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: Reach Hispanic on May 14, 2014
Reach Hispanic Columnist Rodrigo Duran notes that McDonald's does a "phenomenal job" of targeting Latinos, but comments that he's "no advocate of fast foods. In fact," he says, "I strongly discourage Latinos from eating at McDonald's."
Source: Advertising Age on May 14, 2014
The cookie company's campaign includes product placement in the movie and marketing efforts in 35 countries. Oreo will release special Transformer-themed flavors and movie-themed packaging. The campaign will also contain digital marketing elements: Oreo will be adding movie-themed activities to its popular "Twist, Lick and Dunk" app.
Source: The Daily Dot on May 09, 2014
Partnering with a highly-anticipated summer blockbuster is a well-established marketing technique, but it's not always a successful one. Hardees/Carl's Jr. and Hostess are two of the companies facing criticism for "sexist" and "nonsensical" advertising tie-ins to the highly-anticipated big budget film X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Source: MediaPost on May 08, 2014
After announcing the launch of the new Spicy Chicken Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco through Snapchat, Taco Bell continues to try to "push the envelope in social media" with a multi-part digital campaign to support the product's limited release. Among other promotions designed to appeal to young fans, the chain has released a GIF-based "comic book" on Tumblr and plans to unveil an internet scavenger hunt in late May.
Source: Portada on May 08, 2014
Kellogg's recently launched website, DiasGrandiosas, targets Latina mothers and their families with recipes, tips, and other original content. The website, which encourages Latina mothers to buy Kellogg's products through tie-ins with the existing Kellogg Family Rewards program, is supported through a digital campaign tailored to "[reach] Hispanic women in environments where they are," including Facebook and Pinterest.
Source: Mobile Marketer on May 07, 2014
Coca-Cola is leveraging mobile marketing strategies to promote its sponsorship of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The multifaceted campaign, which the company hopes will "bring [the] experience to life" for soccer fans, includes an interactive mobile activation that allows consumers to collect miniature, special-edition "virtual" Coca-Cola bottles. The World Cup promotion also includes a Facebook tie-in, as well as options for photo-sharing and digital sticker collecting.
Source: Advertising Age on May 06, 2014
As soft drink sales are declining, PepsiCo's cult favorite "Mountain Dew Baja Blast," formerly sold only at Taco Bell, is on an upswing. Hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Baja Blast, and that it will "offer a halo to the rest of the Mountain Dew lineup," Mountain Dew will be distributing it in stores over the summer. The short term promotion will be supported by a major teen-targeted push that includes an Ocean's Eleven-inspired video featuring popular athletes, social media outreach, and a mobile game called "Baja or Bust."
Source: Mobile Commerce Daily on May 06, 2014
Hostess is partnering with Twentieth Century Fox to launch an X-Men themed Twinkies product. The company will promote their super hero-themed Twinkies using digital product promo codes, social media outreach, and daily prize giveaways.The campaign is part of their larger social branding efforts to stay relevant amongst the "short attention spans of today's consumers."Source: Mobile Marketer on May 06, 2014
In an effort to stay relevant to Millennials using Apple products, Pepsi invests in brand-saturated mobile games for iPhone and iPad users. Their iAd campaign "fits into a bigger marketing effort to introduce a line of drinks made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrupto spark new sales with consumers who are concerned about the health risks of high fructose corn syrup." Their iAd campaign features scramble games and branded image mapping which then directs players back to a Pepsi Wild Cherry Coke YouTube commercial.Source: QSR on May 05, 2014
In an effort to target youth and stay relevant among young adults, Taco Bell's 2014 Feed the Beat lineup will feature 100 "up-and-coming artists" who will be cross-promoted through product-placed advertisements. Taco Bell will feature the names of the artists on their Big Box and Taco 12-packs, in addition to QR codes which will allow customers to be directed to the Feed the Beat Pandora station.
