. Behind the novel lie the advantages and disadvantages of such structures and for the novel in particular?

The author of the book “Alice Walker” tried to put the novel in a way that the readers may see and understand the novel in their own point of view. One can realize that without the use of epistolary in the novel the story and theme of the novel would have sounded differently.

Vulgarity, violence, racism and discrimination

From the introduction of the novel one can realize that vulgarity, violence, racism and discrimination are being experienced by Celie who is the main character. The main questions which puzzled me after reading the novel were; what is the main reason of vulgarity, violence, racism and discrimination in the novel? Is it unfair to use these words when describing the novel? Were the readers supposed to notice the agony of the characters in the novel and understand their life situation? And what were the intensions or message of the author trying to convey?

Black Women were being mistreated and applied as animals in that era, as the novels describes them, as to the likes of Sofia and Celie experience a life of brutality and mistreat from their husbands.

Vulgarity is practiced by many of the characters in the novel, one of the characters who practice this is, Shug Avery who is full of vulgar “as seen on page 116 listed of referring to sex by making love.” Another case where this is experienced is when Celie is being raped by her father this is well elaborated in page 161, through the following excerpt. “He starts to choke me saying you better shut up and get used to it, or I will kill your mama.”

Violence can be seen from the very first beginning of the novel where Fonso denies Celie’s right by raping her, this continues not only for Celie but also to several other members of the community who are being violated in different ways.

Racism is experienced and well elaborated in the novel, an example is when Celie was in a store and the white sales man asked her to walk out. This simply shows how uncouth the white salesman was to a black woman.

Discrimination in my own point of view I can suggest that it’s the main idea behind the Color Purple. This is experienced in the author’s real life and tries to relate her story to the novel, except that the novel is fiction. The novel tries to make the readers picture and imagine their selves being in an environment where discrimination is a common thing and is experienced by almost everyone. The novel also shows how women were being mistreated and applied as slaves, a good example is of what Sofia and Celie go through in life under the brutality and mistreat from their husbands.

Ignorance and irresponsible is the chemistry that builds Celie as the main character using the sense of ignorance and irresponsibility as a form of protection to herself, she ignores sharing her story to the public not even her mother, being afraid of what her father will do to her. The weaker afraid part of her makes her ignorant, irresponsible and also turning her into a slave to the people around her. The way she accepts her father to take her children away after birth shows how irresponsible she is, not being concerned of where her children are by assuming that they are dead.

Rape was the main exploitation to women from men which made them feel unprotected, this can be seen where Celie is raped by her father and also when Mr. tried to rape Nettie. Is most evidenced in the general outline of the book. Celie who is the main character undergoes various stages of rape in her life. As a young child, her father rapes and at the same time threatens her. Also Mr. Who is Celie’s husband carries out rape thinking that its love making, he doesn’t consider Celie feelings, even though she is not in the right mood. (This is shown in page 81, “he did not consider Celie’s bandage on her lead during intercourse”.) When Squeak discovers the warden is her Uncle and on approaching for assistance, so that they can free Sofia. She ends up being raped in order for Sofia’s release. This is also experienced when Mr. tried an attempt to rape Nettie.

Oppression and brutality is a dominant theme in this novel. Celie’s father exhibits brutality by raping her daughter. Brutality of his father is also exercised when Celie’s two children are taken from her by Fonso and sold in the market, soon after giving birth which makes her think that they are dead. Mr. also indicates brutality by beating up Celie, frequently and also forcing her to have sex. Both white men and black men practice brutality since they take advantage of defenseless black women. Sofia also faces oppression and brutality, when she declined taking up the job that the mayor had offered, she is beaten up and imprisoned and put as a slave in the house hold. Celie has shown an element of jealousy and brutality. This is when Harpo who is Mr.’s son gets married to Sofia and Sofia starts becoming a thorn in his flesh and Celie advices him to beat her up. Nettie also experiences brutality when she is thrown out of Mr.’s house only because he refused to be seduced by him.

Troubled relationship experience infidelity in the novel. It shows how men were not faithful and committed to their relationships; one can see that Mr. beats his wife Celie which directly shows that the relationship between them is not doing well. Marriages in this novel are brought out as institutions of oppression, mistrust and infidelity. Mr. beats Celie up and has also infidelity issues. Harpo’s marriage experiences infidelity, this can be seen when Sofia left Harpo, Harpo gets married to Squeak, even though Sofia has a few Children, Harpo lets her go. Sofia is also involved in cheating on Harpo because when she returns back home, she has six children instead of five meaning the sixth child is not Harpo’s child. Mr. who is Celie’s husband clearly shows lack moral and infidelity, when she seduces Nettie who is Celie’s sister.

