JEWEL-OSCO, COCA-COLA

A Taste of Black History

Grocery chain Jewel-Osco is teaming up with Coca-Cola to celebrate Black History Month with in-store promotions in Chicago-area stores starting Feb. 5 and running through March 1. Customers can sample dishes prepared by more than 25 African-American vendors. Shoppers can also enter the “Cookin’ Combos” sweepstakes for a chance to win a year of free groceries valued at $5,000. Details are available at www.jewelosco.com.

Agency: In-house with Coca-Cola

ALMOND BOARD OF CALIFORNIA

Ultimate Snack-Off Recipe Contest

The Almond Board of California is encouraging visitors to www.SnackAlmonds.com to vote for one of four chef-created specialties through March 13. Voters will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a college basketball package worth $8,500. People can choose from the following recipes: 3-Chile Honey Almond Wings, Almond Beer-Battered Catfish, Beer & Bacon-Glazed “All-Mans,” and Steak Slides with Almond Accents. As an added incentive, people who make one of the recipes and send in their feedback with photos to [email protected] could win one of 50 Almond Inspiration cookbooks.

Agency: Porter Novelli and Sterling Rice Group

CHIQUITA/FRESH EXPRESS

Fresh Funds

Chiquita and Fresh Express are continuing their consumer program that rewards customers who buy specially marked products with points to use to bid on weekly auctions. Shoppers who purchased Chiquita or Fresh Express products through Dec. 31 collected Fresh Fund points to bid on auctions, make donations or obtain rewards at www.freshfunds.com. And in a nod to Valentine’s Day, heart-themed prizes are up for grabs this month, including Kay Jewelers’ Open Heart Collection and heart-rate-monitor watches. Online marketing supports the program.

Agency: : ePrize and mktg

SCION

High School Marketing Competition

This high-school competition gives young adults the chance to team up, suggest marketing concepts for the Toyota brand, and possibly win supplies for their school. The contest, which runs through April 2009, is open to high-school marketing and business classes and business or marketing clubs in schools in nine metro areas in three regions centered in Kansas City, KS, Cincinnati, OH, and Portland, OR. Registration is at www.scion.com/hsm, through Jan. 16. Three winners of the regional finals will compete in April for the first, second and third prizes: $5,000 in merchandise and school supplies, $1,250 in supplies, and $750, respectively.

Agency: In-house

COORS LIGHT

Super Bowl XLIII Sweepstakes

This on-pack sweepstakes offers three winners a trip for two to Super Bowl XLIII and two winners a trip for two to Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. Promos are found on both English- and Spanish-language packages of Coors Light and Coors banquet vented wide mouth cans and cold activated bottles. Players enter to win online or text to win. Winners for Super Bowl XLIII will be drawn Jan. 13, and winners for Super Bowl XLIV will be drawn Feb. 3.

Agency: In-house

ACER

Want One?

This online video contest was created to promote the Aspire One, the first netbook launched by Acer. Through Jan. 20, players can write, direct and make their own videos for a chance to win a netbook, an Xbox 360, Microsoft Zune 8 GB MP3 player, cash or other prizes. The winners will be chosen based on total YouTube views, comments, honors and overall ratings — which means people will have to demonstrate their abilities to get the word out by using their personal Web sites, blogs, online forums, and social networks like MySpace and Facebook to tell people about their videos. People can enter at www.wantonecontest.com. The winners will be announced at the site on Feb. 17.

Agency: In-house

STAPLES

Gift it for Free

Staples holiday sweeps will see 10,000 customers win their entire purchase, up to $5,000, for free. The fictional character, Coach Tom, helps promote the sweeps as a youth sports coach who firmly believes in the concept of only one winner, and is baffled by the Staples promotion. Coach Tom’s message appears on video hosting sites like YouTube, and social networking and sharing sites like Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. He has a Facebook fan page, Coach vs. 10,000 Winners, and will tweet in real time using his Twitter profile. In-store materials, radio and online and direct marketing also support the effort. The campaign, at www.staples.com/holidaypr, runs through Dec. 24.

Agency: Duffy & Shanley

DOLLAR GENERAL

Shop ‘N Win Millionaire Sweepstakes

Through Dec. 15, customers can win $1 million, as well as hundreds of other prizes, by shopping at Dollar General stores or visiting www.dollargeneral.com. Customers who buy qualifying products receive a code at checkout that can by used for one entry — up to a maximum of 10. Ten drawings take place with the winners receiving such prizes as Dollar General Gift Cards, TVs and a diamond tennis bracelet, and the $1 million grand prize.

Agency: Promotivate of America, Inc.

BURGER KING

Get. Give. Win. Promotion

Burger King is out with a holiday sweepstakes that offers consumers a chance to win one of 500 Wii systems with the purchase of a BK Crown Card. Through Jan. 4, each card purchased comes with a detachable instant-win game piece. The cards, which can be purchased at BK restaurants or online at www.bkcrowncard.com, are themed with one of four Nintendo characters. They are sold in increments between $5 and $100.

Agency: In-house

NESTLé

Loss for Lyrics

Nestlé is on the hunt for lyricists as part of a video contest to promote its new Giant Chewy Nerds candy. Teens and tweens can submit videos of themselves singing original lyrics about the bumpy and crunchy new candy to www.wonka.com through Sept. 21. People can also enter at Wonkalicious Lounge events visiting malls nationwide this summer. One winner will fly to Los Angeles to record his or her tune with actress and singer Raven-Symone from Disney’s “That’s So Raven” show. People who rate the videos on the site will be entered into a separate sweepstakes for a chance at the grand prize: a year’s supply of Wonka candy, among other prizes.

