Final answer:
Nabisco's marketers are in the idea generation phase of new-product development, where they brainstorm and research to create a pool of new snack concepts for young consumers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Nabisco's marketers meet to identify the types of snacks that young people want, they are engaging in the idea generation phase of new-product development. This phase is crucial as it is the starting point where companies brainstorm to generate a pool of concepts from which to identify potential new products. In this stage, methods like market research, customer feedback, internal brainstorming sessions, and competitive analysis are typically utilized to gather innovative ideas.
Idea generation is focused on understanding consumer needs and market gaps, rather than on the more advanced stages like business analysis or commercialization where ideas are evaluated for their feasibility or are launched in the market. Therefore, it is the first step in taking a new product from concept to market.