Zenith Media picks up £2m Kenwood business

Zenith Media has been appointed to handle the £2m media buying business for kitchen electrical goods manufacturer Kenwood Appliances.

Bates UK, which already handles Kenwood’s creative advertising, has picked up the media planning business.

The two agencies pitched against incumbent PHD and John Ayling & Associates for the business.

Kenwood, which was bought by Italian home appliance maker De’Longhi in March last year for £45.9m, launched its first television campaign for 15 years in a pre-Christmas branding and new product exercise. The activity ran across ITV, Channel 4, GMTV, Channel 5 and on satellite channels.

The company says it will be spending £2m on advertising this year to promote products such as the Kenwood BM200 Breadmaker and Kenwood Chef. Last year the company spent just £857,000 (AC Nielsen/MEAL).

Kenwood managing director Nigel Wainwright says placing advertising and planning functions with one agency will make the marketing strategy more integrated.

The win comes as Bates UK’s owner, Cordiant Communications, secures financing after renegotiating its banking covenants. Cordiant’s full year results, which were expected this month, are now not likely to be released until the new banking agreements are completed on April 19.

The company has just appointed David Hearn as chief executive and chairman of Bates Worldwide (MW last week).