Tide Total Care from Procter & Gamble was among the top new product introductions of 2009, according to Information Resources Inc. But with the recession weighing heavily on budgets, more than 90% of IRI’sNew Product Pacesetters were brand extensions, highlighting manufacturers’ focus on offering new products with trusted brand equity behind them to attract skittish shoppers. In the non-food segment, the top products showcase the same self-reliance and “do-it-at-home” strategies...