What kind of planet is Mars on?

Marketing Week

Here we go again. Politicians trying to make some cheap capital out of the obesity crisis at the expense of advertisers. Industry trade bodies self-righteously laying down a withering counter-fire of rebuttal. And one of their number sneakily breaking ranks by attempting to get the best of both worlds. The politicians in question are a […]

Mars plans raft of healthy snacks to combat ad bans

Marketing Week

Mars is to launch a stream of healthy products following its decision to axe marketing of its confectionery and snack food products to children under 12 years old. The company says it will only advertise healthy products to children aged nine and above. But it admits it has no confectionery or snack products that match […]

Wrigley to revamp Orbit brand

Marketing Week

The Wrigley Company is relaunching its Orbit chewing gum range and introducing three new products. The move comes just weeks after Cadbury announced it is to launch its Trident brand in the UK next year. Wrigley is axing the existing Orbit range and replacing it with Orbit Complete, which will be positioned as an oral […]

Wrigley appoints first president from outside family

Marketing Week

The Wrigley Company has appointed its first president and chief executive from outside of the Wrigley family. William D Perez will take over the roles from Bill Wrigley immediately. Wrigley will stay on as chairman of the board and take on the role of executive chairman. He will be responsible for developing long-term strategy and […]

Wrigley’s Airwaves set for liquorice gum launch

Marketing Week

Wrigley’s is launching a liquorice-flavoured chewing gum under its Airwaves brand. Airwaves Black Mint is understood to be a key focus for the company this year. The product, which will be launched imminently, aims to tap into consumer tastes for stronger-flavoured chewing gum and mints. It is expected to receive marketing investment, including TV, as […]

Mars bar to sponsor Blind Date substitute

Marketing Week

Mars bar is to sponsor ITV1’s new prime-time Saturday night dating show, which replaces Cilla Black’s Blind Date. The Masterfoods brand is understood to have paid about £700,000 to sponsor the programme, called Love on a Saturday Night. Granada Enterprises and Alliance, part of Zenith Optimedia, are believed to have negotiated the package, which includes […]

Mars mission is no alien to rejection

Marketing Week

Sponsorship can get a bit monotonous. Sport, buildings, people. And it’s not like being at school: companies can’t just pledge 50p and then pretend not to be in when it’s time to cough up the money. So you’d think that companies would jump at the chance to sponsor an interplanetary spaceship. Not so, it seems. […]

Mars marketer takes top Warner Bros post

Marketing Week

Warner Bros Consumer Products has appointed Mars marketer Alvaro Sanchez as its director of UK commercial marketing, with a remit to develop merchandising tie-ins with various Warner properties such as the Harry Potter movies. Sanchez replaces Alison Jordan, who has left to join Molton Brown as the cosmetics company’s first marketing director. He will report […]

Snickers to back street sports event

Marketing Week

Masterfoods’ chocolate bar Snickers is launching a two-day “street sports” World Championships and music festival to attract younger consumers. Snickers Game On will be held at The Dome (formerly the Millennium Dome) in London on June 21 and 22. The event has been put together by SponsorCom Sport (the event and sports marketing division of […]