Comment 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Leonardo da Vinci Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leonardo da Vinci - Research Paper Example dia Britannica. 2011). His boundless want for information drove him past work of art. Controlled by his wonderful astuteness, sharp feeling of perception, and authority of the specialty of drawing, he examined nature; a line of request that permitted him to seek after double workmanship and science (Capra 2007). Life of Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was conceived of the ill-conceived relationship of a Florentine public accountant and proprietor, Ser Piero, and a youthful worker lady, Caterina (Bortolon 1967). That in any case, Leonardo da Vinci, appreciated the benefits of an authentic child and experienced childhood in his father’s domain and got the standard rudimentary instruction of those days: perusing, composing, and number juggling (Bortolon 1967). He didn't display a specific inclination for Latin, the key language of conventional learning, and higher mathematic until some other time in his life. Because of his aesthetic tendency, which showed up from the get-go throughout everyday life, he father apprenticed him to the famous craftsman Andrea Del Verrocchio (Bortolon 1967). He got a multifaceted preparing that included artistic creation and figure just as the specialized mechanical expressions in Andrea Del Verrocchio’s workshop. ... In 1482, Leonardo surrendered two artwork extends, The Adoration of the Magi for the religious community of San Donato and an adjust painting for the St Bernard Chapel, in Florence and moved to work for the duke of Milan, Duke Ludovico Sforza (Encyclop?dia Britannica. 2011). The predominant exacting scholarly environment in Milan just as the duke’s splendid court and the important task may have lured him to Milan. Undoubtedly, the 17 years spent in Milan were productive. He was profoundly regarded as a painter and a stone carver. He finished six works in Milan among which was the renowned painting, The Last Supper. He likewise had a broad workshop in Milan where he had a few disciples. Likewise, he filled in as a specialized counselor in the fields of design, fortresses, and military issues, and he filled in as a water driven and mechanical designer (Capra 2007). Following the triumphant passage of the French into Milan, Leonardo left the city most likely December 1499 or Janu ary 1500. He visited Mantua and Venice before coming back to Florence. Upon appearance in Florence, he was concurred a gathering meriting a famous child. Leonardo gave his stay in Florence to concentrated logical investigation (Capra 2007). That regardless, he was as yet associated with painting. It was during this period, 1503 †1506, that he painted Mona Lisa (Vezzosi 1997). Upon the greeting of the French representative in Milan, Charles d’ Amboise, Leonardo came back to Milan in May 1506. During his second remain in Milan, he accomplished little work as a painter; rather, he functioned as guide in engineering matters. His logical exercises arrived at their pinnacle during this time. The ejection of the French from Milan in 1513 drove Leonardo

Context Of Community Health Care And Nursing Example

Context Of Community Health Care And Nursing Example Context Of Community Health Care And Nursing â€" Essay Example > ]Context of Community Health and NursingNurses as EducatorsIntroductionThe role of nurse as teacher and educators of the community has been one of the most consistent roles of the nurse since the beginning of nursing. Community-based nursing care is part of the continuing health care services and nurses are concerned not only with clients who approach them for the services but also with the larger population. Nurse teaches clients, families, groups, and communities with the goal of educating people and helps them focus on disease and illness prevention. The centre of this research is community-based nursing with emphasis on nurses as educators of the community. Community-Based NursingCommunity-based setting includes ambulatory care, home health care, school health, and hospital setting. Ricci (2006) explains clinical practice within the community may also include case management, research, quality improvement, and discharge planning. Nurses with advanced practice and experience ma y be employed in areas of staff development, program development, and community education. Nurses must be prepared educationally and experientially to provide care in very diverse settings as the focus of health initiatives today shifts the emphasis of health care to the people themselves and their needs, reinforcing and strengthening their capacity to shape their own lives. This shift of emphasis away from dependence on health professionals toward personal involvement and patient responsibility gives nurses the opportunity to interact with individuals in a variety of self-help roles. Nurses in the community-based arena are well positioned to be the “primary force in identifying the challenges and implementing changes in women’s health for the future” (p. 23). The CommunityIt is because community-based nursing care is part of the continuum of health care services, it is important for nurses to understand the concepts of community. Community is often defined as a collection o f people sharing common characteristics, interests, needs, resources, and environments that interact with one another. The common features of a community may be common rights and privileges as members of a designated city or common