CASE STUDY #$1$LOBLAW COMPANIES LIMITED EXPANSION INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS In $2023,$ Galen Weston stepped down as CEO $($Chief Executive Officer$)$ and became Chair of Loblaw Companies Ltd$.$ Board of Directors. Per Bank became the new CEO and reported in early $2024.$ Bank has a $30$ year retail career in Europe and of recent, was CEO of the Salling Group A$/$S$,$ a large conglomerate with over $1700$ retail stores located in $3$ European countries. In December $2023,$ the Canadian Government held talks with a number of foreign grocery executives in an attempt to lure new supermarket chains to Canada to challenge the big $5$ retail chains that currently dominate the Canadian grocery market. Bank was brought in because of his vast international experience to lead Loblaws global expansion into new markets. You have been chosen to conduct a preliminary study into $3$ potential markets:$1.$ Europe$2.$ United States of America $($USA$)3.$ Asia Your initial report should include:a$)$ A brief analysis of each market, including such factors as the competitive environment, opportunities and challenges;b$)$ An analysis of the current environment$/$institutional factors in each market. $($ie: political and geopolitical, economic, technical$/$infrastructure$,$ cultural, etc.$)$ and assessing the risk in each marketc$)$ An analysis of Loblaws readiness to enter these markets. Upon completion, recommend the best market for Loblaw to pursue. Provide the rationale to support this recommendation. Include both a strategy and a timeline to execute. Submit your completed report to Per Bank, CEO Loblaw Companies Limited by February $18,2024.$Reminder: Submit your report on Brightspace, follow the submission guidelines posted, The recommended format, and view the evaluation rubric for cases.