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: 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: MediaPost on January 04, 2014
KFC has unveiled a new marketing initiative dubbed #HowDoYouKFC that urges fans to "'share what they love' about the brand . . . and 'how KFC fits into their lives in a relevant, meaningful, and personal way.'" In addition to social media outreach, the promotion will include TV spots that will feature actors playing parents and teens extolling the virtues of the brand and its products.Source: Consumerist on January 03, 2014
For its 20th anniversary celebration, Pizza Hut is promoting itself as a digital innovator. Advertisements remind customers that before they could buy "books, clothes, music or vacation packages via the Internet, they could place an online order for a Pizza Hut pizza."Source: USA Today on January 02, 2014
In a move heralded by children's health and green economy advocates, General Mills has announced it will stop using genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) in its original Cheerios cereal. Though the company has no plans to alter its other products, advocates are hopeful the move will nudge other food manufacturers to follow suit.Source: QSR Magazine on January 02, 2014
The company plans to "Mexicanize" their brand in order to appeal more to its core Mexican-born customers, and to create a "one-of-a-kind experience" for non-Mexican customers. The company's strategy will include developing new products and Mexican-themed promotions as well as digital advertising, social media, and traditional advertising.Source: PR Newswire on January 01, 2014
A New Year's tradition in Atlanta was a prime marketing opportunity for Mars Chocolate and M&Ms. The company declared 2014 "Year of the Peanut", and incorporated a giant M&M into the traditional New Year's Eve Peach Drop. The event, the culmination of a larger M&M promotion, also featured well-known Atlanta singer Janelle Monae.Source: The Almanac on December 31, 2013
McDonald's is facing outrage after the reveal of an internal company website that acknowledged the health harms of fast food. The authors of this article deride the chain's defensive response to the controversy, and argue," it's time for companies to take real responsibility for their mistakes and products."Source: Digital Journal on December 30, 2013
Each finalist represents a different McDonald's burger. A quote from McDonald's marketing director highlights how the contest helps the company build ties with communities of color: he comments that "Music is an essential component of culture and communities." The competition is part of McDonald's 365Black program, which creates events and programs to help the company target African Americans.Source: FoodNavigator-usa.com on December 20, 2013
On December 5, the GMA, which represents many food and beverage companies, sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asking the FDA to authorize GMO foods to be labeled "natural." The Association argues that such foods do not differ in "any meaningful way" from unmodified foods. The Environmental Working Group and others have decried GMA's request, arguing that it confuses consumers trying to select products that are truly free from genetically engineered ingredients.Source: MultiVu on December 20, 2013
The latest campaign from Post Foods will pit popular wrestler John Cena against basketball player Kyrie Irving in a competition to determine whether Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Pebbles is more popular with fans. In addition to a social media component and online competition, the promotion includes corporate social responsibility partnerships with nonprofit organizations that work with disabled individuals and veterans.
