WHO: Sally Lyons Wyatt, Client Solutions, Information Resources, Inc.
WHAT: The U.S. snack industry experienced flat sales in 2005, as major sweets categories declined and most other top 10 categories posted only modest gains. Yet, despite disappointing sales overall, several sub-categories and brands have achieved strong gains through innovative solutions that address consumers’ evolving needs as they pursue a more balanced, healthy diet. To help retailers and manufacturers understand these trends and what they mean for future growth potential, IRI conducted an extensive analysis integrating insights from multiple sources, including a proprietary Snacking Profiles study, which explores attitudes and purchase behavior of heavy healthy and indulgent snackers. Snack trends expert Sally Lyons Wyatt presents “State of the Snack Food Industry,” which will include a review of industry performance at the category and channel level, underlying trends impacting growth, and the product attributes and experiences that appeal to both healthy and indulgent snackers. Lyons Wyatt’s presentation will also highlight specific growth opportunities across both indulgent and healthier snack categories as well as innovative new brands and retail initiatives that are hitting the mark with consumers.
WHY: Consumer snacking behavior is highly complex. While there are powerful trends, such as the aging U.S. population and rising incidence of obesity and chronic disease driving consumers to eat healthier and reduce snacking, there are equally powerful forces at work, such as an inherent desire for fat and sugar, compelling consumers to continue to consume indulgent snacks. As a result, even the heaviest purchasers of healthy snacks still allocate a majority of their spending to more indulgent snacks. Snack manufacturers and retailers face the enormous challenge of deciphering this behavior and underlying drivers to determine the optimal mix of healthier and more indulgent snacks in their portfolios and stores and the right advertising messages to influence purchases.
This presentation will address such critical questions as:
- To what extent has healthier snacking impacted indulgent snacking growth potential?
- What types of healthier snacks are most appealing to consumers?
- Who are the heavy healthier and heavy indulgent snackers, and how can manufacturers and retailers best reach them?
- What product innovations have been most successful?
- What is working for today’s retailers?
WHEN: March 21, 2006, 9:30 a.m. (PST)
WHERE:
SNAXPO 2006
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.snaxpo.org
About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world’s leading provider of enterprise market information solutions and services, empowering its clients to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving the transformation of the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries, only IRI provides a unique combination of real-time market content, advanced analytics, enterprise performance management software, and professional services. The company’s portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence and win at the shelf. Ninety-five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business. For more information, visit http://us.infores.com.