Experience

Package Change Disaster Averted
Following a successful simulated/BASES test, our client was set to replace its familiar and iconic red box with an innovative re-sealable pouch. Before making a change to their category leading brand, which had been sold in a box for the past 45 years, they chose to do a disaster check by evaluating the pouch in-store before making the switch.  Real-world testing produced sales results and shopper-feedback that was much different from the simulated research which helped the client avoid a major package disaster.

Research Design & Insights

Test Product Distribution and Promotions Maintained by Integrated Research

Results: The familiar red box remains a fixture on store shelves today

Kraft Hits a Home Run
Kraft was interested in partnering with McDonald’s to take their successful McCafé brand into stores.  Before making the leap, both companies wanted to determine the potential of launching McCafé Coffee at retail and how they could optimize the rollout.

Research Design & Insights

Test Product Distribution and Promotions Maintained by Integrated Research

Results: McCafé became the top-selling new food and beverage launch of 2015 and #1 in IRI’s annual New Product Pacesetter ranking.

Package Addition Attracts New Users & Adds Incremental  Volume
Client wanted to determine if an innovative new bottle would complement their existing lineup and attract a previously untapped group of consumers.  Test results also provided the selling story to secure the necessary shelf space in a highly competitive category.

Research Design & Insights

Results:  Led to the roll-out of the bottle

Screening Concepts in the Real World
A leading producer of pre-packaged chicken needed to quickly identify the ideal choice for a new refrigerated package design before retooling their production and replacing the existing 20 year old cello-wrapped package with a clear tub or pouch. Integrated Research Associates met the needs of a tight timeline and limited brand testing information by executing a retail lab. Testing involved package screening based on a combination of at-shelf observations, shopper feedback and in-home post-use surveys. The combination of the at-shelf FMOT feedback from actual category buyers and browsers, along with package use feedback from regular category purchasers helped identify the ideal package.

Research Design & Insights

Test Product Distribution and Promotions Maintained by Integrated Research

A  More Organized  Set Doesn’t Always Result in Increased Sales
The country’s largest supermarket chain partnered with a category leader to determine if an innovative gravity feed fixture would improve the shop-ability of the set and increase category volume.  The fixture transformed a relatively cluttered and seemingly difficult section to shop (and restock) into one that was from all accounts more organized and more visually appealing.  The results surprised everyone involved and underscored the importance of evaluating a potentially high risk, high investment decision in a live retail environment.

Research Design & Insights

Results: Reduced sales and no labor savings led to the fixture not being introduced.