ties of identity, values, norms, culture, language, or social support. Women are caregivers to children, parents, spouses, and neighbours, and provided important social support in these roles. In a community-based setting, the providers of care are concerned with not only the clients who present themselves for service, but also with the larger population of potential or at-risk clients (Ricci 2006). The Home SettingThe most frequently used setting for community health nursing practice was the home. In the homes, all the community health-nursing roles, to varying degrees, are performed. Clients who are discharge from acute care institutions, such as hospitals or mental health facilities, are regularly referred to a community health nurses for continued ca re and follow-up. Here, the community health nurse can see clients in a family and environmental context, and service can be tailored to the client’s unique needs. The home also is a setting for health promotion. Many community health-nursing visits focus on assisting families to understand and practice healthier living behaviours. Nurses may for instance, instruct clients on parenting, infant care, child discipline, diet, exercise, coping with stress, or managing grief and loss (Allender and Spradley 2004). Context Of Community Health Care And Nursing Example Context Of Community Health Care And Nursing â€" Essay Example > Context of Community Health Care and NursingCommunity Children’s NursingIntroductionCommunity children’s nursing practice is about childcare from birth and throughout childhood. Nursing sick children requires specialised nursing qualification as many believes that children have special needs and therefore needs nurses with special skills. The primary objective of many community children’s services includes parental support and the avoidance of hospitalisation for children. However, like any other programmes in health care, children’s nursing services are not free of inconsistencies that give rise to confusion. We therefore need to research and explore the concept of community children’s nursing service. This paper will discuss the origin of community children’s nursing practice and regulation. We will also include some the issue in home care, childhood, and other community health services. Community Children’s NursingCommunity children’s nursing has been adopted to take in an assortment of different terms which have beforehand been used such as paediatric community nurse, paediatric home care nurse, paediatric hospital-at-home nurse, children’s home care nurse and many others. All of these titles relate essentially to the same area of nursing practice. In UK, a community children’s nurse is a registered nurse who has completed a programme of education in community nursing leading to registration with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Visiting. The nurse focus of work is primarily those children requiring treatment and care for acute and chronic ill health in a home setting (Littlewood 1999). Community Children’s Nursing Practice and RegulationThe practice of community children’s nursing is concerned with the provision of care to children from birth, during childhood and adolescence and sometimes into young adulthood. There is prevalent acceptance of the view that nurses who possess a registers chil dren’s nurse qualification should undertake the nursing of sick children. Many believes that if community children’s nursing care is to be advanced as a true alternative to hospital care then the children must be afforded the same rights as children who received care in hospital. Consequently, since the children have special needs, which require special skills, nursing in the community also requires special skills (Taylor 1999). The employment of qualified children’s nurses in the community according to Cook (2000) began in the 1950s, and developed in response to government reports emphasizing the importance of keeping children in their own homes for treatment whenever possible. Thus, the roles of community children’s nurses are to provide nursing care, support, information and resources to sick children and their families in settings outside of acute hospitals. A vital part of the delivery of these elements of the role is the need to sustain and nurture the relationship b etween the child and its parents or other carers. Community children’s nurses also act as an information and teaching resource for the community nurses (p. 34). Having qualified children’s nurses working in the community allows children needing complex, specialized treatment, monitoring, or care to be maintained at homes, and allows them to be discharged earlier from hospital when they have bee admitted. In order to provide this service, a number of different schemes have been set up using different models. Specialist community children’s nurses may work as an individual in a multidisciplinary primary health care team. Teams of community children’s nurses have been set up in some areas where there is large demand like the inner cities. In an ‘inreach’ schemes, community-based children’s nurses maintain some responsibility for and contact with children during short periods of hospital admission. In an ‘outreach’ schemes, hospital-based paediatric nurses provide te chnical support to children in their own homes when complex treatments or equipment are in use. Some community children’s nurses are highly specialised, focusing solely on particular conditions such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, asthma, or cancer (Cook 2000).

