Challenge

Mexilink competes in a trend-sensitive category where retail buyers demand third-party proof before committing shelf space to unfamiliar flavors. As the company scaled its pitches to major mass retailers, the team needed credible data fast without the cost or time of traditional focus groups or primary research. They also lacked a reliable way to pinpoint which regional markets to test first.

Solution

Mexilink embedded Datassential’s menu trend and consumer preference data directly into its retail sell-in process. The platform’s trend pipeline, tracking flavors as they migrate from fine-dining menus into QSR, provides the repeatable signal that a flavor is ready for mainstream retail. Consumer preference data helped design audience profiles and select the right regional test markets before committing to production.

Impact

Prove the trend. Win the shelf.

When Mexilink identified an emerging sweet-and-spicy flavor opportunity in the candy category, Datassential data confirmed the trend was growing, skewing toward younger buyers, and had sufficient velocity to justify a buyer pitch. That pitch landed an initial test in select stores and is now scaling to broader distribution.

• Trend data and consumer segment overlays went directly into retailer category review decks.

• Mexilink secured test placement without a single focus group or primary research study

• A small-scale pilot scaled to a wider distribution of stores within one selling cycle

Find the right test market, not the obvious one.

Using Datassential’s Consumer Preferences data, Mexilink moved beyond the obvious test markets and identified regions where younger, flavor-forward consumers were already receptive — well outside the brand’s traditional strongholds. The market test was a success, validating the existence of trend-ready shoppers in unexpected places.

Elevate the conversation

Datassential changed how Mexilink shows up with buyers. Instead of pitching SKUs, the team arrives with trend-backed category strategies, co-created retailer-exclusive products, and forward-looking category strategies for major retail partners, all grounded in menu and consumer data.