In Thailand's Impoverished Northeast, Fried Insects Have Traditionally Been a Popular

In Thailand's impoverished northeast, fried insects have traditionally been a popular food, especially during the long dry seasons. It is a taste that migrant workers from the region have carried with them to Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand. These migrants have been able to buy fried insects from small tattered-looking pushcarts. Then an entrepreneur decided to reposition the fried insects as a snack option to rival French fries, popcorn, and ice cream, give them a branded image, and market them to the middle class. The entrepreneur is calling his franchise operation Insects Inter (Insects International) and after six months of business, there were 60 Insects Inter franchises. Each franchisee is given a kiosk painted in the company colors with the company logo--a smiling cocoanut worm wearing a chef's hat. Its employees wear uniforms in the same colors as the kiosks and with the same logo. In fact, the logo appears on everything associated with the company. Insects Inter is planning on expanding operations to Indonesia and Korea.
-The Insects Inter franchises are encouraged to compete against each other for rewards that are given out on the basis of sales volume, profit levels, and improvement. Which promotion method does this competition exemplify?

A) personal selling
B) public relations
C) direct selling
D) sales promotion
E) corporate advertising