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: Convenience Store Newsq on January 20, 2014
As part of a larger effort to double business over the next decade, Taco Bell is ramping up its outreach to Latino consumers by expanding its drink menu. The chain plans to debut several beverages that appeal to Latinos, including Manzanita Sol, an apple flavored beverage popular in Mexico. Other additions include two Mountain Dew flavors whose names and flavors evoke connections to Latino culture and foods (Baja Blast and Sangria Blast).Source: FOX News Latino on January 20, 2014
Churromania, the largest churro company in the world, began in Venezuela but has gradually expanded to include over 100 franchises all over the western hemisphere. Now, hoping to "target the booming Latino market" in the US, the company's founders have partnered with Walmart: currently, there are Churromania franchises in stores located in areas with large Latino populations, including Orlando and Tampa, and there are plans to open more than 200 new US stores in the coming years.Source: Progressive Grocer on January 17, 2014
Pepsi is sponsoring a "Best New Artist" video series, which profiles this year's nominees. The campaign, which targets young consumers, also attempts to stay relevant to youth through an Xbox Music subscription sweepstakes and a chance to win a trip to the Grammys.Source: MediaPost on January 16, 2014
In an attempt to make consumers nostalgic for their products, Campbell's is publicizing the 80th anniversary of their Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup through a digital campaign featuring vintage ads and old television commercials. The campaign especially targets kids with their "Wisest Kid" campaign.Source: PR Newswire on January 16, 2014
The national Got Milk? campaign is spearheading "What America Tw(eats)," a data analysis project that will use Latinos' Tweets to identify their breakfast habits. Ultimately, the analysis will be a tool for marketers to develop and target breakfast foods that will appeal to Spanish-speaking Latinos. Preliminary findings suggest that the top breakfast foods most tweeted about in Spanish include bread, eggs chocolate, cereal, and pizza.Source: New York Times on January 08, 2014
Food advocate Mark Bittman argues that the real reason to be skeptical of General Mills' move to make Cheerios GMO-free is that it is an opportunity for potentially deceptive marketing. He wonders, "if opportunistic marketers like those at General Mills can cash in by making insignificant changes in their products that lead to significant marketing benefits, what happens to people who've actually put work into making their products significantly cleaner - that is, organic?"Source: Civil Eats on January 07, 2014
Public health advocate Nancy Huehnergarth shows how PepsiCo's latest promotion, a mobile game that targets young people, undermines the sugary drink industry's stated commitment to health. In the comments, Nancy urges concerned parents and others to contact their state Attorney General to investigate Gatorade's claim that it is superior to water.Source: Portada Online on January 06, 2014
A marketing executive for Pepsi, for example, comments that the company has begun using the NFL to target Latinos, rather than only focusing on soccer. In addition, the World Cup is expected to drive up advertising on Latino media properties (such as TV, radio and online), and companies will be looking to capitalize on the event's popularity with Latinos.Source: Bloomberg Business Week on January 06, 2014
iBeacon, the latest update to Apple's mobile technology, enables Apple to pinpoint the location of a smartphone user to within a few feet. Despite concerns about consumer privacy, companies like inMarket are already planning to take advantage of the update with services that allow advertisers to access customers' smartphones while they shop.Source: Food Politics on January 06, 2014
Marion Nestle highlights the most important data points for food advocates culled from Advertising Age's 2014 Marketing Fact Pack (updated through 2012). The most important findings include ad expenditures from key companies like McDonalds, and information on new trends in internet and digital advertising.
