Marketing Strategy of Mum Mineral Water
Company information and product Marketing Strategy
1.1 Company information
Partex Group:
Partex Group is one of the largest companies of our country. It was established in 1962. Partex Group of 17 industries. Net wrth at current market price nearly US $150 million. It has over 350distributor around the nation. There are more than 45,000 outlets it’s products are available. And Partex Group has over 7,000 employees.
Figure: Partex Group
Partex Beverage & their aim
Partex Beverage Limited consists of 2 products – these are RC Cola and MUM. MUM offers a variety in consumer choice; 500 ml as individual and 1500 ml as a family pack size.
The sky is not the limit for them but their expectations are within limits. Their imagination soars beyond conventional barriers. They share their beloved motherland. They want to serve her better in the greater quest for national economic emancipation.
Enterprise is their life. They manufacture quality substitute consumer and industrial products. They offer consumer satisfaction keeping environmental and human factors in mind. It is this thrust that gives their organizational integrity. They treasure their reputation and protect it zealously.
Figure: Partex Beverage Ltd.
1.2 Company product & its Marketing Strategy
MUM:
- Producer & Marketer – Partex Beverage Ltd., units of Partex Group
- Brand name – MUM
- Type of the product – Natural drinking water
- Pack size – 500ml &1500ml
- Packaging –
Primary packaging – PET (Polyethylene Terepthalate)
Secondary packaging – A tray made of corrugated paper contains 12 bottles which is covered by shrink wrap
- Product attributes –
Product quality –
Strictly following guideline & standard specification of quality level of WHO, IBWA, ICDDRB, Food and Nutrition Dept. of DU
It is free from adulteration and contamination
Produced under hygienic condition
Obtained BSTI license
Unique packaging feature –
Safe & pure natural
| Calcium – 29 mg/L | Potassium – 2 mg/L |
| Bicarbonate – 134 mg/L | Sulphate – 1 mg/L |
| Sodium – 4 mg/L | Magnesium – 1 mg/L |
| Chloride – 10 mg/L | Fluoride – <1 mg/L |
| pH – 7.4 | |
- Design of the bottle – Crystal clear diamond shape
- Shelf life – One year
- Labeling – Attractive bluish label including all necessary information are composed for consumer awareness.
- Use of the product – To quench thirst people
- Pay off line – get the most trusted pure natural drinking water
- Product positioning – Pure hygienic natural drinking water
- Target group – Mainly middle class to upper class
- Use of the product – People of all ages
- Types of outlets selling MUM-
Retail Market – Grocery shops, Tea stall, Confectionary, Fast foods, Sweet shops, Panaceas, General restaurant, Pastry shops in Bus-train-launch terminals etc.
Institutional Market – Hospitals, clinics, Chineserestaurant, cafeteria, Luxury Hotels, Govt. & private offices, Banks, Insurance, Office of different ministers, Parliament, UN Bodies, NGOs, National & International Air Services, Social programs, Religious programs, Stadiums, Play ground, EPZ etc.
- Date of the product launch – Inaugurated in April 28, 2000
- Classification – Consumer product
- Advertising media –
Electronic media – Circulating Advertising in TV different channels
Print media – Newspapers, Magazines
POP media – Poster
Outdoor material – Neon sign, Halogen sign, shop board, banner. etc.
Give away item – T-shirt, cap etc.
1.3 Market share of MUM
There are about 119 mineral water companies in our country. Currenly all of them are playing a vital role in the market. More or less each and every mineral water brands keep a market share. Among all 119 mineral water brands MUM is holding around 45 % market share.
| Year | Market Share (%) |
| 2004-2005 | 45 |
| 2003-2004 | 38 |
| 2002-2003 | 13 |
1.4 Production Department
To assist the production department, an office has been set up near the factory, which is in Gazipur. All the manufacturing process is done there. It is headed by a plant manager, who reports to the production director at the head office.
1.5 Product
From the survey report one can assume that MUM has basically a good image in the mineral water market. This product comes with 2 pack sizes 500ml and 1500ml which is greatly appreciated by the consumers. Quality perception is very much high to all the traders, institutions, and consumers. From the survey it is seen that a particular brand influence the purchasing behavior of a consumer and this is MUM. The reasons are, it’s reliability, feature, conformance and features. Mostly these four things of MUM influence the purchasing behavior of a consumer. Perception about the quality of product –
Reliability
For the sake of consumers, MUM makes it’s product with a great reliable mechanism.
It is free from adulteration and contamination.
Produced under hygienic condition
Obtained BSTI license.
Feature
Safe and pure natural drinking water. It is balance for people of all ages
Using price tag, expire date, bar code.
