Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

Store brands are starting to improve on several product benefits typically associated with national brands, namely: quality, innovativeness, uniqueness and packaging, according to a new study conducted by Ipsos Marketing. While analysts believed that store brands had reached their peak during the worst of the recession, they are positioning themselves to succeed very well in an improving economy as well.

According to Packaged Facts, sales of ice cream topped $25.1 billion in 2011, up 2.4% over 2010. Within the retail mass market for packaged products, packaged ice cream is the largest category, accounting for 55% of total retail sales, followed by frozen novelties at 36%. Innovative and differentiated products are also gaining favor among consumers.

The range and quality of foods now offered at many U.S. colleges and universities has created a greater degree of competition. According to recent Mintel research, 72% of college students who have dined on campus have done so at their campus cafeteria. The expectation for higher quality food is putting pressure on schools to include quality foodservice as part of their overall package for attracting students.

Restaurants have resorted to a wide variety of tactics to reel in customers. The lingering recession means it’s more important than ever before to employ the most effective advertising strategies. For restaurants, it seems that patrons most easily recall the ads they’ve seen on TV.

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Dairy Product Processors. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Cookie and Cracker Manufacturers. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months: