Dreyer’s/Edy’s Fun Flavors and Gatorade Tiger/Focus made the Top 10 list of the most successful new consumer packaged goods (CPG) food and beverage brands launched in 2009, according to Chicago-based Information Resources Inc.

The Top 10 food and beverage brands were announced at IRI’s  “Summit 2010: Reinventing CPG & Retail Conference,” which takes place March 22-24 in San Antonio, Texas. The report highlights brands that have achieved stellar results by featuring innovations designed to cater to consumers’ needs during a recession.

In addition, IRI celebrates its 15th  Anniversary of its publication, New Product Pacesetters, which provides benchmark analysis of exceptional first year CPG sales for successfully launched products.

“These brands represent true attention to detail when it comes to delivering what consumers want and need in a difficult economy,” said Anne Berlack, IRI business insights practice executive vice president. “In 2009, New Product Pacesetters scored big despite the challenges of launching new products in an era of conservative and rapidly transforming consumer shopping behaviors.”

“The annual New Product Pacesetters research distinguishes the ‘best of the best’ in terms of new product innovation and high performance sales execution,” said John McIndoe, IRI senior vice president of marketing. “In 2009, manufacturers continued investing in research and development, and listened to their shoppers’ evolving needs to deliver superior products. These companies are a shining example of the power true shopper-centric innovation produces, and we salute their efforts and performance.”

Top 10 Food and Beverage Brands
For most of 2009, the economy remained mired in recession, with signs of recovery emerging in the last quarter of the year. Many shoppers retained the frugal habits they learned at the depths of the downturn, while others started returning to their more free-spending ways. The powerful trend of cooking and entertaining at home continues and has been heavily influenced by an enhanced eagerness for fresh and healthy food choices at affordable price points. The Top 10 food and beverage brands of 2009 are reflective of consumers looking for fun, interesting products for at-home and from-home dining with a greater focus on wellness.

2009 New Product Pacesetters: Top 10 Food and Beverage Brands ($ Millions)
(Total Year-One Dollar Sales Across Food, Drug, and Mass Channels, excluding Walmart)
Campbell’s Select Harvest     $202
Bud Light Lime     $133
Arnold Select Sandwich Thins     $87
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers     $85
Dreyer’s/Edy’s Fun Flavors     $72
Gatorade Tiger/Focus     $65
MGD 64     $53
Mountain Dew DEWmocracy     $52
Bush’s Grillin’ Beans     $45
Kellogg’s FiberPlus Bars     $45
Source: IRI New Product Profiler 

“Many consumers feel hesitant about trying new brands during tough economic times,” Berlack said. “As a result, we’ve seen tremendous growth from brand extensions, bringing to market a new product by leveraging a pre-existing, trusted brand. These brand extensions have historically not outsold newly-developed brands, but this year, they’ve succeeded by providing a fun twist on a traditional product and/or by delivering against consumer values of maintaining high-quality and health-wise meals and snacks that can be enjoyed at home or on the run.”
 
About the Report
The IRI Times & Trends Report, “2009 New Product Pacesetters” is available from IRI. The findings of this report were compiled based on IRI New Product Profiler, IRI Consumer Network and IRI InfoScan Reviews.

To download the full report, visit http://us.infores.com/Insights/Publications/TimesTrends/tabid/106/Default.aspx

About Information Resources Inc.
IRI is the world’s leading provider of consumer, shopper and retail market information, insights and decision solutions to 95% of the FORTUNE Global 500 consumer packaged goods, healthcare and retail companies. Only IRI offers the unique combination of integrated market and shopper information, automated analytics and predictive insights, innovative technology and domain expertise. With IRI, leading manufacturers and retailers are able to drive their growth by quickly discovering breakthrough insights, making smarter decisions, taking faster actions across the enterprise and achieving breakthrough results. Companies around the world depend on IRI for technology and solutions that enable brand building, successful new product launches, consumer-driven merchandising/retail execution and consumer and shopper relationship management. For more information, visit http://us.infores.com.

Contacts
Information Resources, Inc.
John McIndoe, 312/474-3862
john.mcindoe@infores.com
Shelley Hughes, 312/474-3675
shelley.hughes@infores.com


Source: PR Newswire