Porter's Papa Johns Business Strategy

Words: 375
Pages: 2

In discussing Michael Porter's generic strategy typology, he says you have to ask your self two basic questions, are you going to focus on one section of the market or try to hit the mass market? Are you going to look at cost and decide if you are a low-cost provider or differentiated provider (Parnell, 2008)? Miles and Snow has a typology that is different to Porter's where there are four basic approaches that you can pursue such as a prospector, analyzer, defender, or reactor (Parnell, 2008). It is a little difficult for me to understand and define Papa Johns' business strategy. I found that the firm is in a transitional phase where they took a clean-label strategy and is removing all artificial colors and ingredients, and transitioning to where everything is made with fresh ingredients and vegetables (Hilmantel, 2018). This is where it can be a little confusing; Papa John's is trying to differentiate itself by being the only pizza franchise with no artificial flavors or ingredients, while being low cost and selling to the masses. The strategy can be confusing as well in regards that some customers may not want a "healthy pizza." If a customer is going to indulge in pizza, do they really search out the company that has the healthiest pizza with no artificial colors or ingredients? Michael Porter says that the combination of a low-cost differentiated strategy does not work as you will just be spinning your wheels and getting nowhere while confusing the customer. …show more content…
A prospector is always trying to produce the newest and greatest product (Parnell,