Dive Brief:
- According to a Canadean report, six out of 10 consumers find confectionery products from their childhood appealing or very appealing.
- Canadean said this is an opportunity for food companies to target consumers who are stressed and seek products from simpler days to enjoy a nostalgic feeling that might relieve some of that stress.
- Canadean also suggests that companies could blend these nostalgic products with more modern experimentation.
Dive Insight:
In addition to attracting consumers to these products, companies could also charge a premium price, "as shoppers are willing to pay more for an exclusive experience and the chance to elicit happy memories," said Canadean analyst Joanne Hardman in a press release.
A 2014 study from the Journal of Consumer Research agrees that companies could command a higher price point. Premium prices could mean increased sales of processed foods, which are otherwise losing consumers to what they deem to be healthier foods.
Other food companies have moved to capitalize on consumers' desire for nostalgic foods. Late last year, General Mills announced it would revive its brand French Toast Crunch, which saw its heyday in the 90s and early 2000s. Coca-Cola Co. brought back its Mountain Dew-inspired Surge brand last year, and PepsiCo Inc. may be bringing back Crystal Pepsi soon.
This nostalgic trend may be nothing new to some food companies, but research like the Canadean study may inspire more companies to bring nostalgic brands back to the market.