The Hunger Games ( Book Report ) - 759 Words

The Hunger Games By Landon Courtney The Hunger Games was written by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games generates suspense, action, and science fiction, and a form of dictatorship. The setting is in Panem, formerly North America. Part of the book is in District 12, near the Appalachian Mountains. It is set in the future. Katniss Everdeen is the main character in the Hunger Games. She is sixteen years old; she is determined, loving, and caring. She has straight black hair that is usually braided. She has olive-colored skin. Her nickname, given by Gale, is Catnip, when he first met her in the woods when they were hunting. Her sisters name is Primrose Everdeen. Peeta lives in a family of bakers. He has loved Katniss since they were 5 years†¦show more content†¦Katniss and Rue destroy the food supply for the careers. Rue then dies from a spear that the boy from District 1 shoots at her. The Gamemakers say that both tributes can win if they survive, but it was a lie. Katniss finds Peeta camouflaged and wounded, from a sword gash caused by Cato. He almost dies. Peeta and Katniss decide to die together for love, but the Gamemakers stop them. They go back to District 12 and celebrate, but the Gamemakers and Peacekeepers are not happy, because they only wanted one winner. The story continues in the sequel, CatchingShow MoreRelatedHunger Games Book Report Essay1028 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hunger Games Book Report 1. State the title, author, and number of pages. The Hunger Games is a novel written by Suzanna Collins. The book consists of 374 pages. 2. Tell what the book is about. Describe the setting. The book is about Katniss, a sixteen year old girl, who lives in district 12 with her mother and her sister, Prim. Each year, the Hunger Games are held, and a boy and a girl from each district are chosen to fight to the death. Prim is chosen but Katniss volunteers to take theRead MoreBook Report for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins621 Words   |  2 Pages I did my book report on The Hunger games, because it is suspenseful, adventurous, and has tons of action. This is about Katness, Peeta, Haymitch, Effie, and the Games. In a nation called Panem, which exisits in the land of once known as America, there were 12 districts. Previously, there was 13, but because of the start of a revolt against the Capitol, the a13th district was eliminated. Because of this attempt revolt, The Capitol holds the annual Huger Games. The Hunger Games are literally aRead MoreThe Hunger Games Book Report, 7th Grade Level. Essay630 Words   |  3 PagesThe setting in the Hunger Games is not in the past or present, but in the future. The story takes place in District 12 and in a place called the Arena. District 12 is an old and very run down. It is a very; dull place of mines. The Arena is ;where the Hunger Games take place. It is a dangerous and scary place. The main protagonist is Katnis Everdeen. She is very good and is tryihng to get back to her family. She volunteered for her sister to go into Hunger Games. Cato is the antagonist.Read MoreThe Hunger Games : Mockingjay1116 Words   |  5 Pages YASHA’S BOOK REPORT- THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PLOT ‘THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY’ takes place several months since the last outing, Catching Fire. Seventeen year old Katniss Everdeen has survived The Hunger Games twice, but along with her outstanding victory, which bewildered The Capitol’s devious Gamemakers. There were consequences. The infuriated president of Panem, President Snow, didn’t see actions taking place in order to eliminate Katniss, which was his bidding. Therefore, he plansRead MoreThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collin1626 Words   |  7 PagesIn Suzanne Collin’s trilogy The Hunger Games, the story focuses on the journey and struggles of sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen within the dystopian society of Panem. Throughout the books, Katniss is torn between choosing to fight the injustice and tyranny that has long been a problem for the people of Panem, or to give in to the power of the Capitol in order to keep herself and more importantly her family safe. In the end she rises up and without really intending to, becomes the hero that hasRead MoreThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins911 Words   |  4 Pages The Hunger Games, a novel by Suzanne Collins, is the story of 16 years old, Katniss Everdeen, who fights to death for her district. The Hunger Games is an event hosted every year by the C apitol of Panem, where a randomly chosen boy and girl both need to represent each of the twelve districts that the capitol is composed of. When Katniss little sister, Prim, is chosen to be the representative for District twelve, Katniss volunteers to take her place and fight along her male counterpart, Peeta. TheRead MoreThe Hunger Games And The Sniper806 Words   |  4 PagesSometimes being brave is the only way to get through some situations in life. Katniss from The Hunger Games is brave and so