Final answer:
The correct option is A. inclusive distribution.
The distribution method involving stocking a product in many outlets is classified as intensive distribution, which aims for high market coverage and contrasts with exclusive and selective distributions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intensive distribution is a marketing strategy within the realm of marketing intermediaries that prioritizes maximizing market coverage by making a product widely available across numerous outlets. This approach seeks to ensure that the product is easily accessible to consumers in as many locations as possible. The strategy is particularly common for consumer goods with high demand and low purchasing commitment, such as snacks, soft drinks, and magazines.
The key objective of intensive distribution is to enhance product availability and visibility, catering to consumer convenience. By placing products in a multitude of outlets, including supermarkets, convenience stores, and various retail points, marketers aim to capture a broad market share and stimulate impulse purchases. This is especially effective for products where consumers often make spontaneous decisions or purchases based on immediate needs.
This distribution strategy stands in contrast to exclusive distribution, which deliberately limits the number of outlets to create an aura of exclusivity, and selective distribution, which strikes a balance by being more restrained than intensive distribution but less restricted than exclusive distribution. Intensive distribution is instrumental in meeting the demands of mass markets and generating widespread consumer awareness, aligning with the nature of products that benefit from broad availability and accessibility.