Gindi Cafe

Posts Tagged ‘marketing’

Food forums have raised many a discussion on the “difficulty” to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables. Some parents respond saying their kids have no problem eating fruits and vegetables and like them, while others do look for ways to help their kids get the nutrition they need. The question has been raised whether or not societal stigmas are to blame for this problem of unhealthy eating by kids. Perhaps kids are just meeting expectations, or trying to fit in, by not “liking” fruits or vegetables. If a parent expects that a kid might prefer a cookie to an apple, and has one on hand, it’s likely the kid may choose the cookie – because they are expected to. While man-made products such as cupcakes and cookies have been loaded with sugar may be appeasing to kids, other parents suggest that the media is to blame for marketing such snack foods to kids more often than healthy choices.

Well, kid-friendly brands like Nickelodeon and Disney have been fighting back, trying to put their famous cartoon characters on healthier foods like fruits and vegetables instead. Nickelodeon, owned by Viacom, just announced they joined the “help kids make healthy choices” bandwagon by restricting its cartoon characters from being found on any sort of junk food, according Reuters article. Nickelodeon characters such as Sponge Bob Square Pants, Jimmy Neutron or the Rugrats will only be used as marketing tools for foods that meet their advised dietary guidelines. Sponge Bob Square Pants now circulates the vegetable aisles instead of snack aisles, as he has been found on snack packs of baby carrots, and other vegetables. However, Nickelodeon still plans to license their characters to be used on holiday treats or snacks like Valentine’s Day chocolates, for example.

Whereas Nickelodeon is restricting its licensing of characters, Disney has released its own whole line of Disney Garden products that include a number of bagged fruits and vegetables like cut up apple slices and even cauliflower. Disney Garden hopes to help kids make healthier choices by choosing their fruits and vegetables. They hope to make the lives of parents easier by creating some incentive to want these fruits and vegetables with their characters. Their Web site offers recipe ideas for kids, as well as hints and tips for parents to help their kids make healthier choices.

But, who benefits more from these relatively new marketing ploys? Have parents fallen to a trap where they buy these products to unsuccessfully appeal to their kids, or have kids actually now been eating their vegetables? In other words, is this “humanitarian” effort really just putting more money in the pockets of Viacom and Disney, or is it actually helping kids to become healthier? Maybe a little bit of both.

Food blogger Kate Hopkins of Accidental Hedonist believes these new marketing concepts have kept public school systems out of the know. Kids are surrounded by food choices while at school, and the school system has a large bearing on what food choices are the right ones to make, as well as what foods show up in vending machines, etc. Questions such as these raise further issues as to what’s behind these new marketing schemes.

All in all, these efforts can’t necessarily hurt much, unless you’re an adult forced to eat Sponge Bob Square Pants carrots instead of a regular old bag of carrots, like me

Sources:
Reuters
Accidental Hedonist
Imagination Farms
Viacom Company

Chocolate coins are the new way to advertise and market products and services. The corporate world is always coming up with new and catchy ways to advertise their products and chocolate coins can advertise company logos or be used as an incentive program for personnel. Employees of the month programs are a good place to use these chocolate coins to reward the hard working individuals. Many chocolate companies are using a new technology called chocolography to transfer images and logos on to pieces of chocolate to create individual pieces. The new technology allows an image, picture or message to be transferred on to the surface of the chocolate. Some companies are giving these corporate logo chocolate coins to business people attending business meetings, for trade show promotions and to thank their clients for their business. One chocolate coin company has creatively designed a clamshell case for the coins to rest in, thereby protecting the coin for transportation and for a greater effect in advertising.

This idea is also being introduced for party favors and wedding favors. The names of the wedding couple or their picture can be positioned onto the surface of the chocolate coins. Chocolate coins also make unique gifts for baby showers and bar mitzvahs. Special anniversary dates or birthdays could be added to make a personalized favor. The chocolate used can be colored to suit the theme of the party or occasion.

Chocolate coins are available in different shapes such as circles, hearts, lollipops, boxes, squares and many more imaginable styles. A variety of chocolates are used in making these chocolate coins, including dark, milk and even vanilla. Some chocolate companies use colored foils to wrap the chocolate coins to accentuate the printed areas of the coins. Some companies prefer an imprinted look to the coin, as where the coin takes on a more realistic look resembling actual coins. The companies put their mark on the coin by providing the required emblem to the chocolate printing company. The printing is done by an automated impressing system that stamps the image onto one or both sides of the chocolate coins. Choices of font and images can add flair to the coins. From simplistic to very intricate and complex designs, the impression is sure to please and make of the coin an excellent reminder of the company or event. Photographs can be added to make even more of an impression. A picture of a business or an honorary person lends more detail to the chocolate piece and furthers the impact and personalization of the product.

Utilizing chocolate allows for a cost effective way to present or advertise a company or business. Using chocolate coins for advertising or celebrating special occasions puts an exclusive and novel twist on the idea of making a remarkable lasting impression that is also delicious. So, if you’re looking for a novel way to advertise your company – or yourself – look no further!