is The Sniper from The sniper. Katniss from The Hunger games and The Sniper from The Sniper are brave because they both risk their lives for their loved ones. First of all, Katniss from The Hunger Games is a brave character because she shot very close to a judge to prove herself and she volunteered for tribute. The first reason shes brave is because she volunteered for tributeRead MoreSummary of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins1065 Words   |  5 PagesFor my book report I chose â€Å"Catching Fire† by Suzanne Collins. Catching Fire is set in a alternative universe that is set up in a way a monarchy would function there is the king or a president who is a cold hearted human being named President Snow. Then there are the nobles or in this situation the capital people, the capital people are wealthy and they dress outrageously just so people can distinguish them from non wealthy people. Lastly skipping the presents you have the slaves or the districtsRead MoreAnalysing Movies that Have to Do with Marxism, Panopticism and Globalization1693 Words   |  7 Pagesentering into a cyber-capitalist era. The ideas of importance in this essay are as follows: Marxism, Panopticism, and Globalization. The movies that shall be examined, in relation to the ideas listed above, are as follows: Beijing Bicycle, The Hunger Games, and Fahrenheit 451. Capitalism, the embodiment of the American dream, is the idea of personal property and the pursuit of personal wealth; but, is Capitalism truly what it promises to represent? In taking a look at the movie, Beijing BicycleRead MoreThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins1335 Words   |  6 PagesBanned Book Report The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins Crystal Hodge My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim s warmth but finding only the canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed.My sister, Prim, curled up on her side, cocooned in my mother s body their cheeks pressed together. Mashed- in nose, half of one ear missing eyes the color of rotting squash. Prim named him Buttercup insisting that his buddy yellow coat matched the bright flower buttercup was the ugly cat

Romeo and Juliet Is Still Important Now Essay - 621 Words

Romeo and Juliet was written about 400 years ago. Although it is old, Romeo and Juliet is still relevant and important to peoples’ lives. The themes used in it are the themes that people enjoy, Shakespeare invented a lot of words people use today, and good for education. Romeo and Juliet is still a great play, still has a impact and entertain contemporary audience. In Romeo and Juliet, there are many themes. Love, rivalry, arguing with parents, friendship, and fate and destiny. These themes are used today, too. For example, love. Love is the main theme in Romeo and Juliet. Nowadays, love is what most of the stories contain. It can be said that love is the most entertaining theme for the audience. Romeo and Juliet is a master piece and†¦show more content†¦Most of the people know what Romeo and Juliet is about and who Shakespeare is. ‘O’ Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?’, this is a very famous quote from Act 2, Scene 2 line 33. Most of the people know or have heard this quote before and this is an evidence that Romeo and Juliet is popular and involves in peoples’ lives. If it is not an interesting play then nobody would know about this play. It was made into movie several times. Many of the story or movie nowadays has referred Romeo and Juliet. This is also an evidence that Romeo and Juliet has a impact on our lives today too. Romeo and Juliet has been popular for a long time. This is another evidence that people thought it is great, that has something that catches peoples’ heart. Learning about what made Romeo and Juliet so good is wonderful for education. Romeo and Juliet still has a great impact on peoples’ lives. The themes are relevant, Shakespeare had invented a lot of words and phrases, also in Romeo and Juliet, and great for education. These point proves that Romeo and Juliet it relevant today. Romeo and Juliet is about 400 years old but it is still relevant and entertain people by their tragic story. Romeo and Juliet will be relevant in the future too, because of the same three reasons. Romeo and Juliet had such a huge impact so that it will be a popular storyShow MoreRelatedRomeo and Juliet, of Shakespeares Play, Were Not Immature in Their Love970 Words   |  4 Pagesread the text version of Romeo and Juliet when I was a secondary student. In order to comprehend the story deeply, I have watched Romeo Juliet (1968 film) recently. This film won many award and was very successful. Romeo and Juliet was popular, especially among teenagers since it is a romance film (Romeo and Juliet, 2014). Romeo Juliet is generally known as a sad story. This tragedy believed to occur by chance or by destiny (Studymode, 1999). Those people criticized Romeo for falling in love tooRead MoreEssay about Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet1332 Words   |  6 Pagesis a very important scene. Select and comment on key moments for the