NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Engagement Labs (TSXV: EL) (OTCQB: ELBSF), an industry-leading data and analytics firm that focuses on the entire social ecosystem and its impact on business, today released its TotalSocial^® ranking of the top food brands in the U.S. based on social influence.

The analysis is unique in that it combines offline and online consumer conversations and is based on Engagement Labs' proprietary TotalSocial data and analytics, which continuously measures the most important drivers of brand performance in both face-to-face (offline) and social media (online) conversations. The brands in the top ten have earned the highest TotalSocial scores in the category for the last six months, compared to the Company's previous ranking in September 2017.

According to Engagement Labs' report, Goya climbed up five spots in the ranking to the number two spot due to an increase in online sentiment and offline influence – revealing that consumers are talking positively about the brand via social media, while an influential group of consumers are spreading the word about the brand in face-to-face conversations. For example, the company's Goya Gives initiative donated 1 billion pounds of supplies to the people of Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, which resonated positively with consumers. The company also successfully engaged with bloggers to help generate buzz for meat-free recipes as part of its "Can Do" program with Meatless Monday, which donates food to Feeding America with every purchase.

Pillsbury, another company which saw a significant jump in the rankings, moved into the top ten into fifth place from its previous spot at number 13, due to its overall success in sparking face-to-face conversations among consumers. The company successfully engaged with consumers in February when they announced a winner for its "Pillsbury Bake-Off," an iconic baking competition that partnered with celebrity chef and Food Network star Ree Drummond after a four-year hiatus.

"When consumers make purchases, they care about how that brand makes a difference and takes a stand on social responsibility," said Ed Keller, CEO of Engagement Labs. "With so many competing food products available to shoppers today, it is imperative for brand marketers to understand what values resonate with consumers and are driving conversations. For most of the brands in our ranking, these conversations may serve as the determining factor as to whether or not their product lands into shopping carts."

With all of the ingredients for success, Betty Crocker earned top leaderboard status at number one, up from its previous ranking in second place. However, while the brand climbed in the ranking, its parent company, General Mills saw the steepest decline in its category, falling out of the top ten entirely due to a significant drop in offline influence as well as offline brand sharing, which measures the extent to which consumers are talking about a brand's marketing campaigns in face-to-face conversations. General Mills has reported a continued slide in sales due to its inability to keep up with changing consumer tastes, as customers opt for healthier breakfast options to replace sugary cereals.

The declining consumer interest in sugary breakfast items also had an impact on Quaker Oats, which experienced a drop down to seventh place from its number one spot due to a fall in offline influence and in both offline and online brand sharing, or the amount of consumers sharing the brands' marketing campaigns via social media.

To learn more about Engagement Labs and how to increase your brand's word of mouth in real life and online, reach out at: [email protected].

About Engagement Labs
Engagement Labs (TSXV: EL) (OTCQB: ELBSF) is an industry-leading data and analytics firm that provides social intelligence for Fortune 500 brands and companies. The Company's TotalSocial® platform focuses on the entire social ecosystem by combining powerful online (social media) and offline (word of mouth) data with predictive analytics. Engagement Labs has a proprietary ten-year database of unique brand, industry and competitive intelligence, matched with its cutting-edge predictive analytics that use machine learning and artificial intelligence to reveal the social metrics that increase marketing ROI and top line revenue for its diverse group of clients.

To learn more visit www.engagementlabs.com / www.totalsocial.com.

About TotalSocial^®
TotalSocial^® is a premier data and analytics platform that provides brands with unique insights, improved marketing ROI and strategies to grow revenue. Fueled by actionable online and offline data, TotalSocial is the only platform that encompasses and listens to the entire social ecosystem. TotalSocial offers unique, proprietary data about brands, its industry and competitors. With cutting-edge diagnostics, patent-pending predictive analytics and machine learning, TotalSocial identifies business opportunities and provides recommendations and a roadmap to grow revenue and achieve business and marketing goals.

For media inquiries please contact:
Vanessa Lontoc / Brad Fay
Engagement Labs
732-846-6800
[email protected] / [email protected]

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SOURCE Engagement Labs