Peanut Sales Crunch
Americans are saying nuts to buying peanut butter whether it's in a snack or a jar.
In spite of health experts advisories and brand name efforts at educating people that Skippy, Peter Pan and Jif are still safe for mixing with jelly or stuffing celery or just eating straight out of the jar people aren't buying it.
Retail trackers like Information Resources are reporting sales of peanut butter in jars have dropped off 24-percent in the month that ended January 25th compared to the same time a year ago.
Nielsen Company reports a similar figure at 22-percent.
"USA Today" says the companies that produce the major brands are doing what they can to try and deflect fears about peanut butter in jars.
The Website for Jif opens with "a message to our consumers" assuring visitors that J.M. Smucker Company is in no way associated with Peanut Corporation of America.
Skippy's Website offers a similar advisory indicating neither the peanuts or any other ingredients in the red white and blue jars are linked in any way shape or form to PCA in Georgia, ditto for the Peter Pan Website.
When it comes to peanuts the big producers aren't talking small change.
The recession has forced more people to pack their own lunches rather than visiting a restaurant at noon.
Peanut butter, crunchy or creamy, is a big part of the typical "make it yourself" lunch.
(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)
RNS-02-11-09 0305CST

Americans are saying nuts to buying peanut butter whether it's in a snack or a jar.
In spite of health experts advisories and brand name efforts at educating people that Skippy, Peter Pan and Jif are still safe for mixing with jelly or stuffing celery or just eating straight out of the jar people aren't buying it.
Retail trackers like Information Resources are reporting sales of peanut butter in jars have dropped off 24-percent in the month that ended January 25th compared to the same time a year ago.
Nielsen Company reports a similar figure at 22-percent.
"USA Today" says the companies that produce the major brands are doing what they can to try and deflect fears about peanut butter in jars.
The Website for Jif opens with "a message to our consumers" assuring visitors that J.M. Smucker Company is in no way associated with Peanut Corporation of America.
Skippy's Website offers a similar advisory indicating neither the peanuts or any other ingredients in the red white and blue jars are linked in any way shape or form to PCA in Georgia, ditto for the Peter Pan Website.
When it comes to peanuts the big producers aren't talking small change.
The recession has forced more people to pack their own lunches rather than visiting a restaurant at noon.
Peanut butter, crunchy or creamy, is a big part of the typical "make it yourself" lunch.
(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)
RNS-02-11-09 0305CST