Read the following text and answer question.

ABC Crackers Limited, a fire cracker manufacturing company, launched some new products on the eve of Diwali in the market, which attracted many buyers. To meet the increased demand, the company employed people to promote the products to each distributor, from the nearby villages. As the products were in great demand in the market, a competitor, A2Z Crackers Limited, imitated the products. The products of the competitor were not accepted by the consumers due to inferior quality, lack of relevant information, poor response from the customer support services wherever it was a status symbol to buy the products of ABC Crackers Limited because of their quality and responsible management.

Which combination of marketing philosophies have been adopted by ABC Crackers Limited and A2Z Crackers Limited respectively?

Product and production

The correct answer is option 4- Product and production

Product Concept: ABC Crackers Limited follows the product concept because the focus in the passage is clearly on high quality, better image, and superiority of the product. Consumers prefer their crackers because of quality and status value, which shows that the company believes that if the product is good, customers will automatically be attracted. This matches the idea that improvement in quality, features, and performance leads to higher sales.

Production Concept: A2Z Crackers Limited follows the production concept because it simply copies the product and puts it in the market without focusing on quality, information, or customer support. This indicates a mindset where the firm is concerned mainly with producing and supplying goods rather than understanding customer needs. There is no effort to improve quality or satisfy customers, which reflects a production-oriented approach.

Why not other Options: 

The selling concept is not applicable here because there is no indication that either company is using aggressive advertising, persuasion, or promotional techniques to push sales. The focus is not on convincing customers to buy, but rather on the nature of the product itself.

The marketing concept is also not applicable because there is no clear evidence that either company is identifying and satisfying customer needs in a systematic way. Although ABC satisfies customers, the passage highlights product quality rather than deliberate customer-oriented decision-making.

The societal marketing concept is not applicable because there is no mention of concern for social welfare, environment, or long-term societal benefits. The case only talks about product quality and market response, not broader social responsibility.