I’m a fan of hazelnut chocolate spreads on my bread. Not a big fan, but I love the creamy chocolate taste.
Nutella has been my choice for a long time.
The supermarket in my neighborhood sells Nutella at $4.30 for the medium sized bottle – 375 grams.
Two weeks ago, dad came home with a different brand. It was bigger, and it was cheaper. I was 400 grams, and it was just $3.00.
Wow. Sounds like a good buy.
But after tasting it on my bread, I could immediately taste the difference. It was a hazelnut chocolate spread that didn’t even taste like hazelnut or chocolate. If you want my frank opinions, it tasted more like a can of creamed sugar. Very ugly.
That unfinished bottle is now sitting on my kitchen table, and I’ve bought my new Nutella… and I know I’ll NEVER ever try out that “Brand X” creamed sugar hazelnut chocolate spread again, no matter what will say about changed formulas or even if they are selling 3 kilograms at $3.00.
The point?
If you are going to market yourself as a bigger and cheaper alternative. At least, be sure that it is an ALTERNATIVE.
Most of the time, if you are going against a big brand with a huge fans, you don’t even stand a chance. Your chances come from people who are not exactly huge fans. Like me. And you have ONE chance. Just ONE chance. Cherish it. It will save your business.
