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Marketing Needs of School Nutrition Operators. Child Nutrition Industry Conference January 15, 2007. Introduction to TrendSets Results of TrendSets marketing survey Marketing needs of School Nutrition Operators Usage of SNA and Industry marketing tools
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Marketing Needs of School Nutrition Operators Child Nutrition Industry Conference January 15, 2007
Introduction to TrendSets Results of TrendSets marketing survey Marketing needs of School Nutrition Operators Usage of SNA and Industry marketing tools How SNA and Industry can help with marketing III. Branding roundtable discussion Overview
TrendSets: Insights into current trends in school nutrition Yearly Subscription 7 to 8 topics covered per year, 4 quarterly e-newsletters TrendSetters: Panel of 150 TrendSetters: school nutrition directors who set the trends in school nutrition SNA members, representative of various size districts and regions TrendSets
2007 Calendar Ethnic Foods Introductory Issue: January Marketing: March Beverages: March Kitchen Set-Up & Equipment: June Fruits & Veggies: June Breakfast: September Charge Policies: December Cafeteria Environment: December TrendSets
Marketing needs survey conducted in September 2006 105 respondents TrendSets Marketing Survey
To understand: Main marketing objectives of school nutrition directors Usage of school-based marketing and promotional tools Usage of SNA marketing and promotional tools Usage of Industry marketing and promotional tools Marketing needs to help determine how SNA and Industry can help with marketing Marketing SurveyResearch Objectives
Increasing breakfast participation (83%) Increasing awareness of benefits of school meals program among parents (82%) Nutrition Education for students (82%) Increasing lunch participation (81%) Main Marketing Objectives
Media campaign to drive awareness of benefits of school meals among parents Communication material: Posters, material for website content, parent newsletters, menus, information for administrators… Reducing price of promotional items Marketing NeedsHow SNA can help
Media campaign: Associating themselves with benefits of school meals Helping fund a national campaign Posters: Focused on nutrition and physical activity vs. heavy branding. Education materials for classrooms and parents Marketing NeedsHow Industry Can Help
Over ¾ of respondents use Industry developed marketing and promotional tools Most commonly cited: Dairy Council (National, State and Local levels) The Schwan Food Company Fruit & Vegetable commodity groups (5-A-Day, Fresh Fruit Council) PepsiCo Industry Tools Most Used
Great interest in a marketing and nutrition education kit, every month of the school year Kit elements: Posters for cafeteria (87%) Theme for each month (85%) Themed merchandise for students (74%) Small prizes for each student (frequently cited in open ended responses) Flyers/letters targeting parents Feedback on Nutrition Education Toolkit
Increasing breakfast participation (83%) Increasing awareness of benefits of school meals program among parents (82%) Nutrition Education for students (82%) Increasing lunch participation (81%) TrendSetters’ Main Marketing Objectives
Develop a public awareness website targeting kids and parents Develop nutrition education Kit Develop more public awareness efforts targeting parents Create high visibility campaigns targeting students about school breakfast and lunch Discuss development of a national brand to help market the school meals program SNA Recommendations
To illustrate… Nutrition Education Kit Vote for School Lunch / Lunch Promotions Public Awareness Website Targeting Students and Parents Breakfast Promotions Public Awareness Initiatives
Branding Discussion: Should we develop a national brand to help market the school meals program?
Why have a strong brand? Differentiation Quality Brand Connection Loyalty: drive repeat sales
Over 1/3 of TrendSets respondents indicate their program has a brand. Brands had the following characteristics: Nutrition/Energy benefit (I.e. Energy Zone) Education reference (Food for thought Café) General description (Café Commons) Takes on school or Mascot names (I.e. Bronco Café) Proprietary Brand
Brand Usage Most Common On: Menus Website Signs Employee uniforms Proprietary Brand
Positive impact of brand on the following: Student perceptions 87% Cafeteria experience 77% Revenue 62% Proprietary Brand
Yes ƁNoƁ Pros Cons 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Should we develop a national brand to help market the school meals program?