09/30/2008
Like many others, the food industry is hoping environmentally friendly “green” products will add more green to their coffers. A flurry of recent reports has said that consumers are confused, and even suspicious, about products that make green claims. But a new study says that manufacturers should also be wary of consumers’ actual purchase intent.One of the pitfalls of consumer ...
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09/23/2008
I think we can all agree now that the fundamentals of this economy are anything but strong. Watching my son’s college fund shift between paying for two years at a top state college and two years at our community college over the last several days serves as an apt barometer for the heft of consumers’ wallets and their purchasing power at the local supermarket.We’ve seen food service ...
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08/27/2008
As the "Pepsi Generation" turns into the "Pepcid Generation," the boomer consumer continues to shape the food and beverage market. According to Matt Switzer, Slack Barshinger and Partners, Inc., the search for the fountain of youth for this segment is fueling new product development. Now, where'd I put that Joint Juice...? —Lynn A. Kuntz Just as the baby boomer generation is ...
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08/22/2008
The USA Today headline reads: “FDA to allow food producers to irradiate spinach, lettuce.” And actually the article itself is straightforward and factual, something not often seen in consumer press. But if you want some interesting reading, scroll down to the comments section for a cross section of public opinion ranging from the informed to the absurd. Apparently-germ infested poop is ...
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08/15/2008
Umami seems to be a hot button across the entire swath of the food industry, from gourmet kitchens to scientific institutions. Last week, Kim Decker, a long-time colleague and writer par excellence, wrote me a note (this delightful dissertation being Kim’s idea of a “note”) about a umami symposium she recently attended. Many thanks for sharing the experience; but next time, don’t ...
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08/12/2008
“Killer foods” stories abound, particularly in the consumer press. While the industry needs to pay close attention to the influences on the buying public, do certain headlines require a panicked response? I asked Dick Hanneman, president of the Salt Institute what he thought of the following headline “Too Much Salt Boosts Blood Pressure,” particularly in light of a piece ...
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08/08/2008
One oft-heard company strategy in hard economic times is focusing only on core brands and axing the niche brands from the product portfolio. However, those who do not vet those niche markets may be throwing away a slice of the future. Take the soy beverage category for instance. A recent report discussed market research showing that the category grew by 19.3% last year. U.S. retail sales went from ...
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