Easter chocolates: tradition threatened by inflation?
In this article, I examine the dynamics of the Easter chocolate market. This tradition is well established in Europe but is subject to significant inflationary pressures. However, the figures for recent years show that it is strong enough to resist.
Food: 2 examples of co-branding with luxury brands
SIAL was the opportunity to discover several products using the marketing technique of co-branding to differentiate themselves. Discover in this article the brands Galateo & Friends (and its partnership with Swarovski) and Di Martino (and its partnership with Dolce & Gabbana).
Consumers willing to pay 16% more for eco-friendly packaging
16%: that’s how much more consumers are willing to pay for a product whose packaging is partly paper-made. This is one of the surprising results of a research published in 2023 that reveals consumers’ bias towards eco-friendly packaging. I summarize the results in this article and propose some practical business implications. Contact the marketing research firm IntoTheMinds Eco-responsible packaging: the results in a nutshell Packaging made partly from paper is perceived as more environmentally friendly than packaging...
Ricola: a pop-up store to celebrate the rebranding
Ricola installed a pop-up store in Paris in March 2023. Its visit allows us to approach some interesting aspects of branding, observable in particular through the visual elements put forward in the sales outlet. But it’s also an opportunity to discuss marketing strategy since Ricola is diversifying. Follow me to the Swiss mountains to meet these friendly herbal candies ?. What can you find in the Ricola pop-up store? As you might expect, the Ricola pop-up...
The contribution of a pop-up store to the marketing strategy [Analysis]
The pop-up store launched by Pulco in Paris is an excellent example of how an ephemeral store is an exciting marketing strategy for a brand. Pulco faces particular challenges (awareness, image) to which this pop-up store aims to provide solutions. It becomes an essential element of the marketing mix because it allows reinforcing specific messages to consumers. In this article, we analyze 3 strategic and tactical objectives to which the pop-up store answers. Description of the Pulco pop-up store The Pulco pop-up store...
Omie: a brand that advocates total price transparency
Does the Covid crisis sound the awakening of consciences and the dawn of a new day in responsible consumption? In any case, I had the sensation of awakening after seeing the receipt of the online sales platform Omie, a ticket on which are displayed in all transparency the margin, the price paid to the producer, the cost of raw materials. In this article, I first question the global context in which this platform operates. Then I analyze Omie’s...
19 Crimes: a stroke of marketing genius … often poorly imitated
In 2018 the Australian group Treasury Wine Estates revolutionized the marketing of “mass market” wines. By introducing augmented reality with its “19 Crimes” wine, they turned the customer experience upside down, and sales of “19 Crimes” went from 4 million to 18 million bottles in just 18 months. A stroke of marketing genius that remains, despite many imitations, unmatched and wildly misunderstood by followers. Summary Introduction 19 Crimes: analysis of a success 19 Crimes followers have...
Jérôme Grimonpon, a French chocolate specialist, is an entrepreneur like no other
In this episode of “The Business World with Pierre-Raffaele“, our star presenter (10 years old at the time of the shooting) receives a very talented French chocolate specialist: Jérôme Grimonpon. Jérôme Grimonpon has been elected chocolatier of the year by the Gault&Millau guide and as such has seen his popularity skyrocket. Of French origin, he has made Belgium his new home. Passionate, daily he does what he loves, and the satisfaction of his customers is reflected in his work....
FMCG: consumers’ purchase behaviors are increasingly different
In our last article, we showed how new tools, based on “data”, allow large FMCG groups to keep up with market developments and consumer expectations. In today’s article, we reveal the effects of the evolution of the FMCG (“Fast-Moving Consumer Goods”) market on consumers’ purchasing habits. A recent study (August 2019) by the University of Chicago unveils an unexpected phenomenon: the rise of niche consumption. The average annual growth of abundant consumer goods companies (FMCG) increased...
Market research at SIAL Paris 2018. Trend #4: Clean Food
The trend in the food market that we have called “clean food” includes various directions ranging from healthy snacking (see on this subject Eat Real products), vegetable alternatives such as those proposed by Pedon, the expansion of organic food that manufacturers can now no longer ignore. The innovations presented at SIAL generally follow several trends (the examples mentioned above bear witness to this since we have mentioned them in the articles we have devoted to other...
Market research at SIAL Paris 2018. Trend #3: Veggie alternatives
Consumers who are vegan enthusiasts represent only 1% of the population and vegetarians only 2%. These are niche markets on which some companies are still trying to focus. A much larger niche is the flexitarians, that part of the population (estimated at 40%) that reduces its meat consumption in favour of vegetable alternatives without completely abandoning the meat diet. Read also SIAL Paris 2018: What are the trends in the food market? In today’s article, we...