Using attractive packaging, labeling, and liner cap for lucrative get up.
Service
It is also appreciated by the consumers because it’s service is very good. It is available to everywhere. Such as –
Retail Market – Grocery shops, Tea stall, Confectionary, Fast foods, Sweet shops, Panaceas, General restaurant, Pastry shops in Bus-train-launch terminals etc.
Institutional Market – Hospitals, clinics, Chineserestaurant, cafeteria, Luxury Hotels, Govt. & private offices, Banks, Insurance, Office of different ministers, Parliament, UN Bodies, NGOs, National & International Air Services, Social programs, Religious programs, Stadiums, Play ground, EPZ etc.
Conformance
Pure hygienic natural drinking water
People of all ages
Strictly following guideline & standard specification of quality level of WHO, IBWA, ICDDRB, Food and Nutrition Dept. of DU
1.6 Price
At first when MUM introduce itself to the market they set market skimming pricing because they had the quality product. They set high price for MUM. But now they are following backward pricing strategy because other brands price was much lower than MUM. As everyone knows that the market is price sensitive that’s why MUM set the price as reasonable as possible. For this reason consumers are also satisfied with their price. If we give a look at the survey data we will see that most of respondents also said that it’s pricing is excellent. Not only this but also most of mineral water brands almost set the similar price for same size. In this case consumers are getting more benefit from MUM by giving the similar amount such as high quality, assurance of purity etc. Yet their quality perception is good enough but they don’t charge the high price for their product.
| Pack Size (ml) | Price (in TK) |
| 500 | 10.00 |
| 1500 | 18.00 |
1.7 Channel of Distribution
MUM distributes two pack sizes of mineral water through out Bangladesh. The products are distributed from the factory to the sales depots. They have a strong distribution base with 350 distributors and dealers nationwide and 64 distributors in Dhaka city. Hundreds of eager, energetic and effective sales representatives are working, supported by their dedicated sales and marketing division. To their vast sales and distribution network of dealers, they have 6 sale depots (warehouse) located at strategic points. These are – Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal. There are 64 districts in Bangladesh and to maintain smooth and efficient distribution, they have mobilized adequate distributors and dealers to serve these regions. Distribution is carried out by their transport fleet supplemented by dealers transport also. They cove approximately 33,000 wholesalers and retail; outlets through this network, covered by 180vehicles of various sizes backed by 540 sales personnel. They are one of the largest distribution organization in Bangladesh. This network makes possible the flow of goods from the producer, through intermediaries to the buyer. The success of any new product in the market place greatly depends on an effective and responsive distribution network, which they ensure.
Figure: Channel of distribution
1.8 Promotion
Sometime company gives promotion to the wholesaler or retailer or consumer to increase their sales. In some cases company gives promotion to catch those consumers who are attracted by the other brands. In this case MUM gave promotion to the retailer to increase their sales. They gave 4 bottles free per carton. Then they change their strategy and they started giving 2 bottles free per carton. But the present situation is, MUM gets so popularity that they stopped giving promotion to the retailers. Because their sales is so high that they do not need to give any promotion to the retailer to increase their sales. Once upon a time MUIVI gave some promotion to the consumer also such as T-shirt, cap etc. But right now they don’t give any promotion to the consumer too.
Figure: Promotion strategy of MUM
1.9 PLC (Product Life Cycle) of MUM
Through product life cycle any one can know the present situation of a product. Which position a product is in we can be able to know from the PLC graph. From the data and company information we know that at present MIM is in growth stage. Because at present their market share is 45% where in the previous year their market share was 38% and year before previous year their market share was 13%. It means they are in growth stage. If we give a look at the graph we can see the current position of MUM –
Figure: PLC of MUM
As MUM can satisfy the market so they are in growth stage where their sales is climbing quickly. In this situation they are attracted by the opportunities for profit and they started facing new competitors. Where new competitors are coming up with more pack sizes, different typed of promotions, different pricing strategies etc. For this reason the market is expanding and they had to reduce their price slightly.
2. 1 Push & Pull Strategy
When MUM was at the primary stage they followed push strategy to reach the product to the consumer, to increase their sales. Not only incase of MUM, any type of product usually follow push strategy for the first time. When people get the knowledge about the product and get the high consumer acceptance than the manufacturer do not need to follow push strategy. Incase of MUM such a thing was take place. MUM does not need to follow push strategy right now because
the awareness of MUM grows in such a way that everyone knows what MTJM is. MUM does not need push the retailer to pull the consumers for more sales. Consumers come to the retail shop and ask for MUM. Consumers pull the retailers to deliver them the product onetime. MUM creates such an awareness in the consumers mind that maximum consumers when want to purchase they never ask for a mineral water, they look for MUM. In this situation MUM does not need to follow push strategy, they are following pull strategy.
