MMNPL checks out iTouchless at NHS 2012

MMNPL’s Ashley DePaolo learns all about iTouchless’ line of touch-free toilet seats, trash cans and other products at the 2012 National Hardware Show.

Keep checking back here for more interviews and videos from NHS 2012.

What’s next for food marketers? More Migration Marketing.

What’s next for food marketers? More Migration Marketing.

Foodpreneur Dom Celentano interviews product launch expert Julie Hall about a continuing trend of migration marketing, where food brands and manufacturers create products for new consumer audiences and retail channels. Recent examples highlighted include QSR chains like IHOP and Olive Garden creating supermarket grocery products. The article discusses how for food marketers, brand and product positioning is essential.

Read more about the Migration Marketing trend.

Launch Expert Julie Hall Adds 5th “P” – Participation – to the Classic 4 P’s of Marketing

The Holmes Report featured an op-ed by Schneider Associates’ EVP and Launch Expert Julie Hall about how social media is changing the way we launch new products.

Hall and Schneider Associates introduced the Most Memorable New Product Launch (MMNPL) Survey in 2002, and since then, the poll has surveyed thousands of consumers about the most memorable product launches each year, analyzed media consumption and purchasing habits, and predicted trends based on the results.

Hall highlighted one significant change in this year’s MMNPL findings: “Facebook was nowhere near the top 10 sources of information about new products – and in the span of one year, it became the third most used source of information on new product launches, jumping from 17% to 40%. And this is just Facebook.”

Based on this and other findings, Hall coined the fifth P in the product marketer’s arsenal – Participation (the original four: product, price, promotion and place). Hall insists that consumers can be engaged by “Relationship Marketing,” which allows them to interact more closely with brands and products they love. Going forward, campaigns must consist of a blend of participatory marketing through various sources of old and new, traditional and social media marketing techniques in order to succeed.

Read the full article here.

If you would like help planning your next launch, contact us at launch@schneiderpr.com or on Twitter @SchneiderPR.

MMNPL Product Preview: Wendy’s Natural Cut Fries with Sea Salt

Wendy’s made headlines this year when they launched their first fry redesign in the company’s 41-year history. Check out our video to see why Wendy’s Natural Cut Fries with Sea Salt launch campaign just might be spudtacular enough to be one of 2011′s Most Memorable New Product Launches.

MMNPL Product Preview: Orville Redenbacher’s Pop Up Bowl

An impressive launch we’ve been watching this year is Orville Redenbacher’s Pop Up Bowl. A revolutionary way to eat microwave popcorn, the bag opens on the side, making it the perfect disposable popcorn bowl. Check out the video below and our earlier blog post about the Pop Up Bowl to see why this product might pop up in this year’s MMNPL top ten.

Expert Panelist Phil Lempert of Supermarket Guru

With thousands of new food and beverage launches each year, new consumer packaged goods enter an extremely competitive market where it’s difficult to create a memorable impact on passive consumers. One of the recurring trends that we are finding in the CPG industry is using to catch consumer’s attention is the promise of simplification and convenience.

Food marketing expert Phil Lempert, the force behind SupermarketGuru.com, is a pioneer in news information media, specializing in consumer behavior. Here, he offers up his top five nominations for the 2011 MMNPL survey.

Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast

With five new microwavable breakfast foods (pancakes, waffles, entrées, sandwiches and French toast), Aunt Jemima is providing consumers with simple solutions for busy weekday mornings from a brand they already know and associate with a tasty breakfast. Calling on the slogan “Just Add Warmth,” these homemade tasting items can be prepared in just minutes using a toaster or microwave.

David’s Jumbo Sunflower Seeds

America’s favorite in-shell sunflower seeds are delicious and fun to eat anytime, anywhere, but the launch of their Jumbo Seeds is accompanied by a variety of new flavors, including Bar-B-Q, Ranch, and Chili Lime. It also exhibits new, portable packaging for convenient on-the-go enjoyment!

Dole Mixed Fruit Bowls

While most other fruit bowls contain fruit in syrup or other artificial sweeteners, Dole’s Mixed Fruit Bowls offer a healthier option, with all-natural fruit in 100% fruit juice. Awarded the 2011 Chefs Best Award for Best Taste, Dole’s Fruit Bowls are the perfect choice for a quick, healthy snack at home, in the office, or on-the-go.

