But it’s resulted in significant unit growth. It’s been driving down sort of the category of volume and dollar growth that maybe we had been seeing, going into this time period. So that is pressuring our share performance, particularly on units, if you might imagine. A lot of this is driven by gifting during the holidays, and so you could see sort of the big spike, and then it’s kind of decelerating since then. But, we still believe it’s something that’s contributing positively to the category because it’s adding new users to the category. We’ve evaluated, how much of it’s coming from new households versus existing households, and the majority of its coming from new households into the category. So that’s always a positive. We’re taking some of these learnings and looking at, our own efforts at having a trial size and competing in this kind of promotional area.
Because we think it’s obviously anything that drives trial and awareness in the category we think is healthy. And importantly, it’s also building upon actions that we already have in place behind hot sauce, which is a lot of innovation coming out this year. I would say, particularly a lot on Frank’s, but also Cholula. We’re increasing the A&P support on all the brands. Where we have traditional promotional periods for these categories, we’re just making sure they’re at the right times during the year and on key use of education. Obviously, the summer certainly lends itself to that. Like think of the Mayo too, so that’s the context on hot sauce.
Robert Moskow : Okay, I got it. And just to follow up on the 15%, as you make it through the year, just optically we see market share data that still doesn’t look like it’s where you want it to be from $1 basis in spices and seasonings. Is it possible that the other 85% of the portfolio might also need to be addressed in terms of price gaps? Or are you comfortable that you don’t need to take any action there?
Brendan Foley: I think we’re comfortable that we don’t need to take any action. And we are, pretty precise, if I might say that in terms of how we apply this and where it best needs to be applied. But I also have to say, we’re constantly evaluating this. So every month we’re looking at data and results and deciding whether or not, something’s in the right place. But, I think we have a lot of confidence that we’re focusing on the right, percentage of the business. But, to speak more specifically, I think to just share perspective around that. While we don’t guide to market share of a specificity, I think the trends in our business right now are going in the right direction, and in many ways delivering against what we would expect to see, which is, that focus on share improvement for us as we’re looking at our business plans, first begins with improving unit growth.
And then we expect dollar, to sort of follow on top of that. But, like in U.S. spices and seasonings we’re seeing that type of performance right now. So just also appreciate, this is a big integrated effort with a lot of other activities, too, including increased brand marketing, innovation, price spec architecture, other category management efforts that we’re putting forth. So, I wouldn’t single out any one of those levers, but actually they all work together, and that’s sort of the perspective I would add on top of your question.
Robert Moskow : Got it. Okay. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Matt Smith with Stifel. Please proceed with your question.
Matthew Smith : Hi. Good morning. I wanted to ask a follow-up question on that targeted price gap management in the U.S. consumer spices and seasonings business, particularly in terms of phasing as you’ve built up or are you targeting 15% of the portfolio, meaning was it more targeted in the fourth quarter? You made some progress against the 15% that you’re targeting in the first quarter, and there’s still some more to go in these categories where you see the opportunity to use your price gap management tools to improve share. Should we expect that to continue to build into the second quarter?
Mike Smith: Hey, Matt. Let me kick off here, and then Mike [inaudible]. I think as you think about that 15%, again, I would stress 15, not 50, is that is a total look at the year. So, indeed, I would say our Q1 isn’t necessarily at that level yet, and we would expect to start to hit that type of percentage of our business as we go through the year. So, just quickly off the top, I wanted to help provide some of that context around your question, Mike.
Mike Smith: No, and Matt, good question. And just as I said in the script, the second quarter is a bit of pressure because it does more activation in the second quarter. So, you’re right, a little bit in the fourth, more in the first. Second quarter is when it’s really almost fully activated quite nicely so. But, again, these are investments that drive that volume growth building throughout the year, which we – the early results of the fourth and first quarter investments have been very positive, combined with the A&P and things like Brendan just mentioned, so that holistic program.
Matthew Smith : Thank you for that. And you talked about some particular portions of the portfolio in the U.S. that are challenged, particularly mustard or your frozen prepared foods. Can you talk about some of the – your outlook for the improvement in those categories? Do you have plans in place to address some of the lower price points in mustard, and is it really just the consumer recovery that’s going to drive the improvement in your frozen prepared foods?