Values of the color purple explain and show how Celie was motivated and inspired by Nettie and Shug Avery’s and lifestyle. This tackles and challenges the sense of thinking of readers pushing and making them curious to know the chemistry on how Nettie and Shug Avery inspired Celie to change her style of living, to become a successful woman.

Work Cited

Blackman, Andrew. Celie’s Characteristics. 17, Feb 2010. 25 Feb 2011

<http://andrewblackman.net/2009/06/the-color-purple-by-alice-walker/>

Bookrags. Faith and believe of Celie. 2009-2010. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.bookrags.com/notes/tcp/PART1.html>

Beaulieu, Andrea. Negative comments on the novel. 1, Feb. 2001. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/alice-walker.html>

Harcourt. The Color Purple. 2006. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.harcourtbooks.com/colorpurple/teacherguide.asp>

Lewis, Jone Johnson. The life of Alice Walker. 2007. 25 Feb 2011

<http://womenshistory.about.com/od/alicewalker/a/alice_walker.htm>

Nicole. The life of Celie. 11, Aug, 2010. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.linussblanket.com/color-purple-alice-walker/>

Paperstater. The Color Purple. 2007. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.paperstarter.com/colorpurple.htm>

Renoir,Gabrielle . Gender inequality. 3 Jan 2011. 25 Feb 2011

<http://literarycornercafe.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-review-color-purple-by-alice.htmlSparknotes. Summary of the Color Purple by Alice Walker. 2011. 25 Feb 2011

<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/purple/summary.htmlThe Color Purple. Fri 29 May 1998. 25 Feb 2011

< http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/purple.html>

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The color purple of Alice Walker has enormous historical and social significance in a 30-year range of periods and movements including the Harlem Renaissance, the progressive developments in both civil and female rights, the destruction by European businesses of rich African civilizations, and the start of World War II. In the course of the life of a person, prominent social problems and their historical relevance are encountered through a certain evolution, as new problems arise with every new age. Miss Celie’s life, a poor southern black woman, evolves from the early to the middle of the 1900s with issues of historic importance. In a period of recent abolition of the practice of slavery, Walker uses Celie as a sign of what it was meant to grow and develop in the US. In one way, Celie represents an entire population of black women, who had suffered abuse, when they began to fight for their rights, find their pride and worth. Walker, on the other hand, also uses Nettie’s journey to show that White Europeans pursue power and wealth in the appalling destruction of African cultureADDIN CSL_CITATION {“citationItems”:[{“id”:”ITEM-1″,”itemData”:{“DOI”:”10.2307/1208336″,”ISSN”:”00107484″,”author”:[{“dropping-particle”:””,”family”:”Proudfit”,”given”:”Charles L.”,”non-dropping-particle”:””,”parse-names”:false,”suffix”:””}],”container-title”:”Contemporary Literature”,”id”:”ITEM-1″,”issue”:”1″,”issued”:{“date-parts”:[[“1991″,”11″,”30″]]},”page”:”12″,”publisher”:”Gale”,”title”:”Celie’s Search for Identity: A Psychoanalytic Developmental Reading of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple””””

black Americans have also been curiously lacking in education. The beginning of Celie’s life was drastically affected by all these problems. Her stepfather bothered her and severely got her free

Celie grew up to be a strong woman. The importance of monumental societies and political events in an individual life can be demonstrated by this historical moment of women’s suffrage in full alignment with the Celie narrative. In the same way

Nettie[would like to know how the world works. As missionaries

The Closure of Luby’s Cafeteria

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The Closure of Luby’s Cafeteria

Introduction

Running an organization has never been easy, and 2020 proved a yet more challenging year for many businesses presenting new business owners with unprecedented set of challenges. Just like other businesses, Luby’s Cafeteria found itself struggling to stay afloat following the emergence of the global novel coronavirus pandemic. In September 2020, the company announced its decision to close down. Its mother company Luby’s Inc., later announced in December that it sold its Fuddruckers locations to a franchise before completely dissolving the company.

