Food Trends: Popsicle, Oreos & Kool-Aid Bring Back Childhood Memories

Sweet treats dominate the list of brands that most often bring back consumers’ childhood memories. Popsicle tops the list, followed closely by Oreos, Hershey Kisses, Kool-Aid, and M&Ms according to a FoodTrends.com analysis by TNS Landis.

The analysis, which is based on the TNS Landis US Consumption Universe across the entire food and beverage landscape, scored 270 consumer food, snack and beverage brands. A score of 50 or greater indicated a brand is considered to possess an attribute by at least half of brand-aware consumers.

The top brands on the list are not just products loved by kids, the study also found. Most have broad age appeal, and though sweet treats score well overall, several cereals and soups are also perennial favorites.

Paulette Kish, EVP of TNS Landis Innovation, suggests that powerful connections between the senses and emotions sets the stage for reinforcement of enduring brand relationships and are a rich territory for marketers.

“The mouth-to-memory link is universal,” said Kish. “We’ve all experienced that moment when a taste, aroma, or song awakens a memory of past events, places, or people in our lives. When these memories are pleasantly related to a specific product or brand, they can be the catalyst for sharing the experience with our children, thereby strengthening brands over time and even across generations.”

About the research: The TNS Landis Consumption Universe study is a consumer-based survey that aims to connect consumer targets, occasions, needs, and brands to identify marketing opportunities. The list of included brands can be found at foodtrends.com. Previous food-trend analyses have included the top brands for adventurous eaters.