Consumer Packaged Goods Broker News: Chef Boyardee, Spam, other classic brands innovate while keeping it classic

Tastes may evolve, but classic brands remain popular | AgFeed files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection | Study shows "TRUE" brands in food and drink, health and beauty

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July 16, 2013

News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry

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Tastes may evolve, but classic brands remain popular
Classic brands including Twinkies, Spam and Hamburger Helper are still popular, despite consumers that are growing more sophisticated and health-conscious about food. Brands that add gentle updates while maintaining nostalgic appeal have found success, such as Chef Boyardee, which runs ads showing company founder Hector Boiardi, but also uses social media. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (7/15)

AgFeed files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
After agreeing to end its supply contract with Hormel Foods, hog producer AgFeed Industries is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, founded in China in 1995 as a feed producer, plans to sell its U.S. assets, while seeking buyers for its China units, which are not part of the bankruptcy. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/15)

Del Monte Foods Company brought their transportation management system into the 21st Century

"As a leading CPG manufacturer, we faced huge challenges in managing an ever more complex transportation network," said Bill Pollard, VP Integrated Planning at Del Monte. Learn how one of the country's largest producers, distributors, and marketers of premium quality branded food and pet products used the GT Nexus cloud-based supply chain platform to address supply chain challenges. Read the case study.

Trends

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Study shows "TRUE" brands in food and drink, health and beauty
Kellogg, Heinz and Kraft take the top spots in a ranking of food and beverage brands by Forrester Research. For health and beauty brands, the winners are Crest, Dove and Gillette. The study, based on online surveys, shows that shoppers like brands that are "trusted, remarkable, unmistakable and essential," or TRUE, according to Forrester. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (7/15)

The Subscription Economy CFO: Using Data to Drive Long-Lasting Customer Relationships
Accelerate is a collection of articles that provide practical guidance and best practices for success in the Subscription Economy, with contributions from a variety of thought leaders and industry experts. In this eBook chapter, you will learn how to use date to drive long-lasting customer relationships. Download the free eBook chapter now.

Corporate Social Responsibility

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Nespresso taps Clooney for sustainability panel
Nestle's fast-growing Nespresso brand is seeking sustainability advice from a panel that includes representatives from Fairtrade International and the Rainforest Alliance, as well as movie star George Clooney. "This is a great big company working very hard to help people at the bottom of the chain," said Clooney, the brand's ambassador since 2006. Reuters (7/15), Bloomberg Businessweek (7/15)

CSO Insights: 2013 SPO Sales Execution Analysis
It is one thing to plan the work and another to work the plan. In this topical report, see how well other companies perform as they navigate prospects through the sell cycle. Learn how your sales team can leverage best practices from best-in-class performing organizations highlighted in this study. Download this free report now.

Advertising & Marketing

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Social media give beverage brands a boost
Coca-Cola, Monster Beverage's Monster Energy, Nestle's Nescafe, PepsiCo and Red Bull are among beverage brands connecting with consumers through social media. A PepsiCo video of the Harlem shake, in cooperation with NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, has been watched on YouTube more than 6.7 million times. BevIndustry.com (7/15)

Other News

Yankees star Cano goes to bat for Pepsi
American City Business Journals/New York (7/15)
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Myths, Pitfalls and Realities of CPQ Software
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Retail Spotlight

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Loblaw Cos. to buy Shoppers Drug Mart for $11.9B
Canada's Loblaw Cos. is acquiring pharmaceutical chain Shoppers Drug Mart for $11.9 billion in cash and stock. Shoppers will manage the pharmacy as a separate unit. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/DealBook blog (7/15), Reuters (7/15), Progressive Grocer (7/15)

How to build brands, create culture and drive revenue
Is exceptional customer service a cornerstone of your company culture? PeopleMatter outlines the key elements needed to create a company culture that enhances the promise of your brand by delivering outstanding customer service. Learn how an understanding of customer service can build your brands, create culture and drive revenue. Download the free white paper.

Health & Wellness

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Expert explains Facts Up Front benefits
Allison Yoder, a dietitian and nutrition consultant, said not all shoppers look closely at nutrition labels. "The Facts Up Front label will help because it allows consumers to make better decisions on product selection by providing them with straightforward information needed to make informed food choices when grocery shopping," said Yoder, who served on the Facts Up Front Advisory Panel. Nutritioulicious (7/12)

Pulses add gluten-free nutrition
Experts say pulse flours made from peas, chickpeas and lentils can boost the nutrition profile of gluten-free foods, adding fiber, protein, minerals and vitamins. "Once pulses were considered as the poor man's meat, but now they are gaining attention as nutritionally superior value-added foods and ingredients," said Dan Best, president of Best Vantage. BakeryAndSnacks.com (France) (7/15)

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GMA News

Onsite registrations will be accepted at tomorrow's GMA Growth and Public Policy Summit
Tomorrow in Washington, D.C., the GMA Growth and Public Policy Summit will bring together CPG industry executives with policymakers and nationally recognized experts to discuss the emerging public policy issues affecting the food, beverage and consumer product industry, consumers and the world. Make sure your staff is up to date on emerging public policy issues. Register for this unique event today!

Joel Makower, chairman of GreenBiz Group, to open Global Sustainability Summit
On Aug. 14-16, in Seattle, join retail, manufacturing, government and NGO sustainability experts from around the world to address the most critical issues in the food, beverage and CPG industry at the GMA-FMI Global Sustainability Summit.

Opening the Sustainability Summit’s dynamic agenda on Wednesday evening is the chairman and executive editor of GreenBiz Group, Joel Makower. For the past 25 years, Makower has been a driving force of the green business movement and an advocate for economically profitable and socially responsible business practices. Register today.

Government & Food Safety

House is urged to take up scaled-back farm bill
Representatives are being asked to discuss a scaled-back farm bill instead of waiting for a separate package on food stamps and nutrition. "We have only six legislative weeks before the current farm-bill extension expires. ... There's no reason to wait or delay the process anymore," said Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (7/15), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Caucus blog (7/15), Reuters (7/15)