Company Overview

Founded in 1947, Luby’s Cafeteria is a public company that held the spot of the largest chain cafeteria across America. The company started from a small cafeteria in downtown Antonio and expanded fast since then beginning with Texas and then other states in the Southern states. It went on to become labeled the most profitable cafeteria chain in the America. In 1996, Luby’s Cafeteria had 147 units in Texas, ten in Tennessee, 12 in Arizona, nine in Oklahoma, four in Kansas, New Mexico, and Florida, two in Louisiana, three in Mississippi, and one in Missouri. Unlike other restaurants, Luby’s never franchised its outlets but compensates every unit manager with generous profits from their designated outlets (Lankford, 2020). Luby’s Cafeteria abides by the motto of “Good food from people.” By offering family style, freshly-prepared served in attractive settings and served at reasonable prices. The restaurant primarily caters to office and store personnel during lunch hours, shoppers and families during dinner meals. The restaurant does not offer breakfast meals. The units are usually about 10,000 to 11, 000 square feet and can accommodate approximately 300 individuals. They are found in business and shopping developments and residential areas.

Besides its down-home style, Luby’s Cafeteria has a stellar financial record. The company led its publicly-held competitors when it came to benchmarks in earnings, sales, average sales per unit and return on average equity. Luby’s has paid consecutive quarterly dividends and increased dividends each year since 1965. Except a brief time in late 1970s, Luby’s did not have a long-term debts in its balance sheet. The company’s growth is financed from periodic stock offerings, internal cash flow, and on occasion, short-term credit lines from banks. According to Forbes magazine, Luby’s individual unit managers and executives have tried to stick with what they know and have done so brilliantly. According to the magazine, compared to its competitors in the cafeteria business, such as Piccadilly and Morrison’s Bishop’s/Furr’s, none of them cuts a better hog when it comes to returning on equity. The company’s roots run through America’s social, political and economic history starting with the first unit until the twentieth century where its success lies. Despite being incorporated in 1959, the cafeteria’s history was planted when Harry Luby, a clothes merchant made a business trip to Chicago, Illinois from his hometown in Springfield, Missouri in 1909. Here, Luby got captivated by the new restaurant types where patrons collected food items from a counter to the dining tables. Luby immediately recognized that the restaurant used a then-emerging concept of assembly lines and mass production in the line of business. After two years, Luby started a similar business in Springfield, Missouri.

Aspects of Luby’s Cafeteria Failure

The main factor that pushed Luby’s Cafeteria to its collapse was the emergence of the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Luby’s Cafeteria was not suited to survive the pandemic. The restaurant used a cafeteria style that made social distancing more difficult to execute (Davahli, M. Karwowski, Sonmez, & Apostolopoulos, 2020). Notably, Luby’s was already struggling financially for years by the time the pandemic hit, which also fuelled its decision to close down. The devastating effects of the pandemic push Luby’s to wind down its operations and dissolve its business. It closed and shut down company-owned locations of two chains. As of 26th April 2021, Luby’s owned 11 locations and meanwhile, 83 franchised Fuddrukers units were operational and could be seen in 25 states mostly in Midwest and the South.

Unfortunately, the dissolution marked the end of the road for the Cafeteria’s locations as they were fully company-owned. For seven decades, the brand served famous LuAnn platters and southern-style comfort food. ABC13 noted the Luby’s cafeteria ceased majority of its operations in restaurants by the end of August 2021 fiscal year. Worth noting, Luby once owned a Cheeseburger located in Paradise, the last which closed in September. Additionally, Luby’s rights to Koo Koo Roo brand whose specialty was charbroiled chicken sold to a third party that was independent. In June 2021, when the company made it public that it was seeking buyers for portions or all its businesses, the company did not get any offers that were acceptable. However, its CEO Chris Pappas mentioned that the dissolution strategy left enough paths for flexibility making it possible for Luby’s Fuddruckers to be possible buyers. After a month, it was discovered that Pappas may be the savior of the renowned chains. The executive entered into an agreement with either Luby’s Cafeteria to review the company’s financials. Rumors had swirled that he could potentially buy the enterprise with the partnership of his brother, Harris Pappas. However, the deal did not materialize and Chris Pappas resigned as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Strategic Plan To Rebrand and Revive Luby’s Cafeteria

