Brand new food products face stiff competition and must earn a spot on store shelves and in consumers' grocery carts. In 2014, the dairy industry met that challenge and had some of the best-performing new products of the year.
Four of the 10 best-selling new food products in 2014 were dairy products and, more specifically, yogurt. Market research firm IRI's annual New Product Pacesetters' list ranks the best-performing new products based on year-one sales. Chobani Simply 100, Activia Greek, Chobani Flip and Yoplait Greek Blended all landed a spot on the top 10 list.
Also on the list in the number four spot was DiGiorno Pizzeria, another product that would contain dairy in the form of cheese. Kraft Foods' Lunchables Uploaded, some of which also use cheese as an ingredient, earned the top spot last year.
Consumers of today are searching for foods that are convenient, healthful and that offer a flavorful experience. The successful sale of new dairy products last year is a promising sign that we as an industry are headed in the right direction when it comes to pleasing current, and hopefully future, customers.
The average year-one sales for a new product last year was $36.7 million, compared to $35.1 million in 2013. The top 10 best-performing products in 2014 are listed below.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2015
June 22,2015
