Final answer:
The Southwestern Sales Region of McDermott Foods manages the sale of the company's products in a historically agricultural hub of the Midwest, indicated by Chicago's role in the industry. This area, vital for food production, faces a changing agricultural landscape influenced by market forces and production shifts. Additionally, the advantages of product physical aspects and strategic business locations are also acknowledged as key competitive factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Southwestern Sales Region of McDermott Foods is tasked with the crucial role of distributing the company's wide array of product lines. This region is pivotal, as its dominant city, Chicago, has historical significance in its development through the selling and processing of agricultural products like livestock and grain. Such cities, connected by an intricate railway network, have evolved alongside the agriculture sector, which remains North America's key food-producing region despite the dwindling number of farmers due to mechanization and farm consolidation.
The upper Midwest has been historically referred to as "King Wheat," given its massive wheat production, but over the decades, the question arises whether there has been a shift in the mix of crops due to changing crop prices, showcasing the dynamic nature of agricultural markets. The evolution of this region, with reference to changes in crop cultivation, ties back to market forces in a perfectly competitive market, where prices and product offerings are influenced by supply and demand dynamics.
Furthermore, the text highlights how a product's physical aspects and a firm's location can differentially impact its competitive advantage. This concept extends to businesses like gas stations, which leverage high-traffic locations, or suppliers that gain logistical benefits by being near an automobile factory, emphasizing the importance of strategic positioning in product sales and distribution.