Whom Do You Love?

Are you feeling the love? A recently released list named this year's most liked brands in the country, and food and beverage CPG manufacturers have landed top spots. It's no wonder many of the consumer-friendly products ranked highly; each company has spent years honing its brand, image, and marketing.

The list based its standings on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, with each company earning its position based on thousands of consumer satisfaction surveys administered by ACSI.

Business Insider announced the results last week, and food and beverage companies rated as follows: ketchup maker H.J. Heinz earned the highest spot on the list, landing at number three. The 142-year-old business received a score of 88 out of 100 on the satisfaction index.

Quaker came in next, with a rating of 86. A push toward more whole grains and less sugar surely helped the PepsiCo-owned brand secure the eighth opening on the list.

While also achieving a satisfaction score of 86, Hershey came in at number 12, according to Business Insider. The Hershey Company is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, and distributes candies including Reese's, Jolly Rancher, and Twizzlers.

Next up, Sara Lee, number 13 on the list with a satisfaction rating of 85. Makers of fresh and frozen baked goods since 1939, the corporation continues to live up to its slogan, "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee!"

With a score of 85, Dr. Pepper Snapple locked in the number 17 spot on the list. In addition to the obvious Dr. Pepper and Snapple, the company also owns well-known beverage brands such as A&W Root Beer, Hawaiian Punch, Sunkist, and 7UP. Last year, company revenues topped $1.33 billion.

The final company on the list, Mars, Incorporated, rounded out the food and beverage CPG manufacturers on the list at number 19, and a score of 85. Over the years, the candy maker has created sweet favorites like Snickers, Twix, and Skittles. In 2010, Mars reported revenues of $30 billion, and in 2008, the company purchased gum producer Wrigley along with Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated.

Luckily, no food and beverage companies landed on this year's most hated list. BNET, the CBS Interactive Network, also published a similar list, with the same ACSI scores, but slightly different rankings.

What do you think of this list? Did the companies, brands, and products you love make the cut? Leave a comment and tell me more!

Hall of Fame

Tucan Sam? Mr. Peanut? Who's your favorite advertising icon? From Charlie the Tuna to the Jolly Green Giant, beloved characters across the years have helped consumers connect with a brand. The personified creatures have earned their place in American pop culture, with many companies making over their "spokesperson" to keep up with the times.

Later this year, advertising enthusiasts will be able to visit the Advertising Icon Museum in Kansas City to honor advertising icons new and old. The institution will display the world's largest-known collection of three‐dimensional advertising icons. The 12,000-square foot museum will be home to more than 2,000 legendary advertising icons and will serve as the permanent home of the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame, the annual class of America's favorite icons as chosen by millions of online voters.

The Advertising Icon Museum will surely highlight the Top 10 Advertising Icons of the Century, as noted by Ad Age. The list includes well known figures including Betty Crocker, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Aunt Jemima, and Tony the Tiger.

Recently, CBS Sunday Morning profiled some classic advertising icons getting a fresh face with help from agency partners to reconnect with today's consumer. View the video below:


Which ad icons stand out to you? Share memories of your favorite advertising character!

Popularity Contest

When you visit the grocery store, you're faced with dozens, if not hundreds of options for everyday foods ranging from peanut butter to cereal. While some might think that chips are chips, others know that there is a big difference between Ruffles and Pringles. Read on to find out which brands are the leaders in their respective categories, based on sales.

What brand of cereal do you reach for in the morning? If you're like most Americans, you go for Honey Nut Cheerios, the best selling cereal since 2008. General Mills also holds the second best-selling cereal, Cheerios. Post Honey Bunches of Oats comes in third, followed by Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.

When it comes to peanut butter, consumers have more choices than just creamy or crunchy. One brand in particular has been selling more peanut butter since 1981. According to CPG data from SymphonyIRI Group, sales of Jif topped $317 million last year, making it the most popular PB brand. With market share at 17.2 percent, Skippy comes in a close second, followed by Peter Pan, Smucker's, and Smart Balance.

Chew on this: sugarless gum is a $1.2 billion business, and according to CPG research company Mintel International Group, Wrigley's Orbit was the best selling gum last year with sales at almost $206 million. Trident, which used to rule the sugarless gum scene, is now sitting at number two with $146 million worth of sales in 2009. Rounding out the top five best selling sugar-free chewing gums are Wrigley's Five, Extra, and Eclipse.

Turning to leaders within the salty snack category, look no further than Frito-Lay. Sales of its Lay's classic potato chips reached almost $1 billion in 2009, said SymphonyIRI Group. Wavy Lay's were the second best selling chip last year, with Ruffles coming in at number three. Procter & Gamble-owned brand Pringles and Hanover, Pennsylvania, based Utz round out the list of top selling salty snacks.

In need of a drink? Most people turn to Smirnoff, which is indeed the world's number one vodka. In fact, with $1 billion in sales last year, vodka sales were higher than that of whiskey, rum, and tequila. According SymphonyIRI Group data, Smirnoff, produced by Diageo, made up more than a fifth of industry vodka sales. Coming in at a distant second, Absolut, sells less than half as much in this category.

As a final tidbit of information, have you ever wondered which item is the most popular at Wal-Mart? Bananas! The world's largest retailer sold more bananas last year than any other single item.

Have you added to this list...without knowing it? Are the brands that you buy the ones that are on the list of best sellers? Leave a message and tell me more!