In the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie eagerly checks the mail for his decoder pin from the “Little Orphan Annie” radio show only to be disappointed when he finally solves the code and discovers it is nothing more than an advertisement. Although Ralphie’s first coding experience might not have met his expectations, within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) market, coding technology is living up to its reputation.
Taking into account outside elements like economic challenges, environmental hurdles and trepidatious consumers, consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers have a number of things to consider when it comes to developing new products.
When it comes to fashion, the saying “What’s old is new again” can be used quite frequently. And when it comes to beverage formulation, that same adage still applies.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect words for a novel, searching for the right balance of color in a painting or debating on the notes for a musical composition, finding something inspiring to act as your muse can be a difficult task. The same can be said for the beverage market as manufacturers are looking for that perfect formulation.
With a company history that spans more than 90 years, The Double Cola Co. has a lot from which to pull influence. But the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company isn’t resting on its laurels. Instead, it continues to give its established brands a contemporary touch and is now making its first push beyond the carbonated soft drink (CSD) market, which has been its sole focus until recently.
Following up on last year’s new standards for school meals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled its new “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards that will affect food and beverages sold in vending machines and a la carte.
In Walt Disney’s 1966 animated classic “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree,” Pooh finds some creative ways to get his hands on his favorite treat: honey. Lucky for beverage manufacturers, dressing up like a little black rain cloud is not a strategy they need to employ when sourcing a sweetener for their products.
Some of the best parts of being a member of the media are the experiences you have and knowledge you take with you. During my local media time, I had the chance to experience new, exciting things and gain a deeper understanding of the community I grew up in.
In the eight years that Susan Neely has worked for the American Beverage Association (ABA), the president and chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based association has seen manufacturers truly embrace the concept of innovation.