Research Guides: MKTG 347 (Spring 2024): External Environment

Industry Reports

Industry reports and news articles are excellent sources for information on the external environment.

IBISWorld USA This link opens in a new window
Industry research including industry performance and competitive landscape
Mergent Intellect This link opens in a new window
Provides access to private and public U.S and international business data, industry news, facts and figures, executive contact information, the ability to access industry profiles and much more.
Mintel Reports This link opens in a new window
Numerous reports on various restaurants including data, marketing strategies, market drivers, and consumers
Passport This link opens in a new window
Information on industries (consumer, industrial, service), countries, and consumers
Plunkett Research Online This link opens in a new window
Provides industry analysis, trends, and statistics for selected industries such as, "Food, Beverage & Tobacco". Major companies in each industry are profiled. Industry association / organization descriptions and contact information are included.
RKMA Publications This link opens in a new window
Market research handbooks that focus on various consumer-related markets. Each handbook includes market forecasts, sector trends, and statistics.

News Articles

ABI/Inform Trade & Industry This link opens in a new window
Trade publication database, including articles from Nation's Restaurant News

General newspaper articles and press releases can be searched directly on news websites, like The New York Times. Since some news websites have a cap on the number of articles a user can access per month, the news article database, Factiva, allows for searching and reading an unlimited number of articles from publishers like The NY Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and PR Newswire.

Factiva This link opens in a new window
Articles from the NY Times, Bloomberg, and other major newspapers, plus press releases

Menu and Prices

Fast Food Menu Prices
Menu and prices for various franchise restaurants