Fridge maker Lec picks Banks for 4m business

Britain’s largest fridge manufacturer, Lec Refrigeration, is about to appoint Banks Hoggins O’Shea as its advertising agency.

BHO and Cowan Kemsley Taylor fought for the account, which is worth 4m over three years. BHO is reported to have won the account, although Lec says it will not announce its decision until September 4. BHO creative partner Ken Hoggins would only comment that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the win.

Lec has not advertised since 1990, when Wagner Advertising handled a 600,000 press

campaign.

The creative review follows Lec’s acquisition by Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby (MW August 12). Sime Darby has invested 30m in a new factory for Lec, which is bringing out new products and updating its image. The company is also reviewing its public relations account.

If the BHO win is confirmed it brings the agency’s claimed billings to about 40m. The agency, which celebrated its fourth anniversary last weekend, also won the 5m account from confectionery maker Leaf last month.