Marketing has a profound affect on the foods we eat and the beverages we drink, yet most of that marketing is for products we should avoid. BMSG monitors the media to help keep advocates informed of the tactics food and beverage companies use to target children, communities of color, and other groups that are particularly susceptible to the health harms these products cause. Below are archives of our monitoring.
Source: MediaPost on August 13, 2012
Dr. Pepper will be the official soft drink of the next two Pac-12 title games. This is in addition to its sponsorship of two other major college football games. In doing this, the brand hopes to attract "new consumers in key western markets" and to "drive excitement with shoppers."Source: PR Newswire on August 10, 2012
The lollipop brand offered fans the illusion of having a "voice" by running a Facebook campaign that let consumers vote for the next new flavors. PepsiCo's Frito Lay recently ran a similar campaign in which they offered a $1 million prize for the best idea for a new potato-chip flavor.Source: MediaPost on August 10, 2012
The company is the U.S. "beer sponsor" of the Mexican soccer team Club Deportivo Guadalajara, widely known as Chivas. Consumers will be asked to choose one design from eight pieces of fan-created artwork that "displays the camaraderie and passion associated with Chivas." The brand also developed a Facebook app where people can vote for the artwork.Source: PR Newswire on August 09, 2012
To recruit Latino consumers, Nestle is running "The Best Nest," a back-to-school program with product giveaways and contests. Nestle is trying to frame itself as an advocate for Latino culture by offering parent resources to "promote bilingual learning and help children stay connected with their cultures."Source: Bloomberg Businessweek on August 09, 2012
Worried that young people don't buy enough soup, Campbell will introduce Go! Soup with "exotic" ingredients like curry. Go! is 3 times more expensive than the traditional soup line, but a Campbell VP is confident that consumers will "understand the value proposition."Source: The Huffington Post on August 09, 2012
Pepsi is a top contributor among food makers to the campaign against GMO labeling. Public health lawyer Michele Simon argues that Pepsi, whose products rely heavily on GM corn, is only interested in safeguarding a "continued cheap supply of ingredients for its highly-processed, unhealthy beverages and junk food."Source: PR Newswire on August 08, 2012
The analytics and modeling provider is the first to target Latinos specifically. In the past, marketers targeting Latinos "have relied on demographic information and broad cultural themes," leading them to develop generalized campaigns. The new analytics tools offer a "deeper understanding of consumer behaviors."Source: PR Newswire on August 08, 2012
Artists can win $15,000 for creating a mural painting that is "inspired by their passion for Latin culture and the Jose Cuervo Tradicional bottle." The company plans to donate an additional $15,000 to a Latino arts and cultural organization on behalf of the winner. Jose Cuervo is partnering with The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), which will help the company "engage artists, Latino communities and non-profit organizations."Source: Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity on August 07, 2012
In Reach shows how cereal companies target children with prime advertising space. The report, published earlier, found that cereal companies had improved the nutrition of most cereals marketed directly to kids, but that they had increased advertising to kids for many of their least nutritious products.Source: PR Newswire on August 06, 2012
The milk industry in California is taking advantage of school budget shortfalls and legitimate concerns that students eat breakfast on school days. As part of the "GOT MILK? H.S. Breakfast Challenge," the school district with the highest milk consumption at breakfast gets $3K from the industry.
