Marketing, Promotion and Research ProgramPerformance Update

About NPSA

• A non-profit trade association committed to educating culinary and health professionals, food technologists and the general public about the nutritional benefits, variety of uses and all around great taste of pecans.

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Donations Since 1998

$2.4 Million Invested in MPRP

Shellers

Growers

Other

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2013/2014 Program Highlights

•Tufts/INC Research

•I Love Pecans

•Perfect Performance

Research

Research

Tufts University Study

• Research will focus on subjects 50+, who are healthy but have an increased risk for heart disease or diabetes due to family history for example but will also dive into the effects of antioxidant activity on heart health.

• Half of the participants will receive a controlled diet

while the other half will receive a pecan-rich diet

• Expected Outcome- a handful of pecans a day can keep adults healthy, and may prevent both heart disease and diabetes.

International Nut Council

• Every year, NPSA contributes funds to the International Nut Council Research & Education Foundation in a effort to support further nutritional research on tree nuts.

• November 2013- Study published linking nut consumption to lower death mortality.

• Of the men and women who consumed nuts seven or more times a week, there was a 20% increase in signs of promoted health and longevity.

I Love Pecans!

I Love Pecans!• Serving as a

low-cost/efficient way of communicating to the consumer market

• Promoting pecan nutrition and uses of pecans by posting daily recipes, tips, and fun uses of pecans.

I Love Pecans Facebook

• Launched on Nov. 1, 2012 with 33 fans

• Today we have over 58,000 fans with over 2,500 fans visiting the page regularly each month.

I Love Pecans

Pinterest• Launched with 2

followers on Dec. 1, 2012

• Currently over 300 followers

• Monthly integrated Facebook promotion

Twitter - @ilovepecans• Launched on Feb.

1,2013• Currently over 195

followers

55likes

Why have we been so successful?

35likes

• Successful Facebook ad strategy/implementation

• Great content

• We listen to our fans

Media Outreach

35likes

Blogger Outreach

35likes

• Quarterly outreach to bloggers demonstrating various ways to use pecans while providing nutritional information about pecans for content.

• Offer samples which are supplied by members

I Love Pecans Website

Features:• Stronger Brand Image • New Navigation• Enhanced Search Engine

Optimization

An enhanced resource for information for consumers, health professionals and commercial buyers of pecans

Perfect Performance

Perfect Performance• Serve as a guide to using pecans in processed foods

• New publication designed to help market pecans globally and domestically

• Features• Pecan Size/Color Chart• Top Industry Uses• Antioxidant Chart• Nutritional Info

• 30 cents per print copy

• Perfect for sales meetings, trade shows, shipment inserts, etc.

• Contact npsa@kellencompany.com

Crisis Communications PlanningThis year, we are expanding on our crisis communications planning initiative as a service to the entire industry. • Form a crisis communications team

• Assign roles and responsibilities; identify spokesperson(s)

• Identify stakeholders

• Consider scenarios

• Develop template placeholder messaging

• Determine emergency communications systems

Additional Key Initiatives

• Research Chefs Association Culinology Expo.-March 11-14, 2014 in Portland, OR

• American Culinary Federation National Convention

-July 25-29, 2014 in Kansas City, MO

Additional Key InitiativesAmerican Heart Association Heart Healthy Checkmark Program

We have renewed our AHA certification and will continue to maintain the Heart Check mark as a third party endorsement of the healthy food benefits of Pecans. We will continue to educate and encourage members to take advantage of this program.

• 3 Members are currently certified

• 2 Member’s application is in progress

• 6 Members have inquired and received information about the Application Process

Benefits For Participating Members• New company set-up fee waived. $7,500 Savings.

• Discounted program licensing fee from regular tiered pricing. Maximum $1,000 per SKU per year versus maximum $5,000 per SKU per year.

• Licensing rights to use the heart-check logo on packaging and in promotions for one year, with optional annual renewal.

• Halo from in-store merchandising and advertising placed by the American Heart Association.

For Information Contact: April Whitfield, Manager Business Relations and Account Services

Or Go To: heartcheckmark.org/certify Email: April.Whitfield@heart.org Phone: 214-706-1879

Additional Key Initiatives

For Information Contact: April Whitfield, Manager Business Relations and Account Services

Or Go To: heartcheckmark.orgEmail: April.Whitfield@heart.orgPhone: 214-706-1879

Why we need your support

• NPSA has been the cornerstone for nutritional research in the pecan industry.

• Without your investment in our program, we would not be able to make these efforts to promote pecans to the food production industry, dietitians, nutritionists and consumers alike.

Thank Youfor your support!