1. *

2. *
*When it comes to food PR and marketing there is a
lengthy process involved in making sure your food
product and brand is a success.
*Marketing and promoting food brands require
specialist knowledge and understanding of the
intricacies of the food industry.
*The job of the food marketing team starts before
there are any thoughts to ingredients and doesn’t
finish till long after the final product has been sold.
*The following article outlines some of the top tips in
marketing any food product or brand to a financial
success.

3. *
* Consumers are getting more knowledgeable when it comes to
what they eat and where their food has come from.
* The original source ingredients for your food have become
critically important in ensuring the quality of the final
product but also in utilising the marketing and PR benefits of
positive ethical food sourcing.
* Develop strong relationships with local suppliers as a means
to negotiating deals on price and boosting profit margins.
* Identify sources of high quality with a reputation for quality
and timely service.
* Taking shortcuts at the initial sourcing stage will ultimately
lead to an inferior product.

4. *
*You can’t do too much research before launching and
marketing a new food product.
*You will be able to garner large quantities of useful
and relevant data on a wide range of issues relating to
all aspects of your product and brand.
*Identify and understand your target market and tailor
your product and its marketing strategy towards
attracting that audience.
*Carrying out a number of focus groups can give you
fascinating insight in to the thoughts of your target
audience and identify hitherto unnoticed issues with
your product such as taste, competition, packaging or
branding.

5. *
*The retail world is hugely competitive and
consumers have a vast array of choice.
*Ensure your product stands out on the retail
shelf.
*Assess your competition and see what colours,
names and packaging stands out to you.
*Style your branding in such a way so as to draw
maximum attention to your product.

6. *
* It is crucial that you develop a sizable and consistent online
presence.
* Social media sites allow you to communicate and connect directly to
consumers.
* Share news, information, deals and discounts with your followers
online as a way to develop a relationship and build up customer
loyalty.
* You must not use your social communications merely to advertise or
send out PR messages. Share insightful and interesting information
which the audience would value.
* Use your social media presence to monitor your brand’s reputation
and image online. Identify how customers see and think of your
brand and if there is any negative feedback, try to identify the root
of the issue and offer your help in resolving the matter.
* Your communications online are a direct representation of your brand
and its values. Ensure that all your communication is consistent and
truly showcases the values and beliefs of your organisation.

7. *
*Word of mouth is crucial to generating new
business.
*When deciding on where to eat the majority of
consumers will consult others for their suggestions
or thoughts on a particular place.
*Online reviews of food and restaurants have
become very popular with guests sharing their good
and bad experiences of eating out.
*Encourage positive feedback from customers at all
times and showcase your reviews proudly on your
website.

8. *
*No matter how constrained you get with time and
costs, it is imperative, particularly with food
products, that you maintain a consistent level of
quality. A dip in quality or signs of cost cutting can
damage your reputation and image within the
market. Customer loyalty is borne out of consistent
quality of service and customer loyalty is the key to
success in the food game. It is far easier and more
effective to get your regular customers to purchase
more than it is to convince new customers to switch
and try your product.