Industry Intelligence Analysis Shows Strong Demand For Food & Innovation Bolstered R&D Spending

Online, August 8, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Industry Intelligence Inc., a market intelligence and information management company serving the forest products, packaging, and food and beverage industries, today released the first in a series of reports that analyze the strength of research & development (R&D) spending by industry sector. The first-released analysis focuses on the agribusiness and food & beverage sectors.

According to analysis by Industry Intelligence, 12 of the 17 public U.S. companies analyzed in the agribusiness and food & beverage sectors increased R&D spending in 2011. The most aggressive of those companies was Monsanto, which spent 11.7% of its 2011 revenue on R&D. The leading spender in the food & beverage grouping was Kraft Foods, which increased its 2011 R&D spending by 20% from the prior 2010 period. The analysis distinguishes the 17 companies by sector: agribusiness, branded food & beverage, and private-label food & beverage.

R&D continues to play a strategic role for both branded and private-label food & beverage companies. Brand owners push product innovation to keep front and center with the consumer, and private-label manufacturers strive to offer low-priced products of a quality similar to branded products. In 2011, private-label products were priced 29% lower than comparable brand products. With the weak economy and high unemployment, private-label products are attractive options for the price-conscious consumer.

This comprehensive analysis of sector-by-sector R&D spending by Industry Intelligence is available to clients of Industry Intelligence's i2dashboard service. In addition to Industry Intelligence's in-depth sector analysis, i2dashboard clients get access to current company news, company research from multiple Wall Street firms, transcripts of earnings calls, complete 10-Q earnings reports and real-time stock status.

About Industry Intelligence Inc.

Industry Intelligence Inc. has provided market intelligence to more than 600 companies worldwide from independent startups to Fortune 500 companies since it began as Forestweb in 1999. Over the years, Industry Intelligence has grown to cover the forest products, packaging and food and beverage industries from a high-level industry view to in-depth data, which clients use to prepare for meetings, generate sales reports, produce competitive analysis and create other business documents. Industry Intelligence innovation comes from industry experts using patented technology to deliver the market intelligence that companies use to compete, make informed decisions and succeed.

If you'd like more information about Industry Intelligence, visit http://www.industryintel.com, or for a demonstration of the company's service, call 310.553.0008 to speak with a client care specialist.