Every consumer trend has a life cycle, and food trends are no exception. Many observers have recently proclaimed that cupcakes’ time is up. Is that true? And what does the answer mean for manufacturers and retailers of similar products? A combination of influential bakeries and a high-profile cameo in 2000 on Sex and the City… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
We live and work in St. Louis, which means that we’re particularly fond of beer and baseball. We love October, and we can regularly be found after-hours gathered in a sports bar enjoying beverages and pub grub and rooting for the Cardinals. Game One of the 2013 World Series is Wednesday, and we’re already dreaming… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Who are the best food marketing agencies? Chances are, you’re reading this because you searched for “best food marketing agencies” or something similar. That would make perfect sense; though your need for a partner is specific, even unique, it’s much easier to start a search on a broad scale and narrow down as you go.… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Last year, my (former) physician sent me from his office with a prescription for “eat more bran.” Bran didn’t help. Bran, it turns out, was one of the reasons I had to see the doctor in the first place. As I would learn through self-diagnosis a few weeks later, I have (and have had for… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Transparency is the biggest trend reshaping the food, pet, and nutrition industries today. We have dedicated significant analysis to the trend on this site, but we also want to make sure our readers are aware of relevant news on the topic, whether we analyze it or not. This post represents our first transparency report, covering the latter… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
The FDA recently announced changes to the Nutrition Facts label, with more details about sugar. Starting in 2018 [1], the FDA will require Nutrition Facts labels to distinguish between sugars found naturally in ingredients and sugars added, both in grams and a percentage of daily recommended value. The FDA is recommending no more than ten… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
With a nationwide GMO labeling bill now signed into law, brands are attempting to sort out what the new requirements will mean for their products. Although the FDA has until summer 2019 to establish the full rules for the law—and even longer to enforce them—the length of supply chains means that brands are already pondering… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Since our beginning as food industry consultants 15 years ago, we’ve remained focused on the food industry. We’ve done so partly because the food industry is where we started and what we love. But we’ve also done so because we place great importance on the value of focus. Effective food industry branding and marketing require… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
From GMOs to FD&Cs, whole grain over multigrain, no brominates and definitely no aspartame, it’s getting harder for the average consumer to know what to think. This isn’t to say that cleaner labels aren’t good for our collective wellbeing—just that it’s a lot to keep straight. It’s why marketing beyond benefits is essential to attracting… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
My love of garden-grown, heirloom tomatoes is well documented. However, since it’s late summer (prime tomato-harvest season) I’m not the only one with tomatoes on the mind. Heirloom tomato recipes are everywhere, and the Washington Post even ran a fascinating history of the “tumatle from Themistitan.” I contend that the obsession is well warranted. Good… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
I can remember my first encounter with marketing materials from our local independent hardware shop. While still a student at the nearby university, I glanced at a campus bulletin board on the third floor of an anonymous campus office and saw, tacked among the posters for campus theatre productions, a black-and-white business card with a… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
In spare moments, I’ve been reading Tom Nealon’s 15-blog-post-long history of condiments, a frantic and learned tour through more than two thousand years of vinegars, sauces, dressings, and spices. It’s tremendously informative and entertaining—Nealon studies rare cookbooks, and consequently possesses a massive repertoire of weird food facts and history. Perhaps the most striking food story… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
We’re excited and proud to announce the launch of Hůga. Several months ago, we partnered with (the now-named) Hůga Foods to develop their brand. After an initial conversation about family recipes and gluten-free nutrition, we got to work on the following: • Market assessment• Brand positioning strategy• Brand narrative• Brand name• Product naming• Logo• Wrapper… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
For years now, we’ve been discussing the implications of transparency with our partners and on our blog. So we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the Food Leaders Summit April 27-29 in Chicago. We’ll be in Booth 130, so we hope you’ll say hello while you’re there. If you’re registering for the conference, we invite… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
We’re happy to announce that we recently began a partnership with Parker Products, an innovative ingredient producer with a wide range of products encompassing inclusions, flavor systems, and other value-added ingredients. Founded by the creator of the famous “Drumstick” ice cream novelty, Parker has been a source for creativity in the food industry since its inception.… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>