Diageo is testing a new Smirnoff-branded alcoholic sparkling water in the US as it steps up the search for a successor to Smirnoff Ice. Smirnoff Source comes in two variants – Pure Citrus and Pure Orange – and is a lightly carbonated mix of spring water, natural flavours and malt alcohol with an alcohol by […]
Vodafone is planning to enter the highly competitive broadband market with the launch of a high-speed internet service in the UK before the end of the year. The mobile giant is expected to launch the service initially in Germany through its fixed-line arm Arcor. But, in an exclusive interview with Marketing Week, the company’s global […]
Richmond Marketing, the company that distributes Red Bull and Tiger Beer in the UK, is gearing up to take on Absolut and Smirnoff with the launch of a red-coloured herbal vodka.
Kwik-Fit’s marketing director Douglas McKenzie is leaving the company after 12 years. It is not known if he has a job to go to. McKenzie, who joined the company as marketing manager in 1994, will be replaced by Chris Bosworth, who takes on the newly created role of business development and marketing director. Bosworth was […]
Marketing Week is launching a daily news and jobs website, which will go live next week at www.marketingweek.co.uk.
EasyCruise has signed a deal with Cyprus-based company Louis, as it relaunches the brand and rolls out a campaign to support its new-look cruise ships. Louis will have exclusive rights to the brand in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Co-operative Group is rebranding more than 3,000 outlets as The Co-operative. Customers can pay &£1 to become a member and pick up loyalty points for redemption against goods and services.
Ford is in talks with former chief executive Jacques Nasser about selling Jaguar, Land Rover and possibly Volvo to a private equity arm of JP Morgan, where he now works.
Gerald Ratner is set to offer £200m for Signet’s UK jewellery business, including the H Samuel and Ernest Jones chains he used to run.
Branston, the Premier Foods-owned brand, is reported to be considering taking HJ Heinz to court over its use of the Houses of Parliament logo on its HP Sauce. It follows confirmation that Heinz is moving HP production to the Netherlands from Birmingham.
Thames Water has announced it is to cut a swathe of jobs over four years.
Permira, the private equity firm, has acquired frozen-food brand Birds Eye from Unilever for &£1.1bn. The sale is part of a strategic review of Unilever’s portfolio.
Asda has hired Douglas Gurr as strategy director, reporting to chief executive Andy Bond. Gurr was previously chief executive of Blueheath, an internet-enabled stockless wholesaler he founded in 2001.
Aquascutum, the fashion brand, has hired Pringle international head of marketing Charlotte Thomas as global communications director. The move is part of a restructure, driven by new president and chief executive Kim Winser.
Lexus has picked Ewan Shepherd as general manager of operations to replace Mark Roden, who became general manager of marketing and strategy last month (MW July 6). Shepherd will report to Lexus director Steve Settle.