Marketing and all things related

Marketing Blurb loves chocolate more than the next pundit. We never touch any from a convenience store counter—we’re talking private label stuff you need to savor like fine wine. But everyone is getting into the act these days because of recent reports that the antioxidant-rich cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate actually reduce your risk of heart disease. Sales of dark chocolate in the US reached $1.62 billion last year. 25% of US household report dark chocolate on hand—up from only 8% two years ago. So don’t be surprised that Hershey and Mars believe you should consider dark chocolate as a health food. Both companies have introduced new products to fuel the interest. “Mars is marketing Dove Dark, a nutrition-aisle product dubbed CocoaVia, M&M's Dark and limited-time Snickers Dark (along with an almond version). Hershey offers Special Dark and Extra Dark, a mass-premium Cacao Reserve by Hershey's line to be introduced next month, and newly acquired superpremium brands from Scharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt.” Marketing Blurb thinks this is fine idea, and we now expect to live a long healthy life. We thank Advertising Age (free registration required) for this sweet story.  Photo Credit: Advertising Age