In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Thorntons, the high street chocolate retailer, is reviewing its £1m advertising account, which is currently with Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy. The pitch follows the arrival of new marketing director Peter Wright.
Icstis is planning to clamp down on anonymous text messaging services that encourage the bullying, grooming or stalking of children because it believes abuse of such services pose a “high risk” to public trust in phone paid services. The premium rate services industry has come under criticism from Icstis, Ofcom and the Government following complaints […]
Sir Alan Sugar has agreed to sell his once iconic electronics business Amstrad to BSkyB in a deal understood to be worth £125m. Sugar says he “cannot imagine a better home” for the business. The deal, which has yet to be agreed by shareholders, will net Sugar about £35m. BSkyB says the acquisition will improve […]
Emap is dropping traditional spot advertising from Heat Radio in favour of bespoke sponsorships, promotions and advertising-funded programmes. The move aims to reposition the digital-only station as a lifestyle radio brand. The station will offer an “exclusive club” of five clients a variety of opportunities on the station in a bid to shift its advertising […]
Setanta, the pay-TV sports provider, is launching a broadband service, which it claims is the only way to watch Barclays Premier League football action live online. Setanta by Broadband is one of a number of new products from the Irish broadcaster ahead of the start of the new season.
The Honda Racing F1 Team has appointed David Butler as marketing director. He replaces Alistair Watkins to join the Alinghi America’s Cup sailing team earlier this year. Butler joins from Laureus, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Richemont that promotes sporting excellent, where he was marketing director for the group’s, sports awards, sports academy and […]
Leagas Delaney London has scooped the 3m integrated brief to launch film content website FilmOn.The brand will launch first in the UK, followed by Germany and America. The website houses an extensive range of film content, from feature films to documentaries and short-form content.
Omnicom Media Group’s (OMG) EMEA business development director Nikki Mendonca has emerged as one of the front-runners to take over from Simon Francis, OMD Europe’s managing director, who is thought to be leaving to join Saatchi & Saatchi as EMEA chief executive. Mendonca, who was recently moved into the OMG role, having previously been marketing […]
Sales of Coke’s sugar-free colas are set to eclipse those of regular Coke across the UK, underscoring the country’s increasing commitment to less sugary drinks. The UK will become the first country in the world where sales of Coke’s sugar-free drinks – Diet Coke and male-oriented Coke Zero – are higher than regular Coke. Latest […]
Domino’s Pizza UK and Ireland is gearing up for a multi-million pound advertising blitz in the second half of 2007, in a bid to push sales in the final quarter of the year. It will kick off with the launch of the “Scrummy” pizza, which has a topping that includes six different types of meat. […]
Lastminute.com is to increase its UK advertising budget and bolster its pan-European marketing department, following the recent departure of managing director Mark Jones after three years. It is understood the company is looking to bring the French marketing director Laurent Dupé to the UK. It is not known whether he will take the UK marketing […]
Vivid Imaginations is bringing back its 1990s hit collectible dolls Sweet Secrets next January – the time its licence with Bratz dolls-owner MGA Entertainment ends. Sweet Secrets will be relaunched with the backing of a major national TV campaign in a bid to affirm Vivid’s position in the toy market “post Bratz”. The dolls will […]
DDB London’s chairman and chief executive Stephen Woodford says retaining the 12m Teacher and Development Agency (TDA) business (MW last week) was a “huge” result for the agency, which has been conspicuously quiet since Woodford took over at the start of the year.
McCain Foods is launching frozen roast potatoes basted in goose fat, in a bid to tap into the Christmas market. The roasts will be positioned as a premium product that is better value than similar chilled products. The new product, which will be launched in September, comes in a silver foil tray that can be […]
IPC Media is investing a six-figure sum in its biggest research project to date to better understand and connect with consumers. The aim is to develop new products and magazine titles. The Origin Panel will be run by IPC’s research division, IPC Insight, and marks the largest ongoing research programme IPC has ever undertaken. The […]