Orville Redenbacher Pop up Bowl

The unique design of Orville Redenbacher’s Pop up Bowl demonstrates innovation at its finest: a microwave popcorn bag that opens on the side and morphs into a perfect popcorn bowl. By cutting out a buttery bag that only causes a greasy mess, this product has addressed the strong consumer need for convenience and simplification, ultimately revolutionizing your typical popcorn-eating experience.

Velveeta Cheesy Skillets

To address hectic family schedules during the back-to-school season, Kraft launched a new line of just-add-meat dinner kits that grant parents convenience and ease in the kitchen, allowing them to whip up a non-microwavable meal in no time. It solves the problem of wanting a home cooked meal, but not having a lot of time to prepare it. A pouch of Velveeta to mix in the meal is easier than mixing in powder, milk and butter, making this a quicker and easier option over other boxed meal kits.

MMNPL Expert Panelist Pauline Hammerbeck of Brand Packaging Nominates Products for the 2011 Survey

People say that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but many products are judged by their packing. The right wrapper can help make a product a success. In the past year, new designs were launched for products and Pauline Hammerbeck of Brand Packaging has chosen a few she thinks could be* in Schneider Associate’s 2011 Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey.

Baby Carrots

In the Fall of 2010, Bolthouse launched a new marketing campaign for their Baby Carrots snack. The campaign, “Eat ‘Em Like Junk Food,” used brand packaging resembling that of “junk food” you usually find in a vending machine. With a crinkly plastic bag, bright colored labels, and characters on the packaging geared toward children, Baby Carrots caught the attention of many. This new packaging dispels some of the stigma surrounding healthy snacks, and allows it to compete with chips and candy. 

Starbucks Logo Redesign

With its debut this past January, Starbucks redesigned the look of their logo for the third time in their 40 year history. Keeping the green iconic Siren, the company has dropped the circle around her that read “Starbucks Coffee.” Although the change has spawned some backlash from loyal Starbucks consumers, the company sees it as a marking of a milestone in their history. The Siren has stayed with the company since they first started out as a small coffee shop in Portland, Oregon, but as the company grew, it was time to update the logo with a more clean and modern look.

 Diet Coke Limited Edition Can

Marking the 125^th anniversary of Coca-Cola, it was a no brainer that the company was going to come out with a redesigned can. This September, Coca-Cola launched a new limited edition Diet Coke can. Although the temporary design keeps the traditional bare aluminum background, the letters D and K are blown-up so the lettering bleeds off the can, which has a sleek, clean, and modern look. Although they are a limited edition, it is unknown how long they will be available in stores. 

Kraft Mac & Cheese Redesign 

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese has come out with a new, happier packaging and marketing strategy with the “noodle smile.” At the beginning of this year, Kraft rolled out the new boxes that feature the smile along with updated typography, shapes, colors, and patterns. Although the redesign is a drastic change from their previous box, Kraft still retained the key elements that consumers associate with the brand, which research showed to be happiness, smiles, and joy.  Kraft also wanted to create packaging that unified the different macaroni and cheese products.  As a result, the noodle smile was born.  

Puma’s Clever Little Bag

Puma is out to change the world with its revolutionary “clever little bag.” Puma has created a way to package their shoes without using any boxes at all.  It’s a known fact that shoeboxes account for millions of tons of waste each year.  Puma’s goal was to find a way to create a shoe package that was environmentally friendly.  Twenty-one months and 40 prototypes later, Puma unveiled the new clever little bag – recycled paperboard box-like inserts, which are held in place by a 20 percent polypropylene bag.  According to the Puma website, the reusable bag contains 65 percent less paper and reduces water, energy, and diesel consumption during manufacturing by over 60 percent a year. Puma claims the design will save 8,500 tons of paper per year, millions of liters of water and fuel, and 275 tons of plastic a year. Smart move, Puma.  

