Chief Marketer Staff

• Hershey Readies SmartZone Launch after Court Ruling

  Hershey Foods Corp. will go ahead with its September launch of SmartZone nutrition bars after a Massachusetts judge ruled last week that competitor Abbott Laboratories can’t block the new brand. ZonePerfect Nutrition Co., a division of Abbott, sought to …

• Motorola Signs Sharapova

  Motorola has formed a global marketing agreement with Wimbledon Champion and rising pop-culture icon Maria Sharapova. The multi-year relationship will include global advertising and event appearances and allow fans to stay connected to Sharapova via …

• Omnicom Stakes Partnership Marketing Shop

  Omnicom Group adds partnership marketing to its below-the-line services as minority owner of a new agency founded by sports marketing veteran Jim Millman. Millman is CEO of the Partnership Marketing Connection, which opened last week in Stamford, CT. …

• Chick-fil-A Gives Away $26,000 in Free Food

  Getting the word out about its new restaurant design, Chick-fil-A is giving away $26,000 in free food in 15 minutes to the first 100 adults in line. The new design makes its debut in Silver Spring, MD, where the promotion will be held on Aug. 26. Each …

• Starbucks Provides Cups of Joe to United Airlines

  Starbucks and United Airlines have extended their relationship with a three-year deal for Starbucks to continue to be the exclusive coffee for United Airlines and Ted flights worldwide. The first collaboration under the new agreement will appear in …

• Agencies

  GameRiot Video Game Festival Hits the Road

  GameRiot is embarking on its third national tour launching this summer through the end of October. The video games festival and competition, presented by Spike TV, is expected to entertain nearly a quarter of a million gamers from now through Oct. 24 in …

• Nickelodeon Points Out the Dangers of Underage Drinking

  Nearly 38% of 13-15 year olds drank alcohol on an average of nearly five occasions in the past year. Nickelodeon has decided to address this growing issue by launching a multimedia program that tackles the difficulties of convincing tweens not to try …

• News Briefs

  WISE FOODS: Kennesaw, GA, launches Wise Choice potato crisps and soy-potato crisps this week with in-store sampling, newspaper ads and coupons via Maddock Douglas, Elmhurst, IL. Wise sells snack foods in 20 Eastern states.MCI: will extend its …

• Agencies

  A&E Takes Gotti to the Streets

  Cable network A&E touts its series Growing Up Gotti with street promos in six cities. Women dressed like Mob daughter Victoria Gotti (whose current life is chronicled in the show) visit high-traffic areas to hand out “BisGOTTI” individually wrapped …

• Agencies

  Advo Expands Reach, Cuts Back 2004 Guidance

  Advo Inc., a shared-mail advertising firm, will expand its weekend shared-advertising distribution area into southern California. Its new territory will encompass 7.2 million homes, including dwellings in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Bakersfield.