Campbell promotes top marketer to European category directorship

Campbell Grocery Products has promoted marketing director Andrew Slamin to European category director for sauces and food flavourings, to capitalise on the company’s increasing presence on the mainland.

Slamin joined the company in 1998 from Littlewoods Leisure, where he was marketing director. He will be responsible for marketing brands including Oxo and Batchelors across Europe. The company bought these brands from Unilever Bestfoods last year in a &£630m deal after the European Commission forced Unilever into the sale.

The marketing director’s role is being covered by Robert Rees, who according to a spokeswoman has been “assisting” in the marketing department since late last year. She says that this is an interim arrangement and that a search for a permanent marketing director is underway.

Campbell’s brands include Homepride sauces and the Batchelors range. It is understood to be considering launching a rival to Unilever Bestfoods’ Pot Noodle by launching Supernoodles in a pot, backed by a &£5m campaign through Mother.

At the end of last year, Campbell launched a &£1m magazine campaign for its condensed soup range. The ads were the first work since Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO picked up the &£9m UK business.