Food Mart Stores

Food Mart Stores

The case concerning the Food Mart Stores addresses the social responsibilities corporations have toward the people whom they serve. The company, a retailer of food products is revamping its operations by consolidating its two smaller stores located in separate communities and building one larger store between the two communities. One of the communities is indifferent to the relocation while the other conducts highly organized protests. The area with the protestors has a small group of people who will be affected due to their transportation and budget. These customers are the elderly and people whose incomes are low. The Midwestern area manager, Joe Smith, is assigned to assess the situation and make the final decision. The decision Joe Smith will make is not an ethical choice, nor a legal choice, rather a decision of corporate responsibility. He will need to decide between the needs of the people in the community or the expansion plans of Food Mart, for whom he represents.

The community in protest alleges Food Mart's move into the area has caused the competition to go out of business. If Food Mart closes its operations would leave the people without an alternative. The protestors claim that this is cause enough for Food Mart to keep the store open. The affected patrons are elderly people who walk to the store daily to purchase items and the other being low income groups who do not have the means to travel to the proposed location. The patrons of Food Mart make claims as stakeholders the corporation has a responsibility

The decision to consolidate is part of the corporation's plan of expansion. Food Mart is in the process of upgrading its stores to larger stores which will provide a wider range of products. Closing the two smaller stores and consolidating them into one larger store will increase its profits. The increase in profits benefit the shareholder's and stakeholder's as well as bolster the job performance