New products are the lifeblood of American industry.
Martin Friedman and Lynn Dornblaser of New Product News identified the most successful new products over the past 25 years at the recent meetings of the Food Marketing Institute, McCormick Place, Chicago.Friedman reminded food editors present at the briefing that "every new product on supermarket shelves today was once a brand new product, introduced by nervous manufacturers in the hope that hesitant consumer would try the newcomer and continue to buy it for a long brand life cycle."
Surviving new products with extended shelf life include:
1964: Carnation Instant Breakfast, Lucky Charms, Betty Crocker Ready-to-Spread Frosting and Quaker Instant Oatmeal
1965: Aunt Jemima Syrup, Shake `n Bake and Spaghetti-Os
1966: Product 19, Cool Whip and Care Free gum
1967: Eggo waffles, Gatorade and Starburst Fruit Chews
1968: Similac, Snak-Pak puddings and Pringles
1969: Swanson breakfasts, Chunky soups, and Del Monte Pudding Cups
1970: Pebbles cereal, Brim coffee, Swiss Miss puddings and Lipton Cup-A-Soup
1971: Hamburger Helper, Sara Lee 3-layer cakes, Success rice and Breath Savers
1972: Pillsbury bundt cake mixes, Stove Top stuffing mix and Promise margarine
1973: Egg Beaters, General Foods International coffees and Miller Lite beer
1974: Progresso soups, Eggo French toast and Cup-A-Noodles
1975: Country Time lemonade mix, Free-dent gum and Accent meat tenderizer
1976: Heinz Home Style gravies, Nature Valley granola bars, Shedd's Spread and Puritan oil
1977: Twix candy bars, Yoplait yogurt and Soup Starter
1978: Lipton's flavored teas, Honey Nut Cheerios and Master Blend coffee
1979: Jell-o Pudding Pops, Klondike Bars and Capri Sun fruit drinks
1980: Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups and Prego spaghetti sauce
1981: Lean Cuisine, Nutri-Grain cereal and Aunt Jemima toaster pancakes
1982: Le Menu dinners, Pepsi Free and Citrus Hill orange juice
1983: Mrs. Dash, Almost Home cookies and Budget Gourmet entrees
1984: Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Kellogg's Raisin Squares and Kraft light mayonnaise
1985: Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers, Lipton Fun Fruits and Jello Ready-to-Eat puddings
1986: Cool Ranch Doritos, Pepperidge Farm American Collection cookies and Pills-bury microwave cake mixes
1987: Lunch Buckets, Top Shelf, Lunch-ables and Apple-Cinnamon Cheerios
1988: Contadina Fresh Pasta and sauces and Common Sense Oat Bran
1989: Healthy Choice Dinner, Kraft fat free desserts/dressings and Entenmann's Fat-free baked goods
1990: Healthy Choice line extension and Ultra Slim-fast products