Technology Trends

• Changes in food processing & handling
• Changes in inventory management
  
• Changes and rising costs in transportation
• Customers want an easy to use, safe website  

Target has computer systems that manages inventory, processes transactions and keeps things running smoothly. Systems must be kept up to date and functioning properly.
Target must keep up with the online trend of today by having an accessible, easy to use website. Customer transactions must also be kept safe.

*Creative Commons Photo

Societal & Cultural Trends

• Healthy living
  
• Obesity
  
• Genetically Modified foods
• Target tries to keep up with the trends by having healthy eating tips on their website
• They also promote healthy eating through their Archer Farms brand, which is affordable and has the following benefits:

                -Fat: A maximum of 30 percent
                        calories from fat •
                -Saturated Fat: A maximum of
                        10 percent calories from saturated fat •
                -Trans Fat: 0 grams trans fat
                -Sugar: A maximum 25 percent of calories from added sugar
                -Food Additives: No artificial flavors, synthetic colors or artificial sweeteners (http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-introduces-archer-farms.aspx)

• The produce section of Super Target stores is USDA Organic certified.

---

Regulatory Trends

• FDA
  
• Local Health Dept
• Anti-Trust Laws
  
• Fair Work Laws must be followed
  
• Tax changes 
  

All of Target’s private food and drug brands are FDA approved. Future growth depends on Target’s ability to build and require new stores. When doing this Target must meet many building regulations, such as zoning changes and building permits.
Privacy of personal information must be ensured, especially for credit card and pharmacy customers. If not, Target will face fines and litigation.

Target employee’s benefits include a pension plan, 401k, medical & dental plan, disability insurance, paid vacation, tuition reimbursement, life insurance and discounts.


Socioeconomic Trends

• Price Sensitivity
  
• Poverty Rates
  
• Job Loss

Target needs to keep its prices affordable in order to stay in competition with Wal-Mart during bad economic times. One way that it does this is through its privately owned brands, which they can sell cheaper than national brands. Because Target is currently only operating in the US (expansion in Canada has just begun) Target is very dependent on the state of the US economy. A significant portion of Target’s sales comes from stores located in 5 states: California, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and Illinois. Therefore, Target is very dependent upon the economic condition of these states. If unemployment and poverty  were to increase in these states it would be harmful to Target.

Target also must be careful about the sensitivity of their credit card program. If customers are unable to pay credit card balances on Targets Red Card, it would leave Target with debt expense. .