Burger King Snacks Expand Test Market
PHOENIX -- Food manufacturer and marketer The Inventure Group Inc. said it plans to pursue a national rollout of its Burger King brand of salty snacks in the vending channel, after its test marketing results exceeded managements' expectations in the fourth quarter of 2007, the company stated.
"Strong initial shipments and consumer takeaway from the vending channel led to our decision to implement full national expansion into one of the company's largest channels," Eric Kufel, Inventure president and CEO, said in a statement. "We intend to implement Burger King brand salted snack test markets in other major channels during the first half of 2008. Though still early in the test market process, the brands' vend channel performance has exceeded our test market expectations to date and we are cautiously optimistic about the potential of this exciting new brand."
Test marketing in the convenience, drug and grocery channels began in the first quarter of 2008 and has generated significant retailer interest, according to the company. Meanwhile, mass merchandise and club store tests are expected to begin during the first half of 2008, while Burger King quick-serve-restaurants are scheduled to test the Ketchup & Fries snack product throughout the first quarter of 2008 in markets in Ohio and Florida, the company stated.
In addition, Inventure is developing more new items for the Burger King snack line for potential test marketing in the second half of the year, which will complement the Ketchup & Fries and Flame Broiled products, the company stated.
"Strong initial shipments and consumer takeaway from the vending channel led to our decision to implement full national expansion into one of the company's largest channels," Eric Kufel, Inventure president and CEO, said in a statement. "We intend to implement Burger King brand salted snack test markets in other major channels during the first half of 2008. Though still early in the test market process, the brands' vend channel performance has exceeded our test market expectations to date and we are cautiously optimistic about the potential of this exciting new brand."
Test marketing in the convenience, drug and grocery channels began in the first quarter of 2008 and has generated significant retailer interest, according to the company. Meanwhile, mass merchandise and club store tests are expected to begin during the first half of 2008, while Burger King quick-serve-restaurants are scheduled to test the Ketchup & Fries snack product throughout the first quarter of 2008 in markets in Ohio and Florida, the company stated.
In addition, Inventure is developing more new items for the Burger King snack line for potential test marketing in the second half of the year, which will complement the Ketchup & Fries and Flame Broiled products, the company stated.