audience in this scene. What are some of the differences in attitudes between then and now? Act III Scene V This is a very important scene. Select and comment on key moments for the audience in this scene. What are some of the differences in attitudes between then and now? Romeo and Juliet are waking up together after there first night of being man and wife. The beginning of this scene is very important because itRead MoreRomeo And Juliet : No Greater Love?892 Words   |  4 PagesNo Greater Love? Ah! Romeo and Juliet! It is widely regarded as a classical story of true love, but is it really? And why should we care about something written over four hundred years ago? Shakespeare’s representation of true love in Romeo and Juliet is still relevant today, because he manages to portray the complex, multi-faceted ways that humans display love in. This is particularly important to young people today, because like Romeo and Juliet, they can be led astray by their emotions, by physicalRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1538 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?† (2.2.33). The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most popular plays of the greatest playwright of all time, William Shakespeare. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the story of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo Juliet, who unfortunately take their own life in hopes of being together once again and ending their family feud. The deaths of these two star-crossed lover s didn’t just happen out of fine air. It was caused by the sudden events that took placeRead MoreGrowing Up, Juliet Essay examples588 Words   |  3 PagesGrowing up, Juliet The timeless story of lovers, Romeo and Juliet is horribly tragic. In Act III, Scene V of the play the tragedy begins to unfold. Although the entire play is rather dramatic, this scene reveals the effects of past decisions and is the beginning of a tragic series of misunderstandings and fatal reactions. Important relational transformations occur amongst the characters, and the tone for the rest of the play is revealed in this scene. Through language, Shakespeare presentsRead MoreRomeo and Juliet 5 Paragraph Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesIn many literary works, there are methods that authors use to make a story better. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, dramatic irony is the driving method. Dramatic irony is something in which characters do not know something, but the reader or audience knows what the true reality is. According to some researchers, â€Å"A staple of Elizabethan and Shakespearean drama was dramatic irony† (Halio 25). Furthermore some researchers also belive that dramatic irony is very prominentRead MoreRomeo And Juliet Character Analysis1180 Words   |  5 Pageswhether it is true or not. William Shakespeare explores this statement, as he writes his most famous play, Romeo and Juliet. The play is set in the town of Verona in France, where two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, struggle to keep peace, as the feud of many generations still splits the town in half. Through their family feuds, the two young lovers, the Montague Romeo and the Capulet Juliet, try to have a relationships. However, many events eventually lead them to the downfall of both charactersRead MoreShakespeares Use of Imagery and Symbolism to Create Dramatic Tension in Romeo and Juliet1606 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeares Use of Imagery and Symbolism to Create Dramatic Tension in Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet is set in 16th Century Verona. It concerns two main characters, Romeo and Juliet, and their fight to keep their love and themselves alive. Romeo and Juliet are the only children of two feuding aristocratic families, the Capulets and the Montagues. At a party held by Lord Capulet, the two meet and instantaneously fall in love. Read MoreKayley Wang . Ms. Kilburn. English 1 H. 4 April1493 Words   |  6 PagesCharacters in Romeo and Juliet   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague are greatly influenced by other characters. Many of their important choices and actions are altered and changed due to the advice that they receive from the people around them. Throughout the play, many characters suggest ideas and opinions to Romeo and Juliet with good intentions, however, these suggestions ultimately cause significant problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The decisions that Romeo makes throughoutRead MoreRomeo Is Completely to Blame for the Tragic Outcome in the Play.1359 Words   |  6 PagesRomeo is completely to blame for the tragic outcome in the play. William Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet is without doubt one of the most well-known love story. Throughout the five acts of the play, one tragedy follows another, with the famous suicide of Romeo and Juliet as a tragic conclusion. Throughout the play, it may seem that Romeo caused these events to unfold, however it is unjust to say that he bears all responsibility for the tragedy. The decisions, actions and circumstances that

