Chief Marketer Staff

• HEINZ PLEDGES $100 MILLION MARKETING BOOST

  H.J. Heinz Co. revamped its portfolio and committed another $100 million to marketing this year in an effort to boost sales three to four percent beginning

• KIA LOOKS TO ‘RING’ UP TEST DRIVES

  Irvine, CA-based Kia Motors last week announced a deal with New Line Cinema, New York City, to be exclusive automotive partner for the August 6 home video

• Truste Joins With Mobile Trade Group On Privacy

  The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), a trade group for wireless marketers, has teamed up with online privacy organization Truste to explore reconciling

• Live from DCI Boston: Improvements Cut Some EIC Some Cancellations 29%

  Improvements in its call center helped Electric Insurance Co. (EIC) reduce the number of policies cancelled because of non-payment by 29%. EIC implemented

• LOEWS “POPS” FOR SUMMER CAMPAIGN

  Loews Cineplex Entertainment, New York City, last week launched a “picture perfect” summer campaign that includes a cross-promotion with General Mills

• PEPSI, DOLE TO UNVEIL ‘FRESCAS’

  Pepsi-Cola Co., Purchase, NY, and Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, CA, will jointly target Hispanics with a juice-based drink called Aguas Frescas. The

• MASTERCARD SEEKS ‘MEMORABLE MOMENTS’

  MasterCard International, Purchase, NY, last week unveiled a summer campaign leveraging its Major League Baseball sponsorship that the league is calling

• EC Clears Publicis-Bcom3 Merger

  The European Commission Wednesday cleared France’s Publicis Group SA’s proposed $3.2 billion acquisition of U.S.-based competitor Bcom3 Group Inc, according

• Postal Hike Will Kill Mail-Based Bill Paying: DMA

  The June 30 postage rate increase will push younger Americans, at a faster rate, away from first class mail when paying bills. The diversion will accelerate the U.S. Postal Service’s financial crisis, according to a Direct Marketing Association survey.

• DVC LAUNCHES EXPERIENTIAL DIVISION

  DVC Worldwide, Morristown, NJ, has launched an independent experiential marketing company under the guidance of John Palumbo, formerly chief strategy