New Burkitt in Southern Comfort win

The new Burkitt Edwards Martin agency has won the 2.5m account for the Southern Comfort spirit brand, which may now involve television work, after a pitch with Young & Rubicam.

Burkitt will take over cinema and press advertising which is handled by Lowe Howard-Spink and outdoor poster work which is originated in Ireland. Burkitt will bring out new creative work in all areas.

Television was not part of the original pitch brief, but following regulation changes in spirits advertising, Burkitt chairman Hugh Burkitt says this is being reviewed.

International Distillers and Vintners UK, which acts as an agent for Southern Comfort in the UK, has been reviewing the account since last November, when LH-S was dropped.

The win is the third major account gain for the new Burkitt agency which was created when Edwards Martin Thornton and Burkitt Weinreich Bryant Clients & Company merged in April.

Since then Burkitt has also picked up the John Lewis account and the 1m Canada Tourist Commission business.

Three years ago, as Burkitt Weinreich, it made an unsuccessful pitch for the Southern Comfort account against LH-S.