Friday, April 11, 2025

October 4, 2010

Yes, Advertising To Kids Is Important

Marmite, Mrs Balls Chutney, Iron Brew, and Tropica. These are the flavours of my childhood, and every now and then, a craving hits, and the inevitable binge ensues. I know, I disgust myself. Happily, I've been vindicated by science. Get a child hooked on your product in their formative years, and you've got them for life.

A new study by economists from the universities of Tilburg and Chicago shows that people retain strong preferences for the food they grew up eating, even for brands that test subjects failed to distinguish in blind tests.

The study tracks the consumption patterns of American households over two years and finds striking evidence that such loyalty is widespread, deep and long-lasting, and appears to reach beyond sense-memory.

Excellent! The child-marketers will have absolutely no trouble sleeping tonight with that knowledge safely wedged into their money clip.

If you visit your local McDonald’s, make sure to say hi to the Americans.

[Source : The Economist]