DFGW hold over Nutricia £3m UK account in doubt

Nutricia Baby Food, the baby and toddler nutrition company, is understood to be reviewing its global advertising accounts for Cow & Gate and Milupa brands. The review is understood to be part of an international push behind the two brands.

The review, which is being handled by Agency Assessments, is thought to include the UK, Germany, Spain and Russia. The Cow & Gate, Milupa and Nutricia brands are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. It is not known if the UK incumbent, DFGW, will repitch for the business, which is worth &£3m.

The move coincides with the departure of Nutricia UK’s marketing director Will Ghali, who joined the firm in May 2002 from Reckitt Benckiser. He has already left the company, although it is not clear whether he had a job to go to.

Marketing has been handled from the Dutch headquarters of Royal Numico, Nutricia’s holding company, since Ghali’s departure and it is believed that the review is being overseen by Chris Britton, head of Numico’s baby food arm.

DFGW won the business in March 2002 after a three-way pitch against Mile Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy and AMV Advance, now known as Minerva. The account had been handled by Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO, but it resigned the business because Nutricia changed its marketing focus to below-the-line work.