Beattie McGuinness Bungay picks up Heinz ad account for sauces

Beattie McGuinness Bungay (BMB) has won a place on the Heinz roster after being handed the advertising business for its sauces. It is understood that the account includes the iconic brands Tomato Ketchup and Salad Cream.

The move follows rumours that Heinz has already been in talks with non-roster agencies to handle various advertising projects.

BMB already handles the advertising for HP Foods, which includes a variety of sauce brands. It is thought that Heinz handed the business to BMB after the Competition Commission cleared its takeover of HP earlier this month.

The advertising for sauces was previously handled by Leo Burnett, which will continue to work on beans and pasta.

Roster agency WCRS will continue to handle the soup and baby food business. A review is underway for the &£1.5m advertising business for slimming brand Weight Watchers.

It is understood that Heinz will continue to keep a tight rein on advertising this year following last year’s advertising budget freeze (MW July 20). There is work planned for Baked Beanz, which it was forced to take back on TV after rival Premier Foods launched Branston Beans late last year.

Heinz has given the sauce brands limited support over recent years.

It previously used its &£10m sponsorship of ITV soap Emmerdale to promote the Salad Cream and Ketchup brands, but the deal was pulled last May after two years (MW May 19).

Heinz was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.