Changing buying habits in the grocery business is extremely difficult. Consumers tend to be loyal to the brands they have always bought, often simply because they have always bought them. These well known “megabrands” are able to continue their dominance, not only because consumers are loyal, but they have also helped in establishing the manner in which a product is brought to market. These “rules of engagement,” while a great expense for the large brands, really help them in shutting out competition before they even begin. Startup companies face such challenges as: the need to spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions, on advertising, product placement in the stores and even “slotting fees” to get into the warehouses supplying the stores.
Small Brand America tells the stories of tiny companies, and the individuals behind them, competing in the grocery industry. Despite the odds stacked against them, companies like the ones featured in Small Brand America take on the megabrands and try to go beyond simply carving a niche in the market; they are attempting to break the stranglehold the larger companies have on the stores and buying consumers to become a household name in their own right.
The book walks you through the stories of companies and individuals that have figured a way to establish success via hard work, creativity and perhaps a little luck. The end result is the fascinating, and often surprising, stories of these unique companies.
The following companies are profiled in Small Brand America:
3 Monkeys Mustard – 3monkeysmustard.com
Alaskan Brewing Company – alaskanbeer.com
Anderson’s Maple Syrup – andersonmaplesyrup.com
Atlanta Honey Company – atlantahoneycompany.com
Berkshire Cheese – berkshirecheese.com
Bove’s Pasta Sauce – boves.com
Brother Bru-Bru’s – brobrubru.com
CBS Foods, Inc. – chefbigshake.com
Des Moines Bacon Company – desmoinesbaconcompany.com
Dogtown Pizza – dogtownpizza.com
Great Lakes Distillery – greatlakesdistillery.com
Hillcrest Ranch Sunol – hillcrestranch.com
Hudson Henry Baking Company – hudsonhenrybakingcompany.com
Idaho Candy Company – idahospud.com
Jackson Hole Soda Company – jacksonholesoda.com
Jimmy’s Salad Dressing – jimmysdressing.com
Jones Potato Chip Company – joneschips.com
Mercer’s Dairy – mercersdairy.com
Metropolis Coffee – metropoliscoffee.com
Mr. G’s Hawaii-Style Teriyaki – mrgsteriyaki.com
The Nashville Jam Company – thenashvillejamsco.com
Portlandia Foods (Portland Ketchup) – portlandiafoods.com
Sticky Toffee Pudding Company – sticktoffeepuddingcompany.com
Umpqua Oats – umpquaoats.com
Verve, Inc. (Glee Gum) – gleegum.com