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: Progressive Grocer on November 29, 2012
In this editorial, Progressive Grocer Managing Editor Bridget Goldschmidt frames holiday shopping and eating as a matter of personal responsibility -- though she does urge grocers to "encourage shoppers not to fall off the health-eating wagon" by promoting "better-for-you" options.Source: The New York Times on November 27, 2012
Amid mounting concerns about the safety of energy drinks for teenagers and those with underlying health risks, the FDA has announced that it will draw on the expertise of outside researchers to investigate possible risks posed by these products.Source: MediaPost on November 26, 2012
The concert, featuring best-selling Latin music artist Alejandro Sanz, will be broadcast live in 19 countries. Pepsi will run a related sweepstakes in 12 countries. A spokesperson called the concert an "important step in extending [Pepsi's] renewed Hispanic marketing focus."Source: QSR Magazine on November 26, 2012
Houston is the latest metropolitan region (in addition to the Washington, D.C. area and Miami) in which BK delivers. It also does so internationally, including in Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.Source: Advertising Age on November 26, 2012
In an attempt to grow its market share, Kettle is launching a campaign aimed at "foodies." In it, the chip brand tries to distinguish itself as "authentic," calling other brands mere copycats.Source: Advertising Age on November 26, 2012
The producer of the Center for Science in the Public Interest's "Real Bears" partnered with SodaStream to create another campaign critical of soda and its powerful marketers. The UK enterprise that weighs in on what ads get airtime is industry-funded. They pulled the ad for its "denigration of the bottled-drinks market."Source: FoodNavigator.com on November 26, 2012
Speaking to food scientists, a Nestle director noted the discrepancy between Africa's large agricultural output and weak food industry. He hinted at the potential for profit-making: "[Soon], there will be 500m Africans who can afford packaged food. ... This is an opportunity not just for Africa, but also for Europe."Source: MediaPost on November 26, 2012
Pepsi will livestream a concert featuring Sanz (described here as "among the most influential Hispanic social media influencers") in conjunction with other promotions that target Latinos, both domestically and abroad, under the brand's "Viva Hoy" platform. Pepsi is also partnering with Pizza Patron for a soccer promotion, suggesting that the company's interest in Latino consumers is far-reaching and multi-faceted.Source: TheStar.com on November 21, 2012
Many brands are pushing a larger menu of seasonal products, like Burger King's Gingerbread Cookie Sundae and Pringles' White Chocolate Peppermint potato chips. A Canadian industry executive credits an increasingly diverse ethnic population with the "[incredible] opportunity to cross over with flavors."Source: MediaPost on November 21, 2012
Earlier this year, Birds Eye frozen vegetables partnered with Nickelodeon's popular iCarly TV program as part of a 3-year, $6 million effort to increase kids' vegetable consumption through kid-friendly marketing and engagement tactics. The company reports that, so far, the campaign has produced strong engagement and sales.
