Product Information Guidelines for Manufacturers
To facilitate prompt and accurate item coding into our database, SPINS' Content Services team asks that all manufacturers of UPC-coded products selling in supermarkets, drugstores, and mass-market outlets provide product information and packaging for their current brands and items, as well as those products they are preparing to launch.
Criteria for Product Inclusion
Required Product Information
Mailing Instructions
FAQs
Criteria for Product Inclusion
• The product is currently selling or is in development for launch in Natural or Conventional supermarkets in the US (Note: complete product information must be available).
• The product meets definitions for inclusion in SPINS' services, such as SPINSscan Natural, SPINSscan Conventional, Key Account, and Consumer Measurement Services. Definitions for each service vary, but in general SPINS only reports on natural and organic products, and select health and wellness products (dietary supplements, functional beverages, etc).
• SPINS and ACNielsen coding teams have all necessary product information to activate the item. In the event that we do not have this information sent to us, SPINS and ACNielsen research products with manufacturer calls, internet searches, and retail outlet research.
Clients, if you feel that all of the above criteria are met and products are still not appearing in your SPINS data, please contact your SPINS sales manager so that we can investigate the issue.
Required Product Information
Product packaging
Product packaging photographs: please include all sides of package
PDF files with all product specs including the following:
• Product UPC bar code
• Case UPC bar code
• Brand name
• Product name
• Product unit size
• Product case size
• Ingredients and Nutritional Facts/Supplement Facts
• Product images that illustrate packaging type, labels with any and all claims, certifiers, warnings, allergen information, storage (refrigerated, shelf stable, frozen) and any other pertinant information.
• If certified organic, specify percentage according to NOP guidelines: <70%, 70-94%, 95-99%, or 100%
• If gluten-free, indicate whether or not this is stated on the label
• 3rd-party certifications such as organic, kosher, or Fair Trade Certified
Mailing Instructions
Please send product packaging or equivalent information to SPINS and to ACNielsen's Coding Reference Desk to ensure the products are properly coded into our product databases. Don't forget to include manufacturer contact information should we have further questions. Because SPINS and ACNielsen partner to provide the SPINSscan Conventional data service, it is important that both organizations receive this information.
SPINS, Inc.
Content Services Team
1111 N. Plaza Dr., Suite 715
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: 415.957.4400 | Fax: 847.517.1170
Send electronic information including digital photographs and PDFs to vhernandez@spins.com.
ACNielsen
Coding Reference Desk
30 S. Main St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54936
Send digital pictures of all sides of packaging to "Image Box": usafdlproductimage@acnielsen.com.
Thank you! We appreciate your help in keeping Natural Products Industry reporting accurate and complete.