By STUART ELLIOTT
ANYONE who doubts that consumers are still worried about the Great Recession need only leaf through the May 18 issue of People magazine.
Turn to Page 118, where an advertisement for Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh meats proclaims how they taste “deli fresh. But without the deli counter price.”
Three pages after that, an ad for Lean Cuisine frozen foods declares, “We believe in food that’s good for you and good for your wallet.”
And five pages later, Chips Ahoy cookies and Capri Sun juice drinks team up for an ad centered on serving two snacks “for about a dollar,” a concept that gets its own coined word (“Why snackrifice?”) and Web site (whysnackrifice.com).
Kraft and Nestlé, which make those products, are among the growing ranks of marketers playing up the perceived value of packaged foods. They are seeking to capitalize on the opportunity presented by consumers’ dining out less.
But shoppers eager to save money are trading down from full-price, brand-name fare to cheaper private labels and store brands. That means advertisers concerned about losing market share must make persuasive arguments about the value propositions of their wares.
The list of value-mongers is to grow on Monday when Reckitt Benckiser begins a campaign for French’s condiments, promoting larger packages to be sold at lower prices. For instance, a 20-ounce bottle of French’s Classic Yellow mustard will cost less than a 14-ounce bottle.
“The consumer is telling you something: ‘I want to see value. I want you to demonstrate value,’ ” said Elliott Penner, president at the French’s food division of Reckitt Benckiser in Parsippany, N.J.