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: BevNET on July 05, 2013
The Essence Festival is the country's largest celebration of African-American music. McDonald's participated by hosting its 365Black Awards for community engagement and philanthropy, and Coca-Cola, the primary sponsor, erected branded display spaces and sponsored social media campaigns, among other promotions. Coke's VP of multicultural marketing called the partnership an "opportunity to connect and engage with one of the most influential members of today's community - the African-American woman."Source: Businessweek on July 03, 2013
The fast food giant is using new, made-to-order products like the McWrap as part of an effort to infiltrate foodie culture and attract young consumers who "have turned to fresher, seemingly healthier offerings" from the chain's competitors.Source: Food Dive on July 02, 2013
The coffee franchise is targeting soda drinkers by expanding its product line beyond mochas and Frappuccinos to include lemon, root beer, and ginger ale "handcrafted" sodas. The drinks are currently being test-marketed at stores in Atlanta and Austin, and if successful, may be launched at more of the franchise's 18,000 locations worldwide.Source: QSR on July 02, 2013
Chipotle uses its 20th "birthday" as an anniversary peg to boost sales. Customers who participate in the chain's latest attempt at interactive marketing have the chance to win a year of free burritos or the grand prize of 20 years of free burritos. According to the company's founder, Steve Ells, "Twenty years in, we are changing the way people think about and eat fast food."Source: QSR on July 02, 2013
In addition to launching the new flavor, DQ uses a summer-peg to promote an entire line of Blizzards, including the S'mores Blizzard Treat: a shake consisting of marshmallow-filled chocolate bars and graham crackers with vanilla soft serve ice cream. The chain's VP of marketing speaks to the company's seasonal promotion tactic: "If you're a fan of summer, you are a fan of the Dairy Queen system."Source: QSR on July 02, 2013
Dairy Queen's not the only chain to take advantage of the marketing opportunity provided by the month-long celebration of ice cream. Smashburger's new PB&J Shake, "plucked directly from its secret menu of items created by guests themselves," will be marketed all summer.Source: MediaPost on July 02, 2013
As excitement builds for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Coca-Cola has begun to accelerate its marketing as a sponsor of the Mexican National Team. Coca-Cola hopes the multi-part campaign, which will include TV spots and a series of sponsored matches, will build brand loyalty among Latinos by tapping into "the feeling, the excitement, the hope, and the need to cheer and follow the Mexican National Team."Source: QSR on July 01, 2013
This summer, Yogurtland will feature Looney Tunes characters to market frozen yogurt to children. The promotion will also include collectible merchandise and the chance to win frozen yogurt. The Looney Tunes partnership will last the summer and end around the time many children are back in school.Source: PR Newswire on July 01, 2013
The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) hopes to drive milk sales among Latinos this summer by "blend[ing] traditional Hispanic flavors into frozen treats." To that end, the Board has partnered with culinary artist Bricia Lopez to create a series of chilled desserts that "capture iconic Latin American flavors and aromas."Source: Food Manufacture on July 01, 2013
Maria Sharapova recently launched her new brand of candy called Sugarpova, which comes in 12 sugary flavors in the form of tennis balls and other shapes. Upon criticism from the National Obesity Forum for using her celebrity to promote junk food, Sharapova defended her brand stating, "At the end of the day, things are fine if taken in moderation."
