The food industry is getting ready to fight the surging popularity of low-carb diets with multi-million dollar marketing campaigns that tout the nutritional benefits of various high-carb foods. While such campaigns might help lift depressed sales they are unlikely to stop the low-carb craze.
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It is believed that an estimated ten million Americans are currently practising low-carb diets such as Atkins. The rising popularity of such diets has prompted many food and drink manufacturers to respond with low-carb alternatives. Recent entrants into the surging low-carb market include Latrobe’s Rock Green Light and Heinz’s low-carb ketchup. Restaurants have also been cowering to the demands of low-carb dieters. TGI Fridays and Subway both advertise an Atkins menu.
Marketers of products such as potatoes, however, do not have the luxury of providing a low-carb alternative for their products and have paid for it with diminishing demand and profits. The United States Potato Board last year found that potato consumption fell 4.7% from the prior year.
Determined not to let the Atkins wave ride them out of business, many food and drink manufacturers have launched multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. The potato industry has responded with a US$4m advertising campaign. The Idaho Potato Commission also launched a $2m campaign. The campaign, which asks “Is there too much fad in your diet?”, highlights the health benefits of potatoes, such as no-fat and high vitamins.
The discovery that orange juice consumption fell by 5% last year has prompted citrus growers to launch a $1.8m advertising campaign touting oranges as ‘smart carbohydrates’. The pasta industry has also felt the heat. Barilla is currently collaborating with other pasta makers to raise money for a campaign to promote the nutritional benefits of pasta. The National Pasta Association in the US is also sponsoring a conference to discuss strategies to compete with the low-carb movement.
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By GlobalDataThe health focus of these campaigns is bound to resonate with consumers increasingly concerned with total well-being. However, their impact is likely to be limited by the growing focus of Americans on losing weight as opposed to getting fit and healthy.
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