Hive to Honey

The 2008 U.S. Health and Diet Survey of more than 2,500 adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that, for the first time, more than half of those surveyed “often” read a label the first time they buy a product. Yet, while the number of consumers reading a food label the [...]

The problem: It’s not easy to know what prompts people to buy soup, except for something warm to eat on a frosty day. When asked why they eat more soup or not, people tend to “say they don’t think of it,” says Doug Conant, Campbell’s chief executive.
The company hopes the label and display changes will [...]

“Companies are scared of making low-sodium claims,” said Krista Faron, an analyst at market researcher Mintel International.
Yes, there’s a market for overtly labeled low-sodium products, particularly as baby boomers age and worry increases about hypertension and heart disease. But that market is relatively small: Less than 3 percent of food products introduced each year make [...]

“We don’t want to deceive anyone,” said Alyson Dias, director for marketing communications at Duncan Enterprises. “They’re just asking for more clarity and more disclosure than ever before, and if that’s what’s needed to advertise to the tween and under-13 crowd, then that’s fine — we’ll do it.”
Still, she said, “it is difficult, advertising to [...]

The chicken giant is offering $500 worth of grilled chicken as a reward for information leading to the return of the bust that was taken from a Berea KFC last month.
KFC spokesman Rick Maynard says the chain considered offering cash, “but we think KFC’s world-famous chicken is a better motivator than money.”
Cincinnati.com

According to the Nielsen Healthy Eating Index, the U.S. is making progress on the healthy eating front, scoring 402 in 2009 vs. 389 in 2008. The chart below shows the seasonal nature of healthy eating habits across the U.S. You’ll notice that every year, consumers make unhealthy food choices over the holidays. Then in January, [...]

Nestle is linking family dinnertime with healthy relationships in a new TV and Web push for its Stouffer’s brand.
Called the Stouffer’s “Let’s Fix Dinner” challenge, the effort—now in its second year—encourages parents to eat more Stouffer’s meals with their children. The move comes as consumers spend more time at home, and turn to frozen and [...]

According to a recent Econsultancy survey, conducted in association with ExactTarget of more than 1,000 marketers, the shift of marketing budgets from traditional channels to digital channels will continue to rise in 2010. 46% of companies plan to increase their marketing budgets in 2010, says the study, and 66% will increase their investments in digital [...]

ccording to a recent Adweek Media/ Harris Poll, 23% of adult Americans believe that newspaper and magazine advertisements are where they can find the best bargains. 18% believe online advertisements are most likely to help them find the best bargains. 10% say direct mail and 12% catalogs, 11% television commercials, and just 2% say radio. [...]

Trying to ward off regulators, the advertising industry has agreed on a standard icon — a little “i” — that it will add to most online ads that use demographics and behavioral data to tell consumers what is happening.
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When consumers click on the icon, a white “i” surrounded by a circle on a blue background, [...]