Product manufacturers are scurrying to show consumers they have embraced the “green” movement. Frito-Lay joins the parade. The company is adding a “Green-e” designation across the full line of its SunChips multigrain snack packs and becoming one of the first national consumer packaged goods brands to include the Green-e logo on packaging.

Mass customization is an effective way to solidify brand loyalty, and Miller Brewing Co. offers a novel idea in the beer aisle.

If kids and moms are core audiences for your brand, IQPC’s Kid & Mom Power Food & Beverage 2008 conference is for you, This is the 9th annual conference, and the theme is Creating Winning Campaigns for Moms that Excite Kids in Today’s Modern Health Age.
The event will be Jan. 29 through Feb. 1, 2008, at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel, Boston, MA. Shelf Impact! is a media partner for the conference.

A common consumer complaint in bakery products is that the containers are often awkward to carry. Frequently the cartons risk collapse or bend and damage the delicate bakery goods inside unless consumers balance the package in their hands as they carry it.

One bottle shape, more than any other, has managed to not only differentiate itself from the pack but also to cross category boundaries to represent purity in products as diverse as dish soaps, high-end whiskeys, and perfumes. Remarkable!

Brand and category managers who want to grow market share should be paying close attention to two trends occurring in stores today. The first trend is an increase in more sophisticated store brands stressing value. The second one is the revival of the “center store.”

What better time than this holiday season to serve up some thoughts on innovation by drawing parallels to food?
Design and innovation are passions of mine, in addition to food. Among their similarities, they both require a balance of science and art, and both often end with a somewhat unexpected, truly remarkable, serendipitous outcome. The following steps provide a glimpse at some core ingredients needed to produce successful brand innovation.