Figure: Pull Strategy
3.1 Marketing System
MUM follows two Marketing system to reach their product to the end user. These are :
Horizontal Marketing System
Vertical Marketing System
But they are usually follow Vertical Marketing System –
Figure: Vertical Marketing System
As this case manufacturer and distributor act as a unified system reach the product to the retailer for sale. Fro the factory manufacturer send the product to their distributor, distributor deliver the product to the retailer and at last consumer get the product from the retailer.
3.2 SWOT analysis
SWOT is a tool by which we can justify the company’s internal analysis. We need to conduct SWOT to identify Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to market the product.
Strength
Excess production capacity
Good transportation facilities
Competitive market
ISO 9001 certified
Holding highest market share in market
Market is rapidly growing
Company create “Partex standard” to follow only the standard of MUM
Attractive advertising media
Obtained BSTI license
Production under hygienic condition
High brand image
High consumer perception
Weakness
Do not perform any in any promotional activities
Opportunities
Good product demand as this is a basic need
People are becoming very much health conscious
Threats
Competitors coming with up with variety sizes of bottles.
Sales and Distribution Department
Figure: Sales and Distribution of MUM
Marketing Department
Figure: Marketing Department of MUM
Commercial Department
Figure: Commercial Department of MUM
Chapter – 4
4.1 Findings & Analysis
Figure: Variation in bottle sizes of different brands
The above table shows that Jibon offers 4 pack sizes to the market for the consumer where MUM has only 2 pack sizes. Although MUM has only 2 pack sizes but these are very much popular. From the table we can see that Super Fresh takes the second place carrying with 3 pack sizes. And Pran, Duncan and other mineral water brand offers same as MUM.
Though out the whole internship it is clear that although MUM carries only 2 pack sizes but these are very popular for the consumers.
4.2 Findings & Analysis
For 500 ml MUM, Duncan, Pran and other mineral water brands charges comparatively high price. And other 2 brands like Super Fresh and Jibon charges lowest price. Incase of 1.5 liter MUM, Duncan, Pran, and other mineral water brands charges high price and Jibon charges the lowest price.
As MUM’s brand image is good enough that’s why they charges high price for their product. In this case high price don’t effect on their sales. When a consumer buys mineral water their intention is to take a fresh and purified mineral water. As consumers are reliable on MUM that’s why retailers are also interested to take MUM in their retail shop with high price.
| Brands | Different Pack Sizes | |||
| 500ml/600ml | 1 Liter | 1.5 Liter | 2 Liter | |
| Price (in TK) | Price (in TK) | Price (in TK) | Price (in TK) | |
| MUM | 10 | 15-18 | ||
| Super Fresh | 10 | 12 | 24 | |
| Duncan | 10 | 15-18 | ||
| Pran | 10 | 15-18 | ||
| Jibon | 8 | 12 | 15 | 20 |
| Others | 10 | 15 | ||
4.3 Findings & Analysis
From the questionnaire survey it is clear that MUM is only popular brand to the consumer 96% of the respondents told that it is the most popular brand and 4% was neutral.
Being a most popular mineral water brand to the consumer they are enjoying the competitive advantage.
4.4 Findings & Analysis
Figure: Average sales/day (all pack sizes)
It is clear that MUM has the biggest sales (app. 1 carton). Sales are the ultimate result for any product. So from the above graph we can say that MUM is in a very good position as they have their higher sales. So we can also say that they have their highest market share.
4.5 Findings & Analysis
Figure: Which occupational group prefers mineral water most?
Students are the largest segment for mineral water. As students are young age and they are very health conscious that’s why they drink mineral water most. They don’t mind to spend 10 Taka for purified water.
4.6 Findings & Analysis
Figure: How frequently consumers purchase mineral water per day?
44 respondents out of 60 are saying that consumers purchase mineral water on a regular basis and 16 respondents are saying that consumers purchase mineral water occasionally (like in a very hot season people want a cold drink to meet their thirstiness but there are no cold drink in that particular shop in that case they buy a cold mineral water).
As we can see from the previous questions that the tendency of the consumer is growing day by day that’s why they buy mineral water on a regular basis.
4.7 Findings & Analysis
Figure: Influencing of the purchase behavior based on a specific brand
Only 12 respondents told that no particular brand influence the purchase behavior of a consumer and a big segment (rest of the 48 respondents) told that a particular brand influence the purchase behavior of a consumer that is MUM.
