CHICAGO – Food and beverage product launches declined nearly 30% in 2009, according to the Global New Product Database from Mintel International. “We see a number of small companies, which typically introduce a wide range of products, have been stopping or slowing their introductions due to the economy. Additionally, some categories have simply become so over-saturated that there is little room for new products.”
But products with ethical and environmental claims increased from 9% of all product launches in 2008 to 17% in 2009. In addition, the number of new products with an economy claim increased 72% from 2008 to 2009.