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 October 22, 2013
This corporate social responsibility campaign is an opportunity to "build brand loyalty and market share with Hispanic and general-market kids and families." As part of the campaign, Nesquik is sponsoring sports events and "meet-and-greets" with current and former sports stars.Source: FoodNavigator-usa.com on October 21, 2013
The convenience store sector has become the 'go-to' market to test new products, including products formulated to appeal to Latinos, millennials, kids and health-conscious consumers. Some new product launches that are being tested at convenience stores include Kellogg's Pringles tortilla chips, Special K flatbread sandwiches, and personalized paired products, such as "Doritos + Dew" for the "Young & Hungry Millennial" and "Quaker + Kickstart" for the "Morning Startup customer."Source: The New York Times on October 21, 2013
Marketers from the Manischewitz Company capitalize on holiday traditions and a unique calendar opportunity to target the Jewish community. Their campaign will use social media, digital ads, email marketing, video clips, a recipe contest, and more to encourage shoppers to celebrate "Thanksgivukah" by purchasing the company's kosher products for the "combined" holiday.Source: ClickZ on October 18, 2013
In an effort to reach social media users and college students, Cheez-It's marketing agency covered a smart car in Cheez-Its, tweeted the picture, and drove the car around the campus of Northwestern University on ESPN's College Gameday. The stunt was the brand's latest effort to expand its social media presence.Source: BevNET on October 17, 2013
Food companies are attempting to target time-pressed consumers with on-the-go liquid breakfasts. The marketing of these products, including Muscle Milk and Special-K, extends a health halo over the often-sugary drinks with marketing focused on gender-specific nutrition and wellness.Source: The Charleston Chronicle on October 17, 2013
The company's nine-city tour raised only $83,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, a very modest sum for the massive company. However, charity is only one purpose of the tour. McDonald's also uses it to generate connections, brand recognition and goodwill with potential African-American customers.Source: QSR Magazine on October 16, 2013
The new campaign to promote Wendy's new Pretzel Pub sandwich takes customers' social media posts about the sandwich and turns them into soap-opera style love stories, with the sandwich as the object of desire. The campaign uses Puerto Rican star Roselyn Sanchez to lead a series of over-the-top video spots, hoping they will be shared virally.Source: Adweek on October 16, 2013
Still wincing from the outrage over its racist, sexist "goat" commercial, the brand is taking a less controversial approach with recent ads. Using Vine, Twitter's social video application, Mountain Dew is targeting millennial men with 5-second animated TV ads called "billboards," including a spot that highlights the company's sponsorship of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.Source: QSR Magazine on October 16, 2013
Participating restaurants aim to tout their "healthful and flavorful menu options for kids," as well as establish life-long brand preferences, which are formed "at a young age and continue to expand as children grow."Source: Take Part on October 15, 2013
The fast-food giant announced a closure of the fine print loophole allowing them to not actually remove soda from the kids' meal signage on its menu boards. Originally, the company had pledged to remove pictures of soda from Happy Meal advertisements and in-store advertising, but would continue to list soda on kids' menu boards. After pressure from public health advocates, McDonald's agreed to phase out soda on the kids' menu altogether.
