Dive Brief:
- As consumers are moving toward healthier foods and snacking, processed food giants are left scrambling to determine new ways to attract consumers back to quick-and-easy and "sit-down meals."
- According to NPR, processed foods may still own the majority of the center-store food aisles at grocery stores, but they "are losing ground when it comes to social-media marketing."
- To adapt, major food companies, such as Campbell's, are turning toward healthier and organic products to appeal to millenials and other health-conscious consumers.
Dive Insight:
Processed foods companies have taken a hit as of late for a myriad of reasons. Last week, Kraft Foods Group instituted a recall for some of its macaroni and cheese products due to possible contamination of metal pieces. The cereal industry has taken a hit over the past decade, including a recent plant closure announcement by Kellogg, leaving cereal producers to change their strategies to include or promote healthier ingredients, such as ancient grains and Greek yogurt. Whether these are the best strategies to boost these companies' bottom lines is up for debate, but swaying consumers back to processed foods seems like a necessity for these companies to stay at the top of their industries.