Improved methods of disseminating advertising messages to consumers are
provided for. In particular, the subject invention provides for methods
for disseminating manufacturer coupons to a target consumer group. The
method comprises packaging a product in a pouch container having
associated therewith a manufacturer coupon pertaining to products or
services other than the packaged product. The packaged product is a
single-serve food product. The manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a
consumer of the product and a member of a target consumer group. The
manufacturer coupon also includes machine readable code associated
therewith to facilitate automated processing of the coupon. The packaged
product is then packaged in a shipping carton. The shipping carton has a
machine readable indicator assigned to the manufacturer coupon. The
indicator is read and, in response thereto, the carton with the packaged
product is shipped to consumer food service outlets associated with the
target consumer group. The packaged single-serve food product and the
manufacturer coupon thereby may be distributed to consumers and, in
particular, members of the target consumer group.