Market research at SIAL Paris 2018. Trend #2: Easy Snacking
Pleasure remains one of the significant areas of innovation in the field of food and the SIAL Paris 2018 world food exhibition allowed us to identify some exciting products that are following this trend. To understand all the market trends, don’t hesitate to consult our other articles (superfoods, clean foods, vegetarian alternatives, sensational foods) as well as all our tips for visiting SIAL effectively and an overview of the innovations in the 2018 food market in...
Market research at SIAL Paris 2018. Trend #1: Super Food
Our market research on the food market conducted at SIAL Paris 2018 has enabled us to identify some key trends that we will share with you in a series of articles on this blog. If you would like more information about the new products we have discovered and tested, please do not hesitate to contact us. The first article in this series concerns superfoods, a trend that has already been well established for many years but...
SIAL Paris 2018: What are the trends in the food market?
SIAL Paris, the leading trade fair for innovation in the food sector, takes place every 2 years in the Exhibition Centre, Villepinte, in the north of Paris. It is generally said that 3000 new products are presented during the 5 days of the show. These 3000 new products are estimated to represent 10% of the annual global innovation (estimated at 30,000 products). You can therefore easily see that SIAL is a playground and is ideal for...
Market research: how and why Cognac exports reached all-time high
The market for Cognac is booming. Never before have so many Cognac bottles been produced and exported. The 200-million-bottle milestone was reached for the first time this year. In today’s article we’d like to deliver you some market research insights that we compiled from different sources, including a quite unusual one: a study by French customs. The latter proves that market research can (and should) be done using sources from many different horizons. Contact us for...
“What else” : do you remember where it comes from ?
“What Else” has become Nespresso’s tagline. But do you remember where it comes from ? When a friend of mine asked me this question, I couldn’t. Watch this 2006 video and you’ll remember quickly … Image : Rob d /...
Nespresso : the secret behind the new Prodigio connected machine
Nespresso just launched a new connected machine called “Prodigio”. This machine allegedly allows you to prepare a coffee with your smartphone and make sure you never run out of Nespresso capsules. This machine will however allow much more than that … but the customer will probably never get to know it. Let’s have a look behind the scene and discover the secrets of the Prodigio strategy. Churn : the one metric Nespresso is concerned about For...
Examples of vertical integration and definitions
Vertical integration is a relatively rare business strategy these days. Few companies still practise it because the time has come to reduce structural costs and cut costs. Among the large groups that continue to practice it, we could mention Samsung, Swatch. Still, these dinosaurs are on the verge of extinction (whereas vertical integration can be a competitive advantage). The DNVB (Digital Native Vertical Brands) have brought this business model up to date. Below you will find...
Niche markets are sometimes larger than you expect. The case of Pedon.
Pedon is one of those brands that has a solid market share but is not known very well, even in Italy, its home country. A manufacturer of dozens of private labels product, Pedon has also its own lines of products, one of which deserves special attention. Pedon has developed a line of gluten-free products which Luca Zocca, the marketing manager, saw as a natural extension of traditional product lines. Especially interesting was the typology of consumers...
Innovation at its best at SIAL 2012 food and drink fair
As every two years we visited the SIAL 2012, which took place in Paris from Oct 21st until Oct 25th, the largest fair for professionals in the food and drink industry. With almost 6000 exhibitors this fair is one of (if not the) largest in the world and obviously one day was not enough to visit everything. We are to strictly keep our deadlines and made prior arrangements with all companies which were awarded a SIAL...
From ready-to-eat to ready-to-prepare, a new product experience
An important aspect of the work of a marketing agency is that we must detect, track and follow nascent trends in a broad range of industries. This knowledge is required by our clients who expects from us that we have deep knowledge in as many sectors as possible, so that they can benefit from innovating concept and future trends across industries. We track these trends through qualitative analyses, through following up many different firms, visiting fairs...
Dandoy, a Belgian “Love Brand”
Saatchi & Saatchi has a word for brands they want to be turn into successful stories. They call them “love brands”. I have also my love brand, and it’s a Belgian one. Its name is Dandoy. The famous Brussels-based family-owned company, which will in 2012 open a store in Japan, opened us its door for a visit of its workshop located in the trendy Dansaert area. The street smells after speculoos, the century-long specialty of Dandoy....
Sara Lee vs. Nespresso : missed target
When I attended the “stratégie clients” show in Paris two weeks ago, I heard Julien Morel, the COO of Nespresso, explain how Nespresso was able to keep its market share in spite of new players like Maison du Café (Sara Lee) and Casino. While in France I went to a supermarket to test the Sara Lee capsules by myself and I’ve got an explanation. Sara Lee’s coffee is simply not as good as Nespresso’s. From a...