To revive and restore the glory that Luby’s Cafeteria had enjoyed for many years, there is a need to make a few changes in branding and online presence. The main reason why the cafeteria closed down in the first place is because of the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, the World Health Organization guidelines of social distancing made it impossible for the restaurant to carry out business as usual (Olteanu, 2020). For the business to perform well, there is need to rebrand the entire business. This includes giving it a new brand identity. The first step would be investing in new brand identity. This includes coming up with a new name for the business, tagline, logo, theme colors, outlet design, and even the menu. It is important to invest in the above-mentioned elements as the visibility and reputation of the restaurant will only be as good as the brand name. Another strategy would be rethinking their mode of delivery. As opposed to only offering cafeteria-style dining experiences, the new owners should venture into online delivery services. The strategy would go a long way in pushing the cafeteria’s sales, being that the primary reason it shut down was due to the pandemic. Online deliveries are viable as they would minimize congestion in the physical outlets making adherence to covid-19 social distancing regulations viable.

Conclusion

In closing, Texas-founded Luby’s Cafeteria is an example of a organization that shut down recently. After many years of service to the Americans, the company announced the decision to shut down its doors to the world in September 2020. The primary reason behind the collapse of Luby’s Cafeteria was the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic. Being that the physical units are average in size, adhering the social distancing protocols became difficult, leading to the decision to close the company. This coupled with prolonged periods of financial struggle led to the closure of Luby’s Cafeteria. In the future, businesses should be flexible enough to adjust to the changing nature and needs of their target clients.

References

Davahli, M. R., Karwowski, W., Sonmez, S., & Apostolopoulos, Y. (2020). The hospitality industry in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: Current topics and research methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7366.

Lankford, A. (2020). The importance of analyzing public mass shooters separately from other attackers when estimating the prevalence of their behavior worldwide. Econ Journal Watch, 17(1), 40.

Olteanu, L. (2020). Rebranding strategies and their boomerang effect—The curious case of Burberry. The Journal of World Intellectual Property, 23(5-6), 777-797.

entered Celie’s life during the Harlem Renaissance

Coca-Cola Company

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Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is an American company with multiple branches worldwide making it a multinational beverage corporation, manufacturer, retailer and marketer of nonalcoholic beverage syrups and concentrates. Coca-Cola is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and is famous for its product Coca-Cola which was introduced in 1886. Coca-Cola was introduced by a pharmacist John Smith Pembert in 1886. In 1889 the Coca-Cola formula was introduced by Asa Griggs Candler who later incorporated the company. Since 1889 Coca-Cola has operated a franchise business or distribution system. The company was incorporated on 5 September, 1919. This company is own licenses to market more than 500 brands on non-alcoholic beverages. These beverages include a variety of sparkling beverages, juices, drinks and enhanced waters. Along with the above brands, the company owns a market range of non-alcoholic sparkling brands of beverages which are the Coca-Cola itself, Fanta, diet coke and sprite. Coca-Cola is listed in NYSE and is part of DJIA, S&P 500 index. The reigning Coca-Cola chairman is Mr. Muhtar Kent. As at December 2013, Coca-Cola had a total of 130,600 employees. Coca-Cola is a multinational company with branches and sub-branches all over the world. Its segments are Eurasia and Africa, Latin America, Europe, North America, Pacific, Bottling investments and Corporate. The company is characterized with great achievements and success with the recent achievements being the acquisition of the Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company in the Great Plains of the Unites States in December 30, 2011. It also acquired the remaining interest in Honest Tea, Inc, and Great Plains in the year ended December 31, 2011. CITATION Dab13 l 1033 (Dabbagh, 2013) Other achievements are the acquisition of the additional interests in Coca-Cola Central Japan Company in the central district of Japan in December 2011. Other acquisitions were in September 2012 when it acquired an estimated 50 % equity of Aujan Industries’ business of beverages. That was followed by the announcements of Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Company that it had been fully acquired by the company in January 2013 and from February 22, 2013 the company acquired interest in Fresh Trading Company Ltd. It also acquired the ownership interest in ZICO beverages LLC in November 2013.

