One of the fundamental tenets of innovation is that it has to solve a problem or need. But what if we were to think beyond the functional and the emotional needs? How can CPG products answer symbolic consumer needs, like belonging, differentiation, status and more?     In our latest episode, Tamara and Stas discuss why we view cultural demand forecasting as the lynchpin to successful innovation, trendspotting and portfolio advisement.   Download the free white paper: The Case for Cultural Demand Forecasting   Over the past decade, demand space frameworks have emer ..read more

This week on the podcast we’re joined by our friend and colleague, Steve Markenson from FMI — The Food Industry Association, to talk all about the latest installment of FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report. Listen as we unpack the state of grocery shopping today:    Why we might be witnessing “the end of the primary shopper”  How shopper habits and sentiments have shifted (or stayed the same) as inflation persists  What is driving shifts in the variety of stores shopped, and why the supermarket still reigns supreme  How the shoppers’ evolving understanding of valu ..read more

Despite an oversaturated landscape of brand partnerships, celebrity endorsements remain a hot topic for both consumers and business professionals. Why? Because when those partnerships are done right, they can deliver some pretty buzz-worthy results.   In this week’s podcast, our Hartman Retainer Services team breaks down everything you need to know about successful brand partnerships in the age of influencers and social media:   How younger consumers have changed the conversation around branding and personal/social identity Why knowing your audience (and the celebrity’s audience) is ..read more

You may have seen the controversy around Alexandre Family Farms regarding allegations of  mistreatment of cows and subsequent details regarding the validity of the claims and underlying motivations of those involved in the reporting. This got us thinking about a larger question: what are the lasting impacts of conflicting media information on consumer trust, and how can discerning organizations combat them?   Listen to this week’s podcast for a fascinating discussion about how media, brands, and consumers influence public perceptions. We touch on important issues like:  The evo ..read more

Want a deeper understanding of the topics covered in our new Future of Snacking 2024 report? Hear directly from our lead researchers as they give a sneak peek of some interesting insights we uncovered, such as:  How needs around Nourishment, Optimization, Pleasure and Distraction highlight a shift toward more intentional snacking choices Why taste goes beyond just flavor, and how different dimensions of taste play a role in the overall snacking experience What consumers look for in terms of snack packaging and how it underscores the importance of convenience About the report  Futur ..read more

You’ve probably heard us talk about Hartman Retainer Services, or HRS, quite a bit. But you might still be wondering what kind of questions we can answer — and how detailed we can get (spoiler alert: very detailed!). On this week’s podcast, Rob and Alissa from our HRS team are breaking down some examples of recent client requests and the resulting deliverables, ranging from a deep dive on functional mushrooms to an analysis of evolving consumer needs within meat and seafood occasions.  Listen now for a behind-the-scenes look at how we tackled these unique requests, and how this on-demand ..read more

Plus, what the Kroger-Albertson’s merger says about pricing, accessibility, variety, labor and more  Businesses face significant pressure to predict market trends accurately — almost like having a crystal ball. Although seeing into the future is impossible, you can come very close with the right insights and cultural understanding.  Hartman Group’s Futurecast 2024 helps guide you through discussions on major changes affecting consumer behavior so you can pinpoint trends and pockets of demand for sustained growth.  This week’s podcast offers an inside look at this strategic exe ..read more

We recently had the pleasure of hosting our friend Julie O’Brien, owner of Seattle-based Firefly Kitchens, for a Trend Trek at Hartman Group’s offices. Julie shared an impressive spread of gut-loving sauerkrauts, kimchis and tonics, and taught our team more about the delicate fermentation process behind them.   In this week’s podcast, Robert and Melissa break down (pun intended) highlights and key learnings from the Trek:  Our favorite bites and recipe ideas from the tasting The benefits of fermented foods, immunity to digestion to microbiome health Challenges faced by fermented foo ..read more

In this week’s episode, Alissa and Danielle are giving our listeners an exclusive sneak-peek into our new Ideas in Food report. They discuss several emerging trends and their critical implications:  The increasing importance of texture and how it can enhance taste  Surprising ways sound influences our perception of food  Backlash toward everything being marketed as healthy or functional Ideas in Food focuses on the cultural roots of over a dozen trends and their implications for your business. You’ll walk away confident about where you can make the greatest impact in the years ..read more

The USDA organic certification is becoming table stakes, and many consumers are starting to recognize it may not be enough (more to come on this in our Q2 syndicated study).   We sat down with Ted Robb, founder of New Barn Organics to chat all about the next evolution of organic. Nearly all New Barn’s products are Regenerative Organic Certified, including the first-ever ROC unsweetened almond milk. But their story goes much deeper than that.  Ted shares an honest and inspiring perspective on: The ups and downs of growing a new brand  Thoughtful distribution  How brands can ..read more