A Friendly Enemy Essay Example For Students

A Friendly Enemy Essay A Friendly Enemy Death is my wish for myself, my enemies, my children (Euripedes translated by Robinson Jeffers, Medea 11). Medea is hungry for death. She wants to taste it on her lips and wishes others to do the same. The value which Medea gives death is to use it as a weapon against her enemies. On the other hand, the women and the nurse fear death. Death,to the women and to the nurse is something that should not be wished for. O shining sky, divine earth,Harken not to the song that this woman sings (13). One of the Greek women says this, for Medea is screaming out that she would like to die. The women and the nurse hear Medea wishing for death as if it were a treasure or something valuable. The nurse and women are not in agreement with Medeas view of death. To them, death would be something that lurks around anything and anywhere waiting to strike. He strikes from the clear sky like a hawk, he hides behind green leaves, or he waits around the corner of a wall(12). To a Greek woman death is personified as a hunter or killer. She uses an animal, the hawk,to compare to death. A hawk is a swift predator that attacks unnoticed, but to Medea death is a trophy. For Medea death has a value of importance. A friendship has been established. Death is Medeas friend. She uses it as a weapon to get what she views as justice. Then if you have a dog eyed enemy and needed absolute vengeance . . . Unchild him, ha? And then unlife him(23). Medea believed with great depth to get vengeance upon Jason. She wanted to go through with her vengeance and hurt Jason as Jason hurt her. Jason left Medea for another woman thus leaving her miserable and craving for revenge. Thus, she went on taking the life of his bride-to-be and the life of their children. She also wanted to wash herself from the impurities of Jasons touch. Ah, rotten, rotten, rotten: death is the only water to wash this dirt (12). This is a metaphor for she compares death to a water, which is a symbol of pureness, to cleanse herself. The nurse and women have almost pleaded to Medea not to even think about death, but because of her resentment and hate towards Jason she is deaf to the womens advice. The importance given to death by Medea is rejected by the women. Death would only make things worse in the womens eyes. To Medea everything will be put in place and justice would be served. The feelings towards death among the women and Medea personified death. Death was an enemy to the women, yet a friend to Medea. Death was valued as a weapon of revenge by Medea and viewed as a weapon of destruction to the women. Life is more precious to the women but Medea does not think of life as precious. She is being selfish only thinking about her friend death to reach her goal; revenge.

Wild Oats Swot free essay sample

It offers a selection of perishable foods designed to appeal to both natural foods and gourmet shoppers. The company’s private label offerings feature over 2000 SKUs. Whole Foods Market markets its private label products under different brand names 365 Everyday Value, 365 Organic Everyday Value, and the Whole Brands family. The products sold under the 365 brand (365 Everyday Value and 365 Organic Everyday Value) are less expensive than other products offered at Whole Foods Markets stores. The 365 Organic Everyday Value brand provides all of the benefits of organic food at lower prices. Whole Kids Organic is an organic food product line developed for children under the Whole Kids label. Whole brands family includes Whole Kitchen (pre-packaged fresh and frozen grocery), Whole Treat (frozen desserts and candies), Whole Catch (frozen seafood items), Whole Fields (produce and produce support items), Whole Pantry (pantry items such as flavored olive oils and vinegars), Whole Creamery (cheeses), Whole Ranch (frozen burgers and franks) and Whole Paws (pet food). We will write a custom essay sample on Wild Oats Swot or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In addition to these, the company has number of store-made and regionally-made fresh items sold under the Whole Foods Market label. It also offers specialty and organic coffees and teas through its Allegro Coffee Company subsidiary. This wide product range allows the company to address multiple customer segments and price points which help to limit it from fall in demand for any specific product or segment. Weaknesses: Relatively small scale of operations The company has small scale of operations as compared to its competitors. It has 263 stores in 37 states in the US, 7 stores in Canada, and 6 in the UK. The company’s competitor, Supervalu, has 2,478 stores and its operations span across 48 states in the US. Safeway, another competitor of the company, has 1,775 stores across the US and Canada. Beside these companies, Whole Foods Market has to compete with big players, like Wal-Mart, which operates in 15 countries. All of these retailers are expanding its natural and organic food offering. Whole Foods Matket’s relatively small scale of operations is likely to prove a drain on the resources of the company. Conservative advertising policy The company relies heavily on word-of-mouth publicity, a disadvantage in comparison to those rivals who aggressively use print, television and online media. It spends meager amounts on advertising and marketing. In 2007, Whole Foods Market spent 0. 