Coca-Cola manufactures markets and sells the concentrates of beverages. These are also known as syrups, bases which include fountain syrups still beverages which are finished sparkling. There are also bottling partners who buy the concentrates for fountain beverages. Coca-Cola sells many sparkling beverages like juices drinks, juices, sport drinks, energy drinks, teas and coffee of ready to drink nature, and specific water products. These are always sold to the retailers and distributors, bottling partners, and wholesalers who the n are tasked with distributing them to the retailers. This is always done outside United States. In the US, the company sells the fountain syrups to fountain retailers after manufacturing them. These retailers may include restaurants and large convenient stores that are capable of producing beverages for immediate consumption out of the fountain syrups. It also sells to its bottling partners that are tasked with reselling the syrups to the retailers and also some authorized fountain Wholesalers. CITATION Dab13 l 1033 (Dabbagh, 2013)

In the Latin American countries like Brazil, the company, Coca-Cola manufactures markets and sells brands like Leao/ Matte Leao teas. It however does so in a joint venture with its bottling partners. The year 2011 saw the company increase its sales in the Latin American countries when it introduced a variety of Brands, Brand extensions, and Beverage products. Brands such as Frigos Sabores Caserao were introduces. In the Pacific Fanta which is a sparkling fruit flavored beverage was introduced especially in Malaysia and Singapore. In Vietnam there was an introduction of Real Leaf which was a green tea based beverage. There was also introduction of the three flavor variant of the Georgia Emerald Mountain Ready to drink coffee Beverage and Burn Intense in South Korea. Powerade was launched by the Europe group in Norway, Denmark, France, and Sweden. Other brands that were launched were Cappy pulpy in Turkey and Fanta Powder in India by the Eurasia Group. In the East African market the company launched soft drinks like Schweppes Novida, and Malta drink. There was also introduction of cappy fruit bite in Egypt and Schweppes Gold Malta drink in Ghana. With the introduction of this major brand across the world the company was able to make approximate sales of 26.7 billion unit cases for its products.

The core products of the company are sparkling beverages such as the famous Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, diet coke, among others. The company waters are Dasani, ice dew, Ciel among others.

Coca-Cola Company is in direct competition with Pepsi Company Inc, Nestle, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Groupe Danone, Uniliver and Kraft Foods among others. Pepsi Co is the company’s major competitor within the beverage and food space. Coca-Cola is an unmatched global leader in its industry with a total of 500 carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. It has a global bottling operations and distribution channels worldwide. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have for years been engaged in rivalry over the market share as well as brand recognition. Pepsi on the other hand has the following advantages and strengths over the Coca-Cola Company: it has a consistent track record of balanced revenue generation and reinvesting in brands it also enjoys strong brand recognition as it is the number two player in the global beverage industry and a global leader in Salty snacks. This can be seen by its ownership of the two wellness and health brands, the famous Tropicana and Gatorade. Another advantage that the company has over its rival the Coca-Cola is the ability to sell both snacks and beverages that are complements in the food category. Pepsi is a threat to the Coca-Cola because of its operation in Canada, Russia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. It also has very strong and emerging markets of like India, and China. There is huge role in the company’s played by product innovation. This can be seen through the regular creation of flavors from the existing products as well as maintenance of robust pipeline of the products. However the company’s North American market has been showing sluggish results because of the rising costs of raw materials which hurt the company’s margins.

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In Thousands (Except Share Data)

 

      Dec. 29,2013      Dec. 30,2012  

ASSETS   

Current assets:       Cash and cash equivalents    $ 11,761       $ 10,399   

Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance for doubtful accountsof $1,401 and $1,490, respectively      105,610         103,524   

Accounts receivable from The Coca-Cola Company      17,849         15,521   

Accounts receivable, other      15,136         12,876   

Inventories      61,987         65,924   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets      26,872         33,068   

                 

Total current assets      239,215         241,312   

                 

Property, plant and equipment, net      302,998         307,467   

Leased property under capital leases, net      48,981         54,150   

Other assets      58,560         53,801   

Franchise rights      520,672         520,672   

Goodwill      102,049         102,049   

Other identifiable intangible assets, net      3,681         4,023   

                 

Total assets    $ 1,276,156       $ 1,283,474  

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     Dec. 29,2013     Dec. 30,2012  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   

Current liabilities:      Current portion of debt    $ 20,000      $ 20,000   

Current portion of obligations under capital leases      5,939        5,230   

Accounts payable, trade      43,579        51,651   

Accounts payable to The Coca-Cola Company      25,869        27,830   

Other accrued liabilities      77,622        75,113   

Accrued compensation      31,753        32,428   

Accrued interest payable      4,054        4,060   

                

Total current liabilities      208,816        216,312   

                

