What is a family code and who is responsible for establishing family codes? How do these get communicated to the industry?
A family code identifies the product or grouping of products for which a coupon is valid. For example, utilizing a family code on your coupon will ensure that the correct flavor or size is purchased by the consumer in order to receive a discount, when a coupon is scanned by a retailer utilizing validation files. Family codes are established by the manufacturer after taking into consideration how their products/brands are marketed and the related couponing efforts. NCH can provide guidance in establishing or revising family codes. The establishment of a family code structure is a two-step process. The first step is to develop the appropriate family code structure. The second step is to communicate the structure to the industry and retailers. Communication to retailers may occur in several ways – through sales/broker groups, through direct mailings to your retailers/customers, or through NCH.
