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: PR Newswire on Feburary 11, 2015
The partnership with the all-star basketball player is Mountain Dew's attempt to market to young people by having a spokesperson and "cultural icon" popular among younger demographics.
Source: PR Newswire on Feburary 10, 2015
McDonald's is partnering with the American Black Film Festival for McDonald's Lovin' Video competition. The competition grants aspiring directors a chance to enter the American Black Film Festival to be held in New York City later this year. The partnership is an opportunity for McDonald's to promote itself within the African-American community.Source: Ad Week on Feburary 09, 2015
The latest way of reaching millennials is through content creators. Through partnering with people who have created original content, companies can have access to their audience without appearing to be directly advertising to millennials, something Maker Studio's COO believes millennials don't like.
Source: Marketing Magazine on Feburary 06, 2015
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) in the United Kingdom has decided that there is no need to update regulation on advertising to children. Although recognizing that companies target children online specifically, through techniques like advergames, CAP found regulation to be to be adequate. The Children's Food Campaign, a lobby group that seeks to end target marketing, has expressed their disappointment in the decision.
Source: RH Reach Hispanic on Feburary 02, 2015
KFC is trying to reach the Latino demographic with its new video promoting their $5 fill up menu. The ad uses Spanglish - the mix of English and Spanish - and uses a play on words to appear familiar to consumers.
Source: Forbes on Feburary 01, 2015
The new #MakeItHappy campaign uses Internet star Kid President to appeal to millennials and teens. By appealing to a cause (the campaign encourages consumers to fight online bullying) the company is trying to appeal to a younger audience, often considered passionate about particular causes. The campaign's emphasis on social media, encouraging users to engage with Twitter and YouTube, also indicates an emphasis on younger consumers.
Source: PR Newswire on Feburary 01, 2015
The endurance challenge organizer will be collaborating with one of the leading companies that owns major soft drink companies in Europe to put on an obstacle course aimed at children. Britvic produces and sells local sugary beverages as well as PepsiCo brands such as Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew. This partnership offers Britvic another way to target young consumers while appearing to promote a more active lifestyle.
Source: Beverage Daily on January 26, 2015
A spokesman for Mountain Dew explains that the new beverage selection, including two new flavors, less caffeine and coconut water, has been "tailored for the preferences of cross-cultural millennial males." The container was also developed to more closely appeal to consumers.
Source: Black PR Wire on January 22, 2015
Coca-Cola is using its corporate social responsibility program to target African-American mothers. The program is developed in order to help mothers empower their children to seek higher education, while also reminding this population about Coca-Cola's products.
Source: Media Post on January 22, 2015
Companies are encouraged to target teenagers through their love of music, including providing opportunities for teenagers to create their own music by sponsoring music camps. Music is put forward as the means through which businesses have the opportunity to connect to teens and the author laments marketers not recognizing this opportunity.