Deferred income taxes      153,408        140,965   

Pension and postretirement benefit obligations      90,599        140,719   

Other liabilities      125,791        118,303   

Obligations under capital leases      59,050        64,351   

Long-term debt      378,566        403,386   

                

Total liabilities      1,016,230        1,084,036   

                

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)      Equity:      Convertible Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value:Authorized-50,000 shares; Issued-None      Nonconvertible Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value:Authorized-50,000 shares; Issued-None      Preferred Stock, $.01 par value:Authorized-20,000,000 shares; Issued-None      Common Stock, $1.00 par value:Authorized-30,000,000 shares; Issued-10,203,821 shares      10,204        10,204   

Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value:Authorized-10,000,000 shares; Issued-2,737,076 and 2,716,956 shares, respectively      2,735        2,715   

Class C Common Stock, $1.00 par value:Authorized-20,000,000 shares; Issued-None      Capital in excess of par value      108,942        107,681   

Retained earnings      188,869        170,439   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss      (58,176 )      (94,526 ) 

                

     252,574        196,513   

                

Less-Treasury stock, at cost:      Common Stock-3,062,374 shares      60,845        60,845   

Class B Common Stock-628,114 shares      409        409   

                

Total equity of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated      191,320        135,259   

Non-controlling interest      68,606        64,179   

                

Total equity      259,926        199,438   

                

Total liabilities and equity    $ 1,276,156      $ 1,283,474   

Consolidated Balance Sheet

PepsiCo, Inc. and Subsidiaries

December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012

(in millions except per share amounts)

  2013   2012 ASSETS      

Current Assets      

Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,375   $ 6,297 Short-term investments 303   322 Accounts and notes receivable, net 6,954   7,041 Inventories 3,409   3,581 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,162   1,479 Total Current Assets 22,203   18,720 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 18,575   19,136 Amortizable Intangible Assets, net 1,638   1,781 Goodwill 16,613   16,971 Other nonamortizable intangible assets 14,401   14,744 Nonamortizable Intangible Assets 31,014   31,715 Investments in Noncontrolled Affiliates 1,841   1,633 Other Assets 2,207   1,653 Total Assets $ 77,478   $ 74,638        

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      

Current Liabilities      

Short-term obligations $ 5,306   $ 4,815 Accounts payable and other current liabilities 12,533   11,903 Income taxes payable —   371 Total Current Liabilities 17,839   17,089 Long-Term Debt Obligations 24,333   23,544 Other Liabilities 4,931   6,543 Deferred Income Taxes 5,986   5,063 Total Liabilities 53,089   52,239 Commitments and contingencies   Preferred Stock, no par value 41   41 Repurchased Preferred Stock (171 )   (164 )

PepsiCo Common Shareholders’ Equity      

Common stock, par value 12/3¢ per share (authorized 3,600 shares, issued, net of repurchased common stock at par value: 1,529 and 1,544 shares, respectively) 25   26 Capital in excess of par value 4,095   4,178 Retained earnings 46,420   43,158 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,127 )   (5,487 )

Repurchased common stock, in excess of par value (337 and 322 shares, respectively) (21,004 )   (19,458 )

Total PepsiCo Common Shareholders’ Equity 24,409   22,417 Noncontrolling interests 110   105 Total Equity 24,389   22,399 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 77,478   $ 74,638 (Penzkofer, 2013)

Bothe companies looks financially sound with good profit margins. Coca-Cola is showing much more improved margins than the Pepsi. However its revenues are showing decreasing trends which calls for action. The company should be more concerned in increasing its revenues and decreasing its debts. Pepsi on the other hand is showing decreasing liabilities which is a good gesture. Its revenues are also decreasing but at a very slight level and therefore acts as a wakeup call for the company to increase on its revenues. The total debts of Pepsi is decreasing and that

Given the above information and the recent management of Pepsi and Coca-Cola company, we can dig into the absolute performance of the companies. The following graphs can help explain the position of the Pepsi Co, inc. and Coca-Cola Company (McGowan,2014).

From the chat, we can clearly see that Coca-Cola’s performance outstrips the performance of Pepsi by over 30%. This performance is as a result of the investment community concern towards the change in Pepsi’s corporate strategy towards health, wellness awareness that is enthusiasm for the company and looks to be unfounded.( Zach Investment Research)

It is not something new unique that Pepsi has been on the rise and winning the war against Coca-Cola in the New York Stock Exchange. However individuals are still clinging towards Coca-Cola when purchasing. People think that there is something else entirely to Pepsi than to Cola. Pepsi has also gained customer loyalty with many seeing only Pepsi on the shelves. With a combination of Beverage and Snack business, Pepsi is definitely a force to closely watch.

