Author Archive

22
Apr

12,585,554 views in 3.5 days

You've heard of "going viral". This one's "going off-the-charts-crazy!!!" In less than four days it's been viewed nearly 13 million times. What could that do for your brand awareness? What could that do for your brand image? Chances are, you've already seen it. When you watch it again here, make sure you enjoy the

15
Apr

A Triumph For Obvious Marketing

Products are re-branded everyday. Why are we writing a blog post about this one? Because this simple move takes a product and – with the addition of 1 word – makes it more relevant to the consumer. This image shows the 'before and after' versions of a near water drink from Coca Cola owned Innocent.

28
Mar

Are you benefiting from the free boost the right trends can offer your business? If your inbox is anything like mine, Mondays and Thursdays bring a weekly influx of (supposedly) 'new' trends. Call it "trend spotting" or "Cool Hunting" or anything you like, but how can you actually apply trends to accelerate your brand growth? At HMT, we are privileged to

24
Mar

"Are you using "Trend Flow" to build brand success?" These days the world is a connected place. If something is a good idea in one place, it rapidly becomes popular somewhere else. Put simply, ideas travel fast. Good ideas and bad ideas. This is how "Trend Flow" happens. And it's surprisingly predictable. You just need to know where your brands most relevant

15
Mar

Award Winning Innovative Packaging

Inspired by IKEA and a bendy straw. Yes that's what it took to come up with this moment of genius that you'll going to start seeing a lot more of in the years ahead. The "Hopper Pot" as it's called is 'pocket sized and perfect'. When you are on the move

18
Feb

Be Obvious Not Clever

"Why I'd Choose Obvious Marketing Over Clever Marketing Every Time" Smart Marketers and Innovators are choosing obvious over clever. Consumers' lives are getting ever-busier. They don't have time to think about and analyse new launches. The ones they notice and buy are the ones which already make sense to them. Whether you

12
Feb

Take Your Share of Emerging Market Business

Why you need to "Seize The Position" first in emerging markets On a recent client engagement in Algeria, HMT Senior Partner Sam Waterfall was reminded of the importance of taking a strong brand position – and taking it first!

30
Jan

This was HMT's first Masterclass training in 2013 but the 16th FourFactors Masterclass delivered by the HMT for marketers around the world. Additional HMT Masterclasses are planned for later in 2013 in Sweden, Jakarta, Geneva, Singapore, Dubai and London. On 29 January HMT Senior Partner Sam

28
Jan

On Tuesday 22 January, HMT Senior Partner Sam Waterfall presented at Sports Nutrition 2013 in London UK on "How to make your Sports Nutrition product an obvious success". He came back with a new view of the sector and shares 3 essential development areas in Sports Nutrition

19
Dec

Free From Reaches Mass Market

The "Free From" trend has gained a real foothold with consumers in recent years. From early roots in the highly specialised realms of medical food and products serving the needs of the various groups with food intolerances, we can now be certain that the trend has reached the Mass Market. How can we be so sure?

16
Oct

Dispatches from World Juice 12, Barcelona: Are you involved in the juice industry? Listening to the leading players there's a real split between the glass half full and the glass half empty crowds. While some are optimistic, many are downbeat about the low commodity pricing and the way that the high in natural sugar story has been twisted in a

26
Jun

10 Ways Thatchers Somerset Cider are Differentiating their Brand

By Sam Waterfall Many of our clients struggle to differentiate their brand. Especially clients in emerging markets where the brands tend to be less sophisticated. So how can you build more sophistication and depth into a brand? Let’s start by looking at 10 simple ideas leveraged well by Thatchers Somerset Cider. The TVC Voiceover script: "What is

26
Apr

HMT Consulting Partner Sam Waterfall will be presenting at the Food & Drink Network's Seminar "The Mediterranean Diet - The Next Big Trend" on the 27th June in Daventry. About the event (from FDIN) It seems that as an industry we're always on the back-foot being blamed for making people fat

10
Apr

How Coke is making more by selling you less

by Sam Waterfall HMT have recently returned from speaking at The 10th Annual World Food Technology & Innovation Forum. You won’t be surprised that the pulse of that event was beating was on the creation and launch of winning new ideas. What you would have found surprising is the sheer

15
Feb

The Trends of the Dragon

by Sam Waterfall - A snapshot of fast change in South East Asia I’m just back from a brief 3-stop tour around South East Asia. In the region for nearly 2 weeks, I had a good chance to observe the retailers, meet consumers and speak to business leaders. To me,

