Technology

Children are perhaps the most fickle of all consumers. Find out which toy companies stayed on the "hot" list in 2011 and which ones are losing the popularity contest.

CGT Editor Alliston Ackerman gives you a sneak peek into the trends and topics discussed in this month's issue.

The partnership will intertwine the Coca-Cola brand into HSNs programming events throughout the year and include the most extensive online store of Coca-Cola merchandise in the world, HSN merchandise added to the My Coke Rewards store for Coke fans, as well as engaging programming and unique multi-platform content throughout the year.

New product launches continue the momentum generated by other recent new breakfast products, including Krave cereal, which was the most successful cereal launch in the category in the last 20 years.

From fresher frozen meals to food trucks for dogs, consumers can expect to see a variety of interesting trends to tickle the tummy in 2013. Nestl, the worlds leading nutrition, health and wellness company, recently issued some predictions destined to please the palates of all family members, including pets.

At a recent CGT conference, demand planning leaders from P&G candidly discussed how standardization is a key enabler for the rapid expansion of innovation. If you missed the live discussion, dont fret. We caught it all on tape. Plus, watch more video commentaries from other industry thought leaders on big trends to come in 2013 and beyond.

Members of CGT's TPM Share Group met in Orlando, Fla., during the Consumer Goods Business and Technology Leadership Conference on October 23, 2012. The group moved away from the recent TPO discussions, which are aspirational for most, and focused on more practical aspects of TPM execution. Here is a recap of the discussion.

For more than 30 years, trade promotions have been the "currency of the realm"; the way to get new items on shelves, to encourage retailers to advertise and display existing products and to fund price reductions. Over that same period, the industry has spent millions on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these investments. While that remains important, we dont see trade promotion optimization as the answer. What we need is a new currency.