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: FoodBev.com on May 16, 2013
Over the summer, Monster Energy is ramping up its efforts to target young men with a front-of-package promotion that offers customers a chance to win branded team gear.Source: QSR Magazine on May 16, 2013
Taco Bell's latest corporate social responsibility campaign is "Graduate for Mas," a program that "[challenges] teens to make a personal commitment to graduate high school." Popular actor Mark Wahlberg is promoting the online program, which was developed in part by the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens.Source: Food Product Design on May 15, 2013
According to new research, children and teens are the highest consumers of snack foods and eat more than 1,000 snack foods a year, on average. Kids are most likely to select snack foods that they describe as "fun to eat," including chips and cookies.Source: Advertising Age on May 14, 2013
Oreo's latest campaign, called "Wonderfilled," aims to help the company build an iconic brand presence. The campaign features social media outreach, high-profile promotional events, and a cheerful, animated ad that demonstrates "how something as small as an Oreo cookie can bring about a change in perspective."Source: FoodBev.com on May 14, 2013
In this interview for the FoodBev.com podcast, Coca-Cola's vice president of public affairs and communications claims the brand is committed to the environment and public health, in spite of clear links between sugary beverages and health problems like obesity and diabetes.Source: MediaPost on May 13, 2013
Fans can use Facebook or Twitter to solicit "Burger Daddies" to buy them Red Robin gift cards or burgers, or they can become Burger Daddies for others. The "sugar daddy" theme is troubling from a feminist perspective, as are campaign taglines like this one: "Diamonds are expensive and mean nothing at lunch."Source: Advertising Age on May 13, 2013
Wendy's newest campaign targets Latino customers with a series of commercials featuring the fictional Rojos family. According to the company, the commercials are intended to demonstrate that the chain "shares the same values as the Hispanic community." Wendy's hopes the campaign will boost the company's popularity among Latinos. To that end, the commercials will appear in English and Spanish through the end of the year and will be supported by digital media, social media, in-store promotions, and local events.Source: Advertising Age on May 13, 2013
Breakfast is the only area of growth that the restaurant industry has seen in a decade, according to research. To capitalize on the popularity of breakfast foods, McDonald's is considering offering its morning meals all day.Source: MediaPost on May 10, 2013
McDonald's increased sales by beefing up its Value Menu, while Wendy's launched a new "Right Price, Right Size" value menu with items priced between $1 and $2. It looks like price-based marketing will be the marketing tactic to watch, at least among fast food companies, going forward.Source: Advertising Age on May 10, 2013
The new machines, which are called "Touch Towers," feature digital touch screens and are designed to fit on countertops. The devices are smaller than Coca-Cola's "Freestyle" dispensers, which are "floor units." Coke first released the freestyle dispensers in 2009.
