In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Scottish & Newcastle, the last major UK brewer, has started possible takeover talks with rivals Carlsberg A/S and Heineken NV. The brewer has been fighting off approaches from the consortium since last October.
Estee Lauder, the cosmetics and fragrances giant, has restarted the review of its £70m global media planning and buying account. It will include the company’s £10m UK account, which is currently handled by M2M. It is understood that Omnicom Media Group-owned M2M to be repitching for the business against WWP Group-owned Maxus, and MPG, part […]
Britvic’s struggle to get supermarket listings for its water brand Drench, despite an extensive overhaul, has prompted some to question whether the big soft-drinks companies are spending too much time and money tinkering with existing brands and not enough on developing new products. Britvic spent £2.4m relaunching Drench last year, and introducing new packaging in […]
Confidence at two-and-a-half year low as pressures grow
Few will look back on last summer with fond memories except, perhaps, the ducks. But it was particularly miserable for ice cream manufacturers who have historically relied on long, hot summer days to drive sales. Despite early promise following a sunny spell in April, the weather began to steadily decline, leading to severe flooding across […]
With a growing number of retailers bemoaning the lack of new product development in the soft drinks market, it is little wonder that all eyes are on Suso, a new carbonated drink made with 100% fruit juice being launched by former Red Bull managing director Harry Drnec. Suso is being rolled out across the off-trade […]
The growth of social networking is set to continue in 2008, ensuring advertisers’ continued and expanding interest in what is now a mainstream communications channel. Online data company Hitwise predicts social networks will become the first choice for brands wanting highly targeted advertising this year. However, campaigns on sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo […]
Supermarket brands looking to get closer to consumers by using celebrities suffered at the hands of their chosen stars last week. Speculation began to mount that Iceland would be dropping former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona from its advertising after she was criticised for allegedly smoking and drinking while pregnant (although the company maintains it […]
There will be a lot more than gold medals at stake when Beijing hosts the Olympic Games later this year. For 16 days in August, the eyes of the world will be focused on the Far East, presenting Chinese brands with the ultimate shop window in which to kick-start the process of becoming global players. […]
As the Chinese say: “May you live in interesting times.” Well, with the Beijing Olympics less than eight months away, it promises to be an “interesting” year in UK media.
Coca-Cola has rubbished claims it is planning to drop the Diet Coke “hunk” from its advertising. It was reported earlier this week that Coca-Cola Great Britain would ditch the brand icon as part of a move to realign its marketing strategy with the US. It was suggested that the current “hunk” ads would be the […]
EMI, the ailing record company, is planning to offer brands the chance to sponsor its artists for the first time. The plan aims to boost flagging revenue at the company, which is owned by private equity company Terra Firma. Guy Hands, the chief executive of Terra Firma (pictured), will reveal plans today (January 15) as […]
Retail giant Tesco has reported a 3.1% rise in the Christmas trading period, falling short of City expectations. The lower-than-expected sales, in the six weeks to January 5 period, shows a slower sales growth than rival Sainsbury.
Guardian Media Group Radio (GMG) has poached OMD UK head of radio John Walker to lead a newly launched in-house sponsorship and promotions (S&P) team. He will join the company in early spring. GMG Solutions, which will have an eight strong team, will focus on developing new S&P opportunities across the group’s 13 stations, which […]
Marketing budgets were hit by growing concerns about the economy in the last quarter of 2007, according to the latest Bellwether report. The report, which is published today (January 14), saw the steepest fall in budgets in two years due to weak sales revenues, disappointing profits and the credit squeeze. The report, which is published […]