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The purpose of this paper is to focus on consumers’ behaviours in a new trend of grocery retailing, called the drive-through format. It investigates the influence of logistics service quality and product quality (freshness of the product and the product in general) on consumers’ reactions (satisfaction, average basket expenditure and shopping frequency) through the mediation of satisfaction. This work also examines whether convenience moderates the relation between perceived quality and consumer satisfaction.

This study tests these relationships with both path and structural models using a data set of grocery drive-throughs in France, gathered during 2015–2016. To confirm the validity of each construct, this paper has based and purified variables using various scales established in previous studies by conducting exploratory and confirmatory analysis.

Logistics service quality and perceived product are effective drivers of consumer satisfaction. As well, the results reveal a positive relationship between quality perceptions and behaviour (average basket expenditure and shopping frequency) through the mediating function of consumer (overall) satisfaction. Thus, the findings indicate that the positive effects of the interaction terms between convenience and both the perceived quality of service and the perceived quality of fresh products on satisfaction can lead to a higher purchase incidence in drive-throughs. However, the degree of consumer convenience does not alter the influence of product quality in general with regard to the formation of satisfaction in connection with drive-throughs.

Despite the growth of the drive-through format, few studies have investigated customer satisfaction within grocery retailing, nor its consequences and drivers, especially logistics service quality.

The study examines the process of international market expansion by a relatively new and small franchisor. Particular emphasis is placed on the company‘s efforts to identify a suitable partner in the host country, the adaptation of the concept to address differences in the new market, and the multitude of critical decisions that need to be made when franchising in international markets. The authors also discuss the role that strategic alliances play in the success of international franchising efforts. The paper concludes with the implications of this case for both researchers and practitioners.

This study aims to assess Brazilian adult consumers’ behavior, aged 18–70, when purchasing ready-to-eat food during the first months of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Participants answered an online questionnaire about behaviors related to the purchase of ready-to-eat food from food services: changes in usage frequency during the pandemic, reasons for altering purchase habits, types of food and beverages bought before and during the pandemic and the frequency of on-site (consumption in food services) and off-site (delivery, take-away and drive-through) service utilization at lunch and dinner.

Out of 970 individuals who participated in the study, during the pandemic, 38% of participants reduced their food service usage, whereas 18% stopped using it. The main reasons given by participants who reduced and stopped food service usage were cooking at home (52% and 59%, respectively) and feeling afraid of contracting COVID-19 (26% and 22%, respectively). The reduction was more frequent among divorced/widowed/single individuals (p = 0.001) and in total social distancing, that is, all day long (p = 0.03). A significant reduction in on-site consumption frequency occurred for lunch and dinner (p < 0.001), whereas an increase in the off-site consumption frequency service for lunch (p = 0.016) and a reduction for dinner (p = 0.01) occurred compared to pre-COVID-19. However, 48% of participants used these services at least once a week in both periods. Most consumed foods and drinks before and during the pandemic were pasta/pizza (74% and 64%, respectively), snack/burgers (66% and 59%, respectively), soft drinks (41% and 37%, respectively) and alcoholic beverages (37% and 25%, respectively).

Knowledge about food choices away from home during the pandemic is scarce. High consumption of food away from home has been associated with a greater risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and others. Eating behavior is influenced by the cultural, social, economic and personal characteristics of each individual. Understanding the main changes related to the consumption of ready-to-eat food and what the affected consumers profile in a time of unprecedented crisis, it is important to provide scientific knowledge that allows one to anticipate the implications for the future of individuals’ health and food systems and, consequently, to develop public policy or awareness and promotion actions of public health that encourage adopting healthier and balanced eating habits.

The purpose of this paper is to present a new concept of a multi-module electromagnetic launcher with pneumatic assist. The authors focus on the problem of modelling a two-module electromagnetic launcher consisting of a coil-gun (module C) and a rail-gun (module R), as well as on the key problem of determining their position-dependent parameters, i.e. the resistances and inductances of discharging electrical circuits connected with the both modules. Special attention is paid to the possibility of influencing the missile’s flight via basic controller variation of the initial voltage values across the terminals of the capacitor batteries supplying current to both modules C and R.

