US: Unilever-backed P.F. Chang's Asian meals take NPD poll
By Dean Best | 20 April 2012
P.F. Chang's Home Menu, a range of Asian frozen ready meals, was the best-selling new food and drink product in the US last year, according to data from SymphonyIRI.
The range, manufactured under licence by Unilever, topped SymphonyIRI's annual New Product Pacesetters poll with sales of US$101.6m in 2011.
The survey, which measures the dollar sales of products in their first year on sale in food, drug and mass merchandise outlets excluding Wal-Mart Stores, showed Grupo Bimbo's Thomas' Bagel Thins was the second best-selling line. It generated sales of $73.6m last year.
Third on the list was Kraft Foods' Oscar Mayer Selects deli meats, with sales of $69.2m.
"The Pacesetters of today, having beaten the new product odds regardless of a difficult and complex environment, are truly remarkable," Larry Levin, executive vice president for consumer insights at SymphonyIRI, said. "It all begins with really listening and responding to consumers. Those manufacturers that are taking the time to gain an intimate knowledge of the needs and wants of their consumers are cracking the code on true innovation."
Three other food products made the top ten. Mars Inc's M&M's Pretzel confectionery was joint fourth with sales of $58.4m. Kellogg's Special K Cracker Chips was seventh on the list after generating sales of $50.6m. Lean Cuisine Market Creations, a range of entrees from Nestle, was ninth on the poll after annual sales of $48.6m.
Sectors: Baby food, Bakery, Canned food, Cereal, Chilled foods, Commodities & ingredients, Condiments, dressings & sauces, Confectionery, Dairy, Dried foods, Fresh produce, Frozen, Health & wellness, Ice cream, Meat & poultry, Natural & organic, NPD & innovation, Seafood, Snacks, World foods
Companies: Unilever, Wal-Mart Stores, Grupo Bimbo, Kraft Foods, Mars Inc, Kellogg, Nestle
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20 Apr 2012 -Currently reading -
US: Unilever-backed P.F. Chang's Asian meals take NPD poll
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