Sharpie Redesign and Rebranding

Last summer, Sharpie announced their decision to rebrand itself with a new campaign that promotes self-expression. New commercials and ads feature Sharpie fans using the markers to make their own artistic creations. Sharpie has also redesigned their website and their packaging, showcasing funky artwork created with Sharpies, unlike the previous packaging that looked very utilitarian and clean cut. With 15 types of markers in an assortment of colors, Sharpie’s new campaign strategy is an effective way to reach an audience of creative people looking for a way to express themselves.

*Not all products chosen by the MMNPL expert panelists are guaranteed to be included in the MMNPL survey due to our rigorous criteria for selecting new products.

Expert Panelist Domenick Celentano Nominates Products for 2011 MMNPL Survey

Thousands of new products are launched every year. While some products fail, others prove to be memorable launches. Domenick Celentano, author of the food and beverage guide for About.com and The Foodpreneur blog, offers his picks * for the most memorable new product launches of the year (product choices by Celentano, summaries compiled by the MMNPL staff).

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sandwich Bread

This past year, Pepperidge Farm introduced the bread that smiles back. Available in three varieties, this bread does not contain high fructose corn syrup and boasts 3 grams of fiber per serving for only 120 calories. The bread is completely crust-free, ensuring that the pickiest eaters will have no reason to dislike it. This product created a lot of buzz through word of mouth marketing.
Kids loved the fun shape of the bread while busy mothers loved that their kids were eating healthy.  

 

Frito Lay All Natural Chips

Frito Lay introduced more than six dozen products made with all natural ingredients. The transition from processed to wholesome snack options is a result of rising health-consciousness among consumers. Promoting the “real ingredients” made by “real people” were key messages in this successful launch. Instead of using paid actors in their commercials, Frito Lay made a smart decision to use their employees, allowing consumers to get to know the real people behind the brand.

 

Triple Double Oreo

Oreo has literally taken this iconic brand to the next level.  With the introduction of the Triple Double Oreo, fans of the original cookie can now indulge in the new product, which includes one layer of original crème stuffing and one layer of chocolate stuffing sandwiched between three cookie wafers.  Oreo was smart to cash in on two important food trends– flavor layering and affordable indulgence. Consumers created a buzz online months before the Triple Double Oreo was released, proving once again that word of mouth is a powerful boost to marketing programs and sales. 

 

Bertolli^® Premium Meal Soups for Two

Bertolli is bringing restaurant-style food home to you.  In partnership with Fabio Viviani, acclaimed Italian chef, restaurant owner and Top Chef contestant, Bertolli has released a line of soups based on Italian restaurant cooking.  Bertolli Premium Meal Soups for Two are available in four different varieties. The traditional, hearty Italian soups are used for the main course rather than a side dish or appetizer.   Bertolli also positioned this new soup meal as a healthy, affordable option for dinner during the recession. 

 

Amazon Kindle Fire

Since the announcement from Amazon in September, consumers have been waiting for the release of this new tablet.  The Amazon Kindle Fire allows users to watch movies and TV shows, purchase apps, play games, and surf the internet, all while still reading the eBooks they love on their Kindle.  The color touch screen, features and lower price point are why the Kindle Fire is a new and potentially fierce competitor to the iPad and other tablets.

 

Ben & Jerry’s Introduces ‘Schweddy Balls’ Ice Cream

Fans of the popular late-night TV show Saturday Night Live are giddy over Ben and Jerry’s new limited time flavor, “Schweddy Balls.”
In celebration of the 37^th season of SNL, Ben and Jerry’s decided to create an ice cream flavor after one of the famous SNL skits starring Alec Baldwin.  The flavor consists of “vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls.” The release of this ice cream flavor in September created quite the buzz through both word of mouth and the media.  This ice cream was talked by main stream media for about a week shortly after it was released, and then again in October when parent groups called for it to be removed from store shelves. Schweddy Balls may not be on the market for long, but many people are sure to remember the launch of this delicious product, specifically because of the controversy that surrounded it.

 

McDonalds Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

McDonald’s Frozen Strawberry Lemonade – the perfect drink for summertime.  Released in May, the drink is made by blending together a lemonade base, strawberry syrup on the bottom, and ice.  Sales were strong and proved that McCafe, isn’t just for coffee and smoothies anymore. Backed by a huge integrated marketing campaign, no wonder this cool drink should be considered for the most memorable product launch. 

