While the food companies, like other large advertisers, pulled back on their spending as the economy soured, many big foodmakers plan advertising punches in the coming months. The shift comes as consumers worried about rising costs eat at home more and shop with budgets in mind — a trend that's leading many of them to generics, or private-label brands.
So while automakers may be less apt to advertise right now — SUV, anyone? — food companies say they are jumping back in the game. If they want to keep selling their own brands, they've got to keep them in the minds of shoppers.