CIA Manchester wins £5m Schwan’s

CIA Media Solutions Manchester has won the £5m account for Schwan’s Europe, the manufacturer of pizza brands Chicago Town Pizza and Freschetta.

The agency beat competition from incumbent BJK&E and Feather Brooksbank to win the packaged goods media account. BJK&E is believed to have worked on the account for the past five years.

Schwan’s sales and marketing director Steve Freeman made the appointment. He says: “This [decision] was an extremely close call. Our appointment of CIA was based on its ability to add significant value to our business. It showed excellent brand understanding and strategic insight.”

CIA Manchester director Mick Style says: “Schwan’s Europe has experienced remarkable growth over the past ten years; we intend to contribute strongly to the next ten year’s success.”

Style says the agency will be working on TV and women’s press media, and will also be investigating the possibilities of sponsorship.

The company will spend £2m in the last quarter of this year as part of a total £4m spend for 2000. Next year it will increase the media spend to £5m, split equally across Chicago Town Pizza and newer brand Freschetta.

Schwan’s creative agency, BDH TBWA, remains unchanged by the media agency review.