Planet Patrol, the gay bulletin board system backed by Allied Domecq and CHBi Interactive Media, is to launch on the AOL (Europe) online service this week. The year-old site, which features branding from drinks brands including Beefeater and Kahlua and online access to Gay Times, will also launch fully onto the Internet before the end […]
Meccano Toys is looking for a UK ad agency in a shift away from its current strategy of using world-aligned advertising agency Grey Paris. The metal construction toy was originally the brainchild of model train maker Frank Hornby, who patented it in 1901, and sold it under the name “Mechanics Made Easy”, but after falling […]
Jean-Pierre Mufraggi, the sales and marketing director for Le Shuttle Europe, will become the first marketer at the company to take on responsibility for marketing Le Shuttle’s service on both sides of the Channel. He takes over from Bill Dix, the former commercial director, who becomes managing director of Le Shuttle. Mufraggi previously reported to […]
Mike Toms, the former marketing director at Mars-owned Master Foods who left after its merger with the European pet-care business, is joining Gardner Merchant, one of the world’s biggest contract caterers. Toms will be UK marketing director, with responsibility for service brands. These include: Town & County, which handles catering at events such as the […]
Anheuser-Busch has put the advertising account for its Michelob draught and bottled lager in the UK up for pitch. The incumbent agency BMP DDB, part of the Omnicom-owned DDB Needham network, has been shortlisted for the pitch, as well as two smaller agencies, though the company refuses to confirm their names. It is thought unlikely […]
Scottish Courage is continuing its review of advertising agencies by inviting roster agencies to pitch for the 3m Beck’s Bier advertising account. It is understood that Scottish Courage has shortlisted incumbent Barker & Ralston and roster agencies M&C Saatchi and Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe for the lager pitch, which takes place in two weeks. Beck’s […]
Lurpak butter producer MD Foods has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority for making misleading health claims about its spread Pact – the second time such a complaint has been upheld against one of the company’s products in less than a year. Pact is a so-called functional food, one of a range of products […]
Carlsberg-Tetley has shelved plans to launch up to five alcopop brands, following its decision to scrap the relaunch of Thickhead alcoholic jelly. The company has confirmed this week that it will delay the relaunch of Thickhead until the controversy surrounding its appeal to under-age drinkers dies down. However, sources say it is unlikely that the […]
United Distillers is launching a malt version of its Johnnie Walker whisky range in the latest in a series of moves by whisky producers into premium brands. Malt whisky is growing faster than its cheaper rival, blended whisky. Johnnie Walker Pure Malt will be launched into the European duty free trade before being introduced to […]
The Lottery has hit the gaming industry hard, with horses ditched in favour of jackpots. But with deregulation opening up the market, betting chains are turning to top-level marketers to win back the punters.
Durex manufacturer LRC has appointed St Ivel marketer Lewis Jones as its UK head of marketing. He will have overall responsibility for marketing Durex, the leading condom brand. The role has also been expanded to cover LRC’s other brands, including Marigold gloves and Eucryl toothpowder. Jones, who takes the title of senior marketing manager, will […]
Nick Higham is currently BBC radio’s media correspondent
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I noted with interest ICD’s recent approach to promoting itself in your publication (MW September 6). This is by highlighting results from a survey which implies it is the leading supplier of lifestyle information in the UK. “Ah”, I thought, is this a new survey? Unfortunately, on closer inspection, I found this not to be […]
In your feature on door-to-door marketing (MW October 11), Nick Wells of Circular Distributors (CD) is quoted as saying he can “target rounds of 200 households”. I can only suppose that “target” in his terminology has a different meaning than it does in ours. We use original, not modelled, data to evaluate each round and […]