Whitbread Restaurants appoints CheethamBell JWT

Whitbread Restaurants has appointed CheethamBell JWT to handle its £1m advertising account. The appointment follows a pitch against a number of undisclosed agencies.

It is not known if incumbent agency, McCann Erickson, was involved in the pitch.

CheethamBell JWT has been tasked with creating integrated marketing campaigns for the restaurant group, aimed at increasing its market share in 2009.

Whitbread Restaurants’ portfolio of restaurant brands includes Beefeater, Table Table and Brewers Fayre.

The UK-based hotel and restaurant company runs about 360 restaurant outlets and also owns the budget hotel brand Premier Inn and Costa Coffee chain.

Weathering the economic downturn, Whitbread reported a 24% rise in first half pre-tax profits, which has been attributed to a boost in sales at its budget hotel chain, Premier Inn. The company also reported an increase across its Costa Coffee chain and pub-restaurant division.

Starcom Mediavest, which handles the media planning and buying account for Whitbread’s restaurant portfolio is not affected by the review.