Chief Marketer Staff

• ConAgra Taps Sponsorships for Summer Promos

  ConAgra Foods is readying a slate of summer promotions that will spur sampling and brand loyalty for a handful of key brands using a range of sports and entertainment sponsorships.

• Kids Wield $18 Billion in Spending Power: Study

  Children, even those as young as three-years old, wield a tremendous amount of influence when it comes to family spending.

• Supervalu Readies Management for Albertsons Acquisition

  Supervalu has set a new structure and management team to take effect after its acquisition of Albertson’s, expected to close in June.

• News Briefs

  BROWN-FORMAN: will combine its wines and spirits sales and marketing organizations into one effective July 1. The move is part of a larger realignment to ensure growth and prosperity. In addition, wines and spirits production operations will report to …

• Google Click-Fraud Settlement under Fire

  A former Google advertiser is suing to block the proposed $90 million settlement between Google and search marketers who claim they’ve been victims of click fraud in the AdWords program.

• DMA Lauds Postal Rate Commission OK of Bookspan NSA

  The Direct Marketing Association has applauded the Postal Rate Commission

• Study Highlights Search Engine Safety Risks

  Clicking on search engine results can be hazardous to your computer

• Gannett Buys Local Search Platform

  Gannett Co., which publishes more than 90 newspapers including USA Today, on Friday acquired local online search and advertising company Planet Discover for an undisclosed sum.

• Social Networking Sites Grew 47% in a Year

  U.S. traffic at the 10 leading social networking sites soared in April grew by 47% over the same period last year and now equates to about 45% of all active Web users, according to marketing research firm Nielsen//NetRatings.

• Repeat Online Visitors Make Better Buyers: Study

  Repeat visitors are eight times more likely to make a purchase from a Web site than first-timers, according to Web analytics firm WebSideStory.