Public Relations Emergency: Shaw’s Supermarkets

Public Relations Emergency: Shaw’s Supermarkets
Assignment A

• Civil Disorders:
o Fighting in the store
o Massive looting and shoplifting
• Labor Unrest:
o Union strike (Supermarket Worker’s Union)
• Crime:
o Any criminal action taken against the company
 Arson
 Theft
• Government Actions:
o Raising cost of food prices
o Tariffs on foreign foods
• System or Product Failure:
o Contaminated foods or products
o Outdated foods
o Sub-par foods
• Acts of God:
o Shaw’s depends on many different country’s food products
o Storms could ruin farmers crops
o A severe winter could hinder produce production
o Flooding could close stores
• Political Disorder:
o When dealing with Central American countries that are amid political unrest, we must be prepared
 A governmental overthrow could change how we get our products
 It could also affect the cost of our suppliers
• Technological catastrophes:
o Stolen wireless information
o Stolen credit card numbers and social security numbers
• Lawsuits and Financial:
o Slip and fall lawsuits
o Food poisoning lawsuits
o Workers getting injured
o Workers compensation
o Bankruptcy

Shaw’s is the second largest Supermarket chain in New England, and because of this, they depend greatly on the quality of other companies products. Since Shaw’s is selling others’ products in their stores, their vulnerability is amplified. This also includes importing food from other countries, which may have political unrest or poor production/farming condition. Shaw’s is at the mercy of all its vendors.
The most realistic crisis that Shaw’s will inevitable have to deal with and overcome, is the rising prices of food, especially dairy, produce, and meat prices. Shaw’s must continue to search all their resources to find the cheapest and highest quality products possible.
Shaw’s considers themselves part of the community. They cater to anyone and everyone. If a crisis occurs, everyone in that community, and therefore... [continues]

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