Trading Partners

At the recent presentation of the 2010 Best New Products Awards at the offices of consumer publication Better Homes and Gardens in New York, along with a display of the winning items and the results of a survey of over 50,000 grocery shoppers by Toronto-based independent market research firm BrandSpark International, attendees heard a talk by marketer and author Bob Gillbreath, who imparted digital media insights gleaned for his latest book, “The Next Evolution of Marketing.”

In support of the American Heat Association’s (AHA) “Go Red for Women” movement, the Campbell Soup Co. recently paid a visit to the popular Lifetime competition reality television series “Project Runway” during American Heart Month in February.

Following recent research that last year showed higher coupon usage for the first time in over a decade and a half, digital coupon provider Coupons.com has issued annual data finding growth in printed savings of over 170 percent last year.

An exciting lineup of beef promotions for 2010 will build upon the success of last year’s beef sales at retail, according to members of the marketing team of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), which contracts to manage retail programs for the beef checkoff.

China is poised to surpass the United States for the first time as the largest grocery market in the world by 2014, according to IGD, a global food and grocery expert providing information, insight and best practice to the food and grocery industry.

Despite the gloom of the recession that enveloped the nation last year, with its impact still being felt, U.S. consumers haven’t given up on chocolate, even as they cut back on other frills and took steps to curtail spending in virtually every way possible.

While there are recent signs that the U.S. economy has righted itself and is on a path to recovery, the road ahead faces significant headwinds that will make a true reversal protracted.

What will tomorrow’s dairy section look like? Thanks to the combined efforts of Dairy Management, Inc., the Dannon Co. and Kraft Foods, grocers have the chance to find out.