Fortunately for PepsiCo, more than 40% of its incomes originated from salt not sugar based things. Snacks promoted under Frito-Lay brands represent more than 60% of American salty nibble utilization. The organization likewise has Good-For-You and Better-For-You portfolios with lower fat and expanded nourishment alternatives that incorporate a few Quaker brands sustenance for wellbeing clients. According to Yahoo finance, with return of about 19% not long from now, PepsiCo’s profits have bested Coca-Cola’s 9% year-to-date execution. At that point it was reported that restaurant network Buffalo Wild Wings has exchanged beverage suppliers from Coca-Cola to Pepsi, planning to profit from the letters’ ties with the National Football League and Major League Baseball.

According to the recent surveys and the market trend in beverage industry in north America and as local deals slip and shimmering refreshments neglect to develop, Coca-Cola knows it has an issue and has even thought of an answer. Yet as shares sink lower, speculators appear unconvinced the drink behemoth’s arrangement is sufficient.

The Coca-Cola Company reported $12 billion in second from last quarter income, level from the same period a year ago. Joined with deals decreases in the initial two quarters of the year the organization’s year-to-date income is down 2%. Net wage for the quarter came in at $2.1 billion, down an astounding 14% from a year ago. At 48 pennies, profit every offer were 6 pennies underneath the year earlier outcomes and 4 pennies short of Wall Street examiners’ accord gauge.

In light of difficulties at home and in key business lines Coca-Cola reported a development arrangement Tuesday morning. In a different proclamation CEO Muhtar Kent said, “We have investigated our advancement to date and understand that while the methods we laid out toward the start of the year are on the whole correct, the extension and pace of our activities must increment. Notwithstanding reporting an extended gainfulness program, we are streamlining our operations and further adjusting our motivation arrangements to convey against our development targets.”

The arrangement incorporates an improved working model with a more prominent concentrate on nearby markets, going for $3 billion in “annualized funds” every year by 2019 and additionally refranchising most organization claimed North American packaging domains before the end of 2017 and an a significant number of the remaining regions by 2020. The organization will likewise recharge its emphasis on showcasing and will include income as a metric in its motivator arrangement (yahoo finance)

In light of difficulties at home and in key business lines Coca-Cola reported a development arrangement Tuesday morning. In a different proclamation CEO Muhtar Kent said, “We have investigated our advancement to date and understand that while the methods we laid out toward the start of the year are on the whole correct, the extension and pace of our activities must increment. Notwithstanding reporting an extended gainfulness program, we are streamlining our operations and further adjusting our motivation arrangements to convey against our development targets.”

The arrangement incorporates an improved working model with a more prominent concentrate on nearby markets, going for $3 billion in “annualized funds” every year by 2019 and additionally refranchising most organization claimed North American packaging domains before the end of 2017 and an a significant number of the remaining regions by 2020. The organization will likewise recharge its emphasis on showcasing and will include income as a metric in its motivator arrangement.

The unit case volume went up 1% for the quarter. The volumes in North America declined with 1% even with the 1% growth of International volume in the quarter, volume. A 5% decrease in unit case volume in Europe was somewhat balanced by 5% development in Eurasia and Africa, making it clear that a great part of the organization’s battles lie in created markets. General still drink volume was up 2% in the quarter, tea contributed 4% and both water and caffeinated beverages volume on an upward shift 7%. Shimmering drink volume was level for the quarter (Healy 2012).

References

Zach Investment Research

Dabbagh, A., Heidary Moghadam, A., Naderi, S., & Hamdi, M. (2013). A study on the effect of coke particle size on the thermal profile of the sinters produced in Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO). Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 113(12), 941-945.

Penzkofer, A. (2007). The Market of Pepsi/PepsiCo. Berlin: GRIN Verlag.

McGowan, C. (2014). The Fundamentals of Financial Statement Analysis as Applied to the Coca-Cola Company. Business Expert Press.

Healy, P., & Palepu, K. (2012). Business Analysis Valuation: Using Financial Statements. Cengage Learning.

http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/color-purple-1970-3.