5% of total revenues on advertising. Although demand for organic foods is increasing, there is scope to step up the growth rate through aggressive advertising given that consumer awareness of organic products is still relatively low. Competition in the segment is also increasing as more retailers begin to offer organic products. With Whole Foods Market still relying heavily on word-of-mouth publicity, as a result, its new stores may take longer than usual to break even. Opportunities: Increasing demand for organic products Natural and organic food products segment is one of the fastest growing categories in food retailing. In 2006, organic food market grew by 12. 3% to reach a value of $15. 9 billion. The US is the most lucrative market for organic food in the world, accounting for 43. 3% of global market’s value. In 2011, the US organic food market is forecast to have a value of $26. 3 billion, an increase of 65. 6% since 2006. Consumers across the US are showing increased preference for natural, fat-free and healthy food products. Increasing customer preference for organic foods is likely to favorably impact the company’s sales. Expansion in UK – and other geo-markets The UK organic food market grew by 30% in 2006 to reach a value of $2. 9 billion. The UK market for organic food is expected to increase by 86. 5% since 2006 to reach a value of $5. 4 billion by 2011. Also, UK accounts for 19. 9% of the European organic food markets value. Whole Foods Market has six stores in the UK; it operates five stores acquired from Fresh Wild. The sixth store company opened in June 2007 is 80,000 square foot store in London, and is its first major store in Europe. The company could exploit the growth of the UK organic food and drinks market to expand its existing operations, which would result in earning incremental revenues. Whole Foods does not currently participate in markets outside North America and the UK. Acquisition of Wild Oats The company acquired Wild Oats, a natural and organic foods retailer in North America in August 2007. Wild Oat’s acquisition has added 74 stores (70 in US and 4 in Canada) in Whole Foods Market’s chain of stores. This acquisition will boost the competitive position and provide wider presence in the natural and organic food market in the US and Canada. This would also increase company’s customer base and leverage growing demand for natural and organic food products to increase its revenues. Threats: Competition The company faces intense competition in the single market it operates in. Its competitors currently include other natural foods supermarkets, conventional and specialty supermarkets, other natural foods stores, warehouse membership stores, small specialty stores and restaurants. It faces competition from Kroger’s, a US retailer operating 2,507 stores under numerous banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers and Smith’s. Kroger’s also operates 791 convenience stores. Big players like Wal-Mart and supermarkets like Safeway are expanding product ranges and introducing natural and organic personal care products. Increased competition may have an adverse effect on profitability as the result of lower sales, lower gross profits and/or greater operating costs such as marketing. Labeling and other regulations As the company operates in the natural and organic foods market, its stores and products are subject to several laws and regulations relating to health, sanitation and food labeling. Several federal agencies and departments including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set critical standards for the manufacture, processing, formulation, packaging, labeling and advertising of products. Failure to comply with these standards could result in penalties and seizure of marketing and sales licenses. These regulations also result in additional compliance costs, which reduce company’s margins. Economic slowdown in US The US is the key market of the company. According to the IMF world economy outlook, the real GDP growth of the US is expected to slowdown in 2008. The GDP growth of the US economy is forecasted to slow down from 3. 3% in 2006 to 2. 8% in 2008. A weak economic outlook for the US would put pressure on the revenues of the company. Summary: Whole Foods Market is a retailer of natural and organic food products. The company offers a broad product selection in all its stores, including seafood, grocery, meat and poultry, bakery, prepared foods, specialty, nutritional supplements and vitamins, body care, books, floral products, pet products and household products. The company has recorded strong financial performance in the recent years, which has helped the company to pursue its expansion plans. However, competition in the organic and natural foods market threatens to erode the market share of the company that could reduce its margins.