Analysis of the electromagnetic launcher has been based on the circuit-field approach. Differential equations describing movement of the missile have been drawn from circuit theory. The Finite Element Method and the Comsol Multiphysic program were used to determine position-dependent parameters in module C. It is worth emphasising that the effect of saturation (resulting from B-H curve for ferromagnetic part of the considered magnetic circuit) was taken into account. The influence of the initial missile speed adjusted in a pneumatic assist unit on the missile’s velocity was also considered and illustrated by appropriate simulations (the Matlab program).

In analysing the flight of a missile along coil-gun and rail-gun modules, it is necessary to distinguish between three specific stages of the moveable element: the “fall in” stage, the “drive through” stage and the “fall out” stage. One of the most important findings is that during modelling, it is necessary to take into account of all the three above-mentioned stages of missile movement and, in particular, the “fall in” stage. It was shown both by computer simulations and laboratory investigations that this stage plays an important role in determining the time curves of decaying currents in discharging electrical circuits of both module C and module R.

The main difficulties are related to determining the influence of air drag force upon missile movement (especially in module C), as well as identifying an accurate value for contact resistances and friction force between the rails and the missile in module R.

Hybrid construction employing propelling units of different characters should be treated as a promising and challenging trend in developing launcher structure. One of the most significant advantages of such a solution is the possibility of influencing missile velocity during its flight.

Since the first device was successfully completed in 1920 the continuous rise in the interest on electromagnetic launchers has been observed. As far as their social and technical impact is concerned, one of the most promising fields of interest seem to be launchers of satellites, high-pressure compressors, simulators modelling collisions between meteoroids and the surface of the earth and electromagnetic guns on board war ships.

The novel concept in developing the construction of launchers presented in this paper has been to integrate propelling modules of different characteristics and to create a new multi-module constructional-compact whole. The designed and constructed prototype consists of three modules: a pneumatic drive unit and two electromagnetic drive units that have different principles of operation. The original methodology leading to the creation of its effective mathematical model (focusing on determination of position-depended parameters) was presented and verified in an experimental way.

The US restaurant industry and the food‐service industry have undergone tremendous changes during the last decade owing to demographic changes, changes in the family structure, the increase in the number of working women and senior citizens, advances in technology (inventory management, customer order processing, accounting/financial systems, etc.), availability of financing, changes in the real estate industry (location, negotiation with malls, relationships with developers, etc.), intense competition, the growth in the types and number of marketing channels (including the Internet), increasing number of drive‐through customers, employee training requirements, changes in labor laws, the rate of implementation of technology, changes in food sourcing/purchasing, the growth of the franchising business model, and increasing regulation. These factors have combined to shape the strategic, legal, economic and operational considerations that executives and decision makers should thoroughly understand. This article discusses the issues and challenges facing one company in these two industries and how management and banks have reacted, and then explains strategies for the future. Also discussed are relevant considerations for financial sponsors and companies. Most data and analysis are as of April 2000.

An aircraft wing has one or more fans or blowers located at its trailing edge and tillable downwardly into a position in which the fan exhaust gives a jet flap effect. The illustrations show a wing 11 supporting at intervals gas turbine engines 18 in nacelles beneath the wing. Each engine supports, and drives through shafting and gearing 19, two ducted fans 12, the engine exhaust gases passing rearwardly between the fans. In normal flight, the fan axes 20 are horizontal, and the fans provide propulsion. During take‐off or landing, each fan is tilted as in broken lines, so that the leading edge of its duct abuts the trailing edge 13 of the wing, to produce lift by jet reaction and the jet flap effect. The fans may have variable pitch blades, reverse pitch being used on landing for braking and for destroying the lift on the wing, thereby improving ground adhesion. An engine may drive more than two fans, or only one fan, in which case the engine may be located in the fan within its blade ring.

Understand the external environment and trends impacting customer preferences. Understanding the elements of customer segmentation and positioning for products such as backpacks and travel luggage. Understand the levers for turnaround management. Qualitative evaluation of an opportunity for investment – greenfield versus brownfield. Developing a marketing plan for growth.

