Dr. Tina McCorkindale, Assistant Professor at Appalachian State University Department of Communication, recently published studies that found that 75% of the Millenial generation (18- to 29-year olds) said they had liked an organization or business on Facebook. However, 69% of them said they rarely or never returned to the fan page. Since the primary objective [...]

In a little over a year, Pinterest has become the #3 social network traffic site behind Facebook and Twitter. While Pinterest is also a social sharing site, its concept clearly differentiates it from the others. "Pinners" setup Pinboards based on their interests and "pin" images they like, seen mostly online, and want to keep as [...]

Consumers are becoming consumed with concern over the nutritional values of the foods they eat. Of the US consumers with smartphones, over 40% have downloaded apps that answer the burning question: should I eat that? Fooducate, MyFoodWatch, Allergy Eats, and Don't Eat That are among the most popular mobile tools for accessing food product nutrition facts. According to [...]

The newly formed Consortium for Common Food Names, a global initiative of food producers and organizations, thinks so.  They will work to oppose any attempt to monopolize generic food names that have been commonly used, in some cases for over a century.  The distinction here is geographical indication (GIs) that protect legitimate regional products like [...]

If you've ever wondered what happened to the likes of Charlie the Tuna and the silent, but sophisticatedly dressed Planters Mr. Peanut, they've found new lives and voices in social media. While they may have died on TV like many of the shows they advertised on, they are alive and well, with new roles as brand [...]

According to market research firm NPD,  over 40% of individuals give themselves two or more eating or drinking opportunities from the time they awake until roughly 11 am.  For some, it's a cup of coffee or some other beverage, but for others it includes a breakfast meal and a mid-morning snack.  However consumers choose to [...]

Hard to believe, but Oreo Sandwich Cookies brand turns 100 on March 6th. While the brand has changed hands over the last 100 years and is currently owned by Kraft Foods, it has maintained its presence and relevance in the supermarket cookie aisle. Kids and adults from generations past enjoyed them, just as they do [...]

There were almost 3,000 new food product launches last year in Western Europe and the US with "free-from" packaging claims. That represents  10% of all new product launches in the US and Western Europe combined. Dairy-free and lactose-free represent $3.6 bln of market value while gluten-free represents $3.5 bln...certainly not "free-from" profitable. "Free-from" packaging claims play into [...]

Seventy percent of consumers say they avoid buying brands and products from companies they dislike, according to a recent consumer survey from Weber Shandwick and KRC Research.  Equally important, two-thirds of surveyed consumers said they routinely check product labels and packaging to determine the name of the corporate entity owning the product brand, and over [...]

Actually, things.  According to CBD Marketing, a strategic branding and integrated marketing firm,  products are defined as things if they create a new sustained category that results in pervasive consumer use and acceptance. For example, trans fat free, bottled water, or light beer. These product categories have attracted multiple brands and products, and consumers regularly buy them. Fads [...]