Elaine Watson caught up with Kristen Mercure, senior corporate communications specialist at GMCR - which notched up volume growth of 21% for its single serve packs of coffee and tea in the last quarter - to find out...
When did GMCR first start talking to Campbell Soup about putting soup in a K-Cup?
The partnership has been in the works for some time, but has really started gaining momentum in the past six months.
What makes you think 'brewed soup' will be a hit with consumers?
Significant research and development efforts and consumer testing led us to Campbell’s Fresh-Brewed Soup K-Cup packs. Keurig brewer owners showed us that they use their brewer’s hot water to make their own soups, but it was never as convenient or tasted as good as they wanted. Campbell’s Fresh-Brewed Soup K-Cup packs resolve this.
We know that 84% of Keurig brewer buyers eat Campbell’s soup, and we want to give them new ways to enjoy it.
Research showed us that consumers are looking for quick, delicious, and fresh snacks in their day and soup is a category where we are able to bring the benefits and attributes consumers have come to love about the Keurig system – quality, choice, convenience and freshness.
This is a new way for consumers to enjoy Campbell’s delicious taste as a snack, with the ultra-convenience of the single cup brewing system.
What else are you looking at beyond soup that could work in a K-cup?
We’re looking into categories that profit from the benefits and attributes consumers have come to love about Keurig: quality, choice, convenience, and freshness. We have a number of potential growth categories in consideration for our Keurig system, but none that we’ll be sharing other than soup today.
When will the new commercial grade Keurig Bolt machines and packs (which can brew a 64 oz. pot of coffee in two minutes) be available?
Keurig Bolt brewer will be available throughout the US and Canada through limited Keurig Authorized Distributors beginning in late fall 2013.
What is the benefit for an unlicensed player to team up with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters?
There are two key benefits to being a licensed partner in our Keurig beverage system:
The first is better and more consistent quality. The most recent brand study of consumer trial and repeat rates by IRI shows the top 10 brands for repeat in the Keurig beverage system are all GMCR-owned, licensed or partner brands.
In fact, the highest repeat rate in the Keurig system continues to belong to the Green Mountain Coffee brand. Because we design the entire system: the appliance, the portion pack, the roast and grinding process and the manufacturing lines that make the portion packs, the quality, taste and safety of every cup brewed is assured for our owned and licensed packs. Partners like Starbucks, Smuckers, Unilever, ConAgra, Tata, Dunkin Donuts, and now Campbell recognize the quality benefits of being a licensed partner in our system.
The second major benefit is that partners participate in our powerful innovation stream going forward. Each of the partners above has and will continue to benefit as we bring differentiated features and functionality to our portfolio.
Does GMCR supply private label pods for retailers?
We are currently in discussions with select large customers who have private label or store brands that we would also welcome into our system.
Click here to read what marketing and branding experts have to say about brewed soup in a K-Cup.