Cosmetics Brands From US And France Dominate Asian Beauty Market

Brands from the United States and France are dominating the Asian cosmetics market, according to GDM Group USA CEO Judith Higgins and her partner Chris Han. The marketing specialists said that online sales and the use of celebrity endorsers are the most effective means of building up new brands in the market. Total sales of cosmetics in China are expected to reach RMB 220 billion, or $34.7 billion, by 2015. Higgins and Han said that in communicating with Asian consumers, cosmetics companies should make their target audience feel important. For example, L'Oréal used the slogan "Because You're Worth It."

"Asian beauty market dominated by brands from France, says expert ", Cosmetics Design, May 18, 2012

Snack Makers Tweak Product Formulas To Satisfy World Tastes

With snack food sales essentially stagnant in the U.S. for the past two years, manufacturers are marketing their products -- some with slightly different formulas -- overseas. The timing is right, because busy people in developing countries like China and India are acquiring a taste for “on-the-go” American snacks. But there's a slight problem with the strategy: the flavors of snacks like Oreos and Lay’s potato chips have had to be tweaked to suit regional tastes. For example, Kraft fiddled with the Oreo recipe when it learned that the Chinese don't like treats as big or as sweet as Americans do. The result is an Oreo cookie that is a little smaller and a bit less sweet.

"“Crab” Chips, Fruity Oreos? They’re Big Overseas", Time, May 06, 2012

Procter & Gamble Refutes Online Allegations Against Crest Toothpaste In China

Procter & Gamble refuted online allegations made by some Chinese consumers that its Crest toothpaste sold in China is made of industrial wastes and does not contain fluoride. A complaint posted by a Hong Kong resident became popular online and has been reposted more than 35,000 times, generating more than 5,000 comments. P&G posted a report by the quality testing center for toothpastes showing that Crest toothpastes had passed tests conducted in October 2011 and met national standards requiring fluoride toothpastes to contain 0.05–0.15 percent of fluoride.

"No Crest for toothpaste amid unfavorable online allegations", People’s Daily Online, May 03, 2012

Euromonitor Reports Economic Slowdown Affecting Consumer Behavior, Companies' Marketing Strategies

Nestlé Philippines said 40 percent of its products are sold in sachets in more than 90 percent of retail stores in the country, a strategy followed by other fast moving consumer goods manufacturers and some financial companies, according to the Euromonitor International's global consumer tracker. Results of the study also revealed that 15 percent of Croatians frequently travel to a neighboring country to buy groceries; more Norwegians, an increase of 9 percent from 2010, bought their groceries in Sweden in 2011. In Chile, distributor Ditec sold 330 Porsche sports cars in 2011, as the country's economy continued showing impressive growth. The company expects to sell 370 units of Porsche cars in 2012.

"Recession: Shifting Consumer Responses – May 2012", Euromonitor International, May 31, 2012

Increasingly Westernized Diets In China And Japan Create Demand For British Food Products

The traditional Chinese breakfast of fried rice is gradually being replaced by processed cereals, as the diets of middle class Asian families become increasingly Westernized. U.K. companies are also shipping baked beans, mushroom soup, tea, jam and biscuits. British food retailer Tesco has 100 stores in China, which is now the number one grocery shopping country in the world. Marks & Spencer reports strong demand in China for frozen salmon and cod fillets, ready-made frozen curries, chocolate-chip cookies and porridge oats. Waitrose reports sizeable demand for British specialties like tea, cereals, jam and biscuits in Japan.

"China hungers for our food: Firms cash in as middle-class families demand British meals", Daily Mail, May 20, 2012