4.8 Findings & Analysis
MUM has high consumer acceptance, brand image, quality perception and low price moderate. Consumers get more benefit from MUM than other mineral water brands. As MUM has high consumer preference and from the previous question it is seen that MUM has highest sales that’s why retailers are interested to keep MUM into their shop yet distributor of MUM is not giving that much promotion to them.
Chapter – 5
Recommendation & Conclusion
Recommendation
MUM can extend their pack sizes because there is a demand of 1 Liter from consumer side. When it is a matter of 2 or 3 drinker, 500 ml is small and 1500 ml is big. When these 2 or 3 consumers’ need a mineral water they have to switch to other brand through their first choice is MUM
Young age segment is comparatively bigger than other age segments. So by targeting this segment some advertisement can be created.
Some promotions can be given for this segment thus they become more motivated to purchase MUM.
MUM van sponsor to sports program in different school, colleges and university etc.
As this is a very hot season MUM can provide cold mineral water to the consumers using small size van, like Ice-cream van.
Conclusion
There is a saying, “life is the another name of water”. Based on the study it is seen that most of the people want crystal clear water for drinking as basic need. Totally pure and hygienic quality drinking water is a basic need for people, particularly the urban and sub-urban sector in Bangladesh. To provide the people with safe and pure drinking water. Partex Beverage started producing MUM in 500 ml and 1500 ml bottle. Most of the consumer always prefer and seek reasonable price for good quality that MUM serves to the consumers. It is being distributed nationwide by Partex Beverage as well as their own Danish distributor network. For the packaging of their product they use PET (Polyethylene Terepthalate) bottle which is a package for food and non-food products because it is inexpensive, light weight, resalable, shatter resistant and recyclable.
From the study, we came to know fro the mineral water market that how the consumer think, how they behave when they want to purchase a mineral water from the market.
Bibliography
Marketing Management
Eleventh edition
Writer – Philip Kotler
Statistical Data Book
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics)
Bangladesh Standard Specification for National Mineral Water
First Edition
BSTI (Bangladesh Standard & TestingInstitution)
Corporate Company Profile
Questionnaire for Traders & Institutions
Topic:
Marketing strategy of “MUM” mineral water of Partex Beverage Ltd.
General Information:
- Name of the outlet:
- Type of the outlet:
- Location/ Address (Tel. If any) :
Q1. Would you please give me some information regarding “MUM” mineral water brand that you keep in your outlet?
| Brand | Pack Size | Popular pack size | Distributor sales price | Wholesalers sales price | MRP | Popular Brand | Sales/ Day |
Hypo 1: Trader and institutional outlet significantly determine the specific information of different mineral water brand.
Q2: Which age group people prefer the “MUM” most?
a) 15-25
b) 26-35
c) 36-45
d) 46-55
e) 56 above
Q3: Which occupational group prefer the “MUM” most?
a) Student
b) Govt. service holder
c) Businessman
d) Household personnel
e) Others
Hypo 2: Different age group and occupational group determine the demographic information of “MUM”.
Q 4: How many consumers purchase “MUM” per day?
a) 1-20
b) 11-20
c) 21-30
d) 31-40
e) 50 above
Q 5: How frequently consumers purchase mineral water?
a) Occasionally
b) Regular
c) Others
Q 6: In which time a consumer purchase “MUM” most?
a) After Breakfast
b) After Launch
c) After Dinner
Q 7: What is the perception of a consumer about the quality of “MUM”?
a) Excellent
b) Good
c) Neutral
d) Not good
e) Not good at all
Q 8: What is the perception of a consumer about the price of “MUM”?
a) Excellent
b) Good
c) Neutral
d) Not good
e) Not good at all
Q 9: What is your perception about the distribution strategy of “MUM”?
a) Excellent
b) Good
c) Neutral
d) Not good
e) Not good at all
Q 10: Does “MUM” perform in any promotional activities?
a) Credit facility
b) Discount
c) Occasional gift
d) Incentive
e) Others
Hypo 4: Specific information, demographic, information and behavioral information significantly determine the marketing mix (4ps)
Q 11: Which advertising media used by Partex Beverage Ltd. For the awareness of their product?
a) TV
b) Radio
c) Newspaper
d) Magazines
e) Internet
f) Cable TV
Q 12: Please rates the following physical characteristics of the product?
| Brand | Size | Color | Packaging |
| MUM |
| Excellent
Good Average Not good Not Good at all |
1
2 3 4 5 |
Hypo 5: A consumer chooses his/her favorite color, design or size of a product through advertisement, which creates an awareness and image of that product.