Starcom Motive nets Sacla pasta brand task

Sacla, the Italian pasta sauce and pesto brand, has appointed Starcom Motive to handle its £2m media planning and buying account as part of a major push of the brand across Europe.

It is understood that the agency won the business after a competitive pitch but it is not clear if the brand’s previous agency of record, Walker Media, was involved. The decision comes just a week after Sacla appointed Banc to handle its branding and creative work (MW last week).

The forthcoming campaign will focus on the quality and authenticity of the Sacla range and will include a return to television advertising, which it has not used for several years. The campaign is due to break in late December.

It is being overseen by Sacla UK managing director and former marketing director Clare Blampied, as the brand has not had a dedicated marketer for a number of years. Its last marketing director was Claudia Terleski, who left without a job to go to (MW November 30, 2000).

The brand has previously focused on below-the-line and sampling campaigns in a bid to drive awareness of the brand. However, it claims to have been the first Italian food brand to advertise on TV back in the Sixties.