CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According the Kotler (1986:80 distribution channel involves planning, implementing and controlling the physical flow of materials and final goods from point of orign to point of use to meet the needs of customers as a profit.
He went further to say that the major physical distribution cost is transportation, followed by inventory carrying cost, warehousing and or reprocessing, physical distribution management should be broadened to include the distribution cost could be more effectively managed.
There should be an service to get to the final consumer at the right time.
This is because the consumer is the distribution of all production process. The distributors have to date into account the changing panthern of the market and the activity of the competitors. And also the goal which the industry sets to achieve and also determining the product need of consumers before embraking on physical distribution management.
The use of distribution in conveying products to the consumer are an behalf of manufacturers in dealing with their customers. These distributors are also known as the middlemen or wholesales who act as a link between the manufacturers and consumers. One of the problems facing most firms is the physical distribution of product. Because of this reason, a lot of research has been done and most of these researchers tried to find out solution to these problems.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Because of the competitive nature of every industry, many companies who are unable to cope with the competition have collapsed and foiled.
Distribution is an important aspect of marketing, many industries loose their share as a result of poor distribution management most consumers blame them for high priel because the distribution add cost to the product, buy, clain that there would be no effectiveness and efficiency in distribution of product without the introduction of distributions.
No much has been written or done to know the extent of the influence of distribution in marketing and thereby coming out with possible and workable solution there is therefore, the heed for the researcher to evaluate the distribution channel in marketing of coco cola product in Imo State using Nigeria Bottling company Owerri as a case study. The researcher channels are unnecessary and if some channels or addition should be made.
1.3 OBJEIVE OF THE STUDY
The specific objective of this study are as follows.
1. To critically examine the distribution channels of Nigeria Bottling Company Owerri.
2. To determine and examine the various channels used in distributing soft drinks in Imo State.
3. To determine the problems encountered in the distribution channel and also to identify the factors that could be responsible for such situation.
4. TO examine the impact of distribution cost to print.
5. To fund and recommend possible solution to the problems associated with the distribution.