Crumbling Cookie

March 6th, 2010

The iconic Girl Scout cookies continue to fall on hard times. News outlets are reporting that some boxes smell “stinky” due to denigrating ingredients (although the cookies are safe to eat). Just this week I brought home my usual 3 boxes of Thin Mints (hey they freeze well) and couldn’t help wondering if the cookie had gotten even smaller. It seems like every year the box and the product inside is a disappointment. Any product developer knows that cost optimized iteration after iteration doesn’t measure damage from the original. At some point, your loyalists will push back and find the product unrecognizable and the eating experience unsatisfying. For me, I have just about reached that point with my beloved Thin Mints. It will be pretty sad if this iconic part of American culture falls prey to poor strategic vision and planning.  

Entry Filed under: Food, Uncategorized