03
Oct

As we work around the world, the HMT work on a wide variety of branding and innovation projects. But wherever we are, whatever category we are working in, the underlying question is usually the same: How can I add value to my customers so I can build sustainable growth for my brand?"    In this video, HMT's

16
Aug

Sam Waterfall
Senior Partner

        Sam is the HMT's Senior Partner and specialises in leading innovation and brand renovation projects for clients around the world. In demand as a speaker, Sam has chaired conferences and inspired audiences worldwide. He has recently spoken at events in Bangkok, Mumbai, Shanghai, Saigon, London, Helsinki and delivered a keynote address

26
Jul

By Sam Waterfall A recent Food Navigator Asia.com article by Ankush Chibber, "Health Foods Yet to Catch Up in India," dated 20 July, focused on two recent product withdrawals for sugar-free and fat-free foods. The first product to be removed from the shelves is Pepsi Max, a lower calorie alternative to Pepsi Cola and Diet Pepsi. The second was

17
Jun

Coconut Water – Permissible Perfection

On a recent short haul trip in his home market of Sweden, HMT Founder Peter Wennström found a drink washed up from tropical shores. The drink on everyone's lips and on every NPD and innovation managers' agenda: Coconut Water. In the middle of a trendy department store

27
May

HMT's Sam Waterfall from Mumbai India where he joined a panel of distinguished Indian Entrepreneurs to discuss Innovation in Changing Times - a televised sharing of ideas for The FedEx International Business League with ET NOW. Professor Anil Gupta chaired the discussion between Marico Chairman & MD, Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Kinetic Group Chairman, Mr. Arun Firodia, and TV entrepreneur Big

20
May

What’s Next in China?

The eyes of the world are on China's ascendency and growth. After 3 days in Shanghai, HMT's Senior Consultant, Sam Waterfall reflects on what's working and what's next in China. It's a little windy, but you can enjoy Sam shouting over the weather and some ambient electric jazz!

19
May

HMT's Sam Waterfall reports from Walmart in Shanghai, China in May 2011. Sam finds key similarities between East and West and points out lessons in branding success - how to win with Healthy Marketing. Examples from Brands getting it right...

03
Mar

On 1 March, HMT Senior Consultant Sam Waterfall presented at the prestigious World Food Technology & Innovation Forum in Brussels. This video captures the key messages from the presentation and reveals how to find value for your consumers by innovating along your entire value chain... You can download a pdf of the presentation

02
Mar

  Peter Wennström, regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in functional and healthy foods marketing and president of the Healthy Marketing Team chaired and spoke at the 9th Annual World Food and

18
Feb

Quick Video Update for You: Jeffrey Hyman, Friend of the Healthy Marketing Team and Founder of the Food & Drink Innovation Network (The UK's Best Practice Club for Innovation) speaks to HMT's Sam Waterfall about the upcoming FDIN Seminar: Healthier Brands for a Healthier Business.   It's on the 17th March, here in the UK.

05
Jan

Sam Waterfall, Brand Consultant for The Healthy Marketing Team and experienced global conference speaker, delivered an engaging and keynote address in Finland in January at the Sapuska annual seminar 2011, chaired by Heikki Manner, from the Finnish Society of Food Science and Technology

11
Nov

When, why and how does Wellness sell in changing times?

Sam Waterfall, respected international conference speaker and brand consultant for the Healthy Marketing Team, recently delivered a masterclass at the Nutri Seminars Nutrition and Wellness marketing event, sponsored by Nutrilicious communications.   

20
Sep

Lessons from MAD MEN – are You Emotional Enough?

Have you been forgetting the past in your marketing? Working with A-Brand Clients in the UK this week, Healthy Marketing Team Senior Consultant Sam Waterfall was reminded about the dangers of omitting even 1 detail of the FourFactors(R) of Success.  In this blog post he focuses on just one element of the FourFactors(R) and reminds you not to forget the lessons

25
Aug

So gorgeous. So off trend. It makes me want to cry a little.

I meant to share this with you last year. I found it while I was in Florida in October 2009. But I was on the road and, for one reason or another, this blog post dropped down my list. Until today, when I saw the new results from the HealthFocus Global Shopper Trends Survey... and everything clicked into place. First watch

18
Jul

Why you should avoid ‘The NEW Dirty Dozen”

Most consumers are well aware that they should be eating more fruits and vegetables. But despite being an essential component of a healthy diet, many conventional varieties contain pesticide residues and other toxins. In 2008, the accumulation of toxins in the body was the Number 1 global concern among shoppers according to expert consumer researchers HealthFocus(R) International. To consumers, these toxins are