According to a presentation by Chicago-based Mintel at this year’s Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo, 89 percent of U.S. parents say they are likely to purchase breakfast foods that their children ask for, and about 40 percent say they will buy a treat for their kids if they ask for it.
To provide consumers with a healthy and flavorful juice option for children, Nestle USA launched Juicy Juice Fruitifuls, which is a line of all-natural juice drinks with 35 percent less sugar than regular juice and a full serving of fruit in each single-serve carton.
A child informing a parent whether or not something is cool might not be an occurrence so rare that it inspires a business plan, but when Rose Cameron’s two sons told her they did not want to drink water because it was boring, the former marketing executive set out on a mission.
Kraft Foods Inc. answered consumers’ requests for a larger version of its Capri Sun juice drinks with the launch of 11.2-ounce resealable Capri Sun Big Pouches.
Packaging can be an important, yet difficult decision for beverage-makers. In this month’s category focus article about kids drinks, Sarah Theodore, global drinks analyst for Mintel Food & Drink, Chicago, notes that the kids market has been a little bit slow to embrace packaging innovation, but is starting to pick up steam. However, resealable pouch packages, the benefits of which include on-the-go convenience, have begun to catch on in the category, she says.
Children can get crafty when it comes to eating vegetables. They can push them around their plates to try to make it look like they’ve eaten more than they have; or they might hide them in their napkins or underneath other food. The last resort for most kids is actually eating the vegetables. However, manufacturers and parents alike are hoping that incentives and constant exposure to vegetables might help these picky eaters adapt.
When it comes to children’s nutrition, parents are faced with the challenge of finding products that meet their nutritional preferences, but also appeal to their children. But the challenge extends beyond parents and begins with the manufacturers. Beverage-makers are tasked with developing products to help bridge the gap between nutritional demands and pleasing taste profiles.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA), Washington, D.C., will debut a new Healthier Kids Fare pavilion at its 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, May 5-8, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