*Not all products chosen by the MMNPL expert panelists are guaranteed to be included in the MMNPL survey due to our rigorous criteria for selecting new products.

Velveeta Cheesy Skillets Forge New Ideas in Quick and Easy Dinners

Velveeta and its parent company, Kraft, have earned a reputation for introducing products that provide families with convenience and ease in the kitchen. Building on Velveeta’s popular quick and easy meals, the new Velveeta Cheesy Skillets are creating a buzz. The difference between the new introduction and Velveeta’s past dinner products is that moms and dads can whip up a “real” non-microwaved meal for the family in no time. Kraft is targeting busy moms during back to school season, when hectic schedules necessitate quick and easy meals.

In the commercial, a suburban mom is abruptly greeted by a man dressed as a 19th century blacksmith holding an iron skillet and a box of Velveeta Cheesy Skillets as she attempts to leave the house to pick up dinner. The spokesman guides her hands while she prepares the meal in a way that is reminiscent of the famous pottery scene in the movie Ghost, all the while speaking in an olde English accent. Another Commercial portrays a mom attempting to prepare a meal in the microwave as the 19th century blacksmith appears yet again and stops her. He proclaims, “Reject these cold technology contraptions. Would you want the shoes of your horse forged in a microwave? Your Stove: Use it!”

Velveeta promoted Cheesy Skillets via their Facebook page where visitors could take a poll on which of the four flavors is their favorite, while reading up on a product description of each.

Along with television ads, Facebook, and YouTube, Velveeta is also activating one of the most effective tools in promoting a new product: word of mouth. Through promotions that encourage hosting a Velveeta Cheesy Skillets House Party, the brand is hoping to promote trial and create a buzz by asking people to upload their house party photos to the Facebook page.

With the school year in full swing, it will be interesting to see if Velveeta’s new launch and ad campaign are persuasive enough to take market share away from competitors like Hamburger Helper and make it to family dinner tables.

Pepperidge Farm Launches Bread that Smiles Back

For more than a decade, children have enjoyed the famous Goldfish crackers from Pepperidge Farm (smiling Goldfish crackers were launched by Schneider Associates many years ago) Now, Pepperidge Farm is leveraging their smiling Goldfish equity by launching Goldfish Sandwich Bread- the bread that smiles back.

The bread comes in three varieties: Soft White, Soft 100% Whole Wheat, and Soft Honey Whole Wheat. All three contain no high fructose corn syrup and boast 3 grams of fiber per serving for only 120 calories. Not to mention, the bread is completely crust-free, ensuring that the pickiest eaters will have no reason to dislike it.

“We are excited to offer kids and the young at heart a fun and healthful new way to enjoy their favorite sandwiches,” Maureen Linder, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fresh and Frozen Bakery at Pepperidge Farm said in a press release from the company.

To celebrate the launch, Pepperidge Farms conducted a national survey to unveil the hidden troubles of making lunches. In “The Shape of Sandwiches” survey, they found that parents often find making lunches difficult and even frustrating. Nine out of 10 moms revealed that their children find their sandwiches more appealing if the bread is cut into fun and creative shapes and sizes, and are more likely to eat them. 50% of mothers participating in the survey revealed that their children have requested triangular sandwiches while 23% revealed that their children have wanted their food in shapes of faces. Pepperidge farm created a product based on a unique consumer insight, fitting into the recent trend of Customer Calibration™ that we have been seeing.

Aside from the survey, Pepperidge Farms also participated in Evo ’11, a three-day social media conference for women in Park City, Utah, to showcase their new bread. They provided lunch for the conference on Friday, July 8^th, where the new sandwich bread was a featured product. A photo op included a scenic picnic backdrop and a blow-up replica of the Goldfish mascot, Finn. Participant pictures were all uploaded onto the official Pepperidge Farms Facebook page.

So far, the reviews for Goldfish Sandwich Bread have been positive, which is no surprise considering the brand developed the product based on consumer insights. Is it the best thing since sliced bread? Could be.