Indian Luggage market has an oligopoly structure with three major brands – very important person (VIP) Industries, Samsonite and Safari Industries Ltd. (SIL), holding around 90% share of the organized market. The market had evolved slowly, with the players offering limited assortment and having limited manufacturing capacities in India. SIL, having been in business for nearly 25 years, had been registering a flat top line. In 2011, the top management shuffle at VIP Industries witnessed the exit of the then MD, Mr Sudhir Jatia. Mr Jatia decided to acquire the majority stake of 56.55% for Rs 29 crores for the struggling SIL. What followed in the subsequent years was the resurgence of SIL to a noteworthy position in the industry. From a merely 2% market share in 2011, SIL went on to hold nearly 16% market share in 2019. This growth in market share, along with CAGR of almost 15% for the luggage market overall, has boosted the revenue of SIL by nearly 10-folds from INR 620m in 2011 to INR 5.73bn in the year 2018. Several reasons had been identified behind the growth of this company, such as – Mr Jatia’s leadership style, focus on profitable stock keeping units, acquisition of other brands, operational efficiency and financial infusion. However, the larger question was that – Will SIL, which had been following a challenger strategy to date, be able to overcome the leaders in the industry? What strategies should it pursue now? And what obstacles can it expect on this anticipated journey of growth?

Undergraduate and post-graduate.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

CSS 11: Strategy.

This paper aims to advance the view that, as organizations realize the limitations of working in isolation and accept the need to develop partnerships and coalitions, they seek a new type of leadership model in which the charismatic individual who, by sheer force of personality, drives through changes and makes thing happen – the hero – is replaced by a type of leadership in which all managers are leaders.

Provides a case example of how Lancashire County Council's Directorate of Community Services introduced this new leadership through management development.

Describes the origins and implementation of the directorate's executive‐coaching initiative, and how this was rolled out to the next tier of management through learning sets or management‐development groups facilitated by management consultants. Following this, the program focused on the 300‐plus first‐line managers, by using the management‐development groups facilitated by volunteers from the top 30 managers working in pairs.

Reveals how management development in the Directorate of Community Services is being used to equip managers for the fast‐changing world of local government.

Highlights the way in which two management consultants have been used over four years, in contrast to the usual model of hiring consultants for short‐term assignments.

The pilot's control member 10 of an aircraft controls two power units 25, 125 which each execute movements corresponding in amount and direction to the movement of the control member and thus, through a differential gear 31, drive a torque shaft 32 which drives the irreversible gearing 50 associated with the control surface, and means are provided to prevent reverse rotation of one power unit, should it fail, by the other. The control member 10 is connected by a chain drive 11, shaft 12 and chain drives 13, 14 to two selsyn transmitters 16, 116 adapted to control the power units 25, 125 respectively. Each power unit comprises a constantly rotating constant speed electric motor 26 driving a variable delivery pump 27 which provides pressure fluid to drive a hydraulic motor 28, and each includes a mechanical lock normally held out of engagement by fluid pres‐sure, but spring‐loaded to lock the motor should it fail. The pump 27 normally docs not deliver fluid, but the delivery is controlled by a lever operated by follow‐up gears 33 in turn controlled by the output of the motors 28 and by the selsyn receiver 29 (see also Group XXIX) to provide a correspondence control. The pumps 27 and motors 28 are of the variable stroke rotary type to provide control in two directions of rotation. The motors 28 each drive one sun‐wheel 30, 130 of a differential gear 31, the planet carrier of which drives the torque shaft 32, and also the shafts 65 associated with the follow‐up gears 33 through gearing 55, 56, 64. The torque shaft 32 drives, through bevel gearing and shafting, jacks 50 each comprising a worm 49 engaging a worm‐wheel on a nut 75 engaging a screw 76 to move the surface 24. The surface 24 is in independent sections, each having its own jack, and the worms 49 are secured to the driving shaft 46 by frangible pins which break if the corresponding sec‐tion of the surface jams, so permitting continued operation of the rest of the surface. ‘Desynn’ (Registered Trade Mark) transmitters 34, 37, associated with the control member 10 and this surface 24 respectively, control indicators 35, 36 in the pilot's cabin. A device 20 for simulating ‘feel’, such as described in Specifications 619,987 and 619,988, and a trimming device 21 both operate through a differential gear 18 and chain drive 17, while the automatic pilot is connected to the shaft 12. A further differential gear associated with the shaft 32 may provide for operation of the surface by a reversible electric motor if both power units 25 fail. In an aircraft with a pressure cabin 114, the torque shaft 32 passes through a seal 45, the jacks 50 being outside the cabin and the power units 25 inside, but not necessarily in the pilot's compartment. Specification 577,496 is referred to.