Agency: Nestlé, Cone Agency

POM TEA

Pom Tea Mobile Tour

Pom Tea has kicked off a sampling tour in 10 markets to promote its tea products. Brand ambassadors will hand out 300,000 samples of the drink during their stops at a variety of events through Sept. 2. Visitors to www.teamobiletour.com can track the tour and find a list of upcoming events. An online contest will soon begin that asks people to upload pictures of themselves doing their favorite summertime activity or adventure while enjoying Pom Tea. Winners will be announced in September.

Agency: In house

ULTIMATE VEGAS ESCAPE SWEEPSTAKES

The state of Las Vegas is offering three winners the chance to win one of three trips, including access to the gala opening of Criss Angel Believe, backstage with The Blue Man Group or Jersey Boys. There’s the chance to live like a celebrity with makeovers at Kim Vo Salon, or spa treatments at The Spa at Trump. Also included is a tattoo at Vince Neil Ink, a Zero-Gravity plane ride or a chance to become a Wine Angel at Aureole. Visitors to www.VisitLasVegas.com can enter through Sept. 2. In addition, the Crazy Fun Vegas Sweepstakes will give away a trip, provided by Orbitz.com, every day through Sept. 2.

Agency: Centra Marketing & Communications, LLC.

NONNI’S FOOD CO.

Old London ‘Skinny Jeans’ Challenge

Biscotti maker Nonni’s Food Co. is promoting its Old London snacks that targets women who want to fit into “skinny jeans.” An online contest invites people to post images and illustrate with a short story about how fitting into their skinny jeans made them feel. Entries are accepted at www.oldlondonfoods.com through June 3. Voting starts July 20. One grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles to attend a taping or live show in the area, a visit to the Ken Paves Spa and a $300 spending money. For every proof of purchase, 75 cents will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a maximum $100,000 donation.

Agency: Hill & Knowlton

ARDEA BEVERAGE CO.

Good to Go

Ardea Beverage Co. has teamed up with Giant Bicycle for an on-pack promotion on its Nutrisoda Giant four-packs. Codes can be entered at www.nutrisoda.com/giant for a chance to win one of 10 OCR Alliance 1 performance road bicycles through May 31. Other prizes include Giant helmets and branded water bottles. Radio contests in select markets will give away 33 FCR 1 fitness bicycles. About 1,000 Boulder mountain bikes will be distributed through local retail entries.

Agency: in-house by Nutrisoda and Giant Bicycle

TIC TAC

Mintertainment

An in-store promotion is rolling out this month for Tic Tac featuring displays and a national FSI. Starting April 15, free Mintertainment guides will be available at retail that include manufacturer coupons, and a T2 All Access card, which offers discounts on restaurants, movie rentals and snacks. A separate contest at www.Mintertainment from April 15 through June 14 invites people to capture their “breathtaking” Tic Tac moments on video for a chance to win $10,000. The grand prize will be matched with a donation on behalf of the winner’s retailer.

Agency: Veux Marketing

THE LEGO GROUP

Global Building Contest

The Lego Group this month is launching a global contest to search for the best child Lego builder to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Winners from each designated country will meet in Billund, Denmark, the company’s hometown, to compete in an ultimate building event. The contest is open to children six to 13 in the U.S. Details are available at www.Lego.com/Club.

Agency: in-house

PRINCESS CRUISES

Romance Video Contest

Princess Cruises is out with a video contest searching for romantics at heart. People can submit videos no longer than three minutes describing why they are the ultimate romantic to www.princess.com/romance through March 20 for a shot at earning the title “The Greatest Romantic.” Entries from five finalists will be posted on the site from April 1-14 for public voting. The top vote-getter will win a seven-day cruise for two to Mexico or the Caribbean, including airfare. The winner will also be featured in a podcast sharing his or her story and offering romance advice.

Agency: Blitz

ADPACK USA

Tissue Tactics Contest

AdPack USA, an out of home marketing company, is challenging agencies in a new contest to devise the best design for tissue packs. Companies can submit entries to www.adpackusa.com through March 31. Each entry must include creative details of the tissue pack design and distribution strategies. Bonus points will be given to those who include a direct mail component in their submission. The top winner will receive $6,000.

Agency: in-house

WISE FOODS

Bravos video contest

Wise Foods is on the hunt for its biggest fans as part of a new campaign to promote its Bravos Tortilla Chips brand. The company is kicking off a mobile tour at college campuses on the East Coast and during Spring Break in South Beach in Miami. And starting Feb. 4, people can enter a video contest at www.Bravos.com to vie for the title of biggest Bravos Flavor Fanatic and $10,000. Other prizes include iPod Nanos and iTunes gift cards. On-pack materials and in-store merchandising will support the promotion, which runs through April.

Agency: Brandmovers

PROCTER & GAMBLE

Dawn It Only Takes One Sweepstakes

Procter & Gamble has launched an online sweepstakes promoting its Dawn Direct Foam dish soap offering $5,000 toward a Hawaiian vacation getaway. Registration is available at www.Dawn-Dish.com. Daily prizes of the product and a branded T-shirt will also be distributed. Online marketing supports the promotion, which runs through June 30.

Agency: Barefoot Advertising

H.J. Heinz Co.

Smart Ones Fruitastic Recipe Contest

The H.J. Heinz Co. is out with a new line of frozen meals, called Weight Watchers Smarts Ones Fruit Inspirations, and the company is searching for a new entrée as part of an online contest. People can submit recipes to www.eatyourbest.com through June 1 for a chance to win $5,000 and a trip for two to Los Angeles for a cooking lesson with celebrity chef Devin Alexander. The winner’s name and hometown will appear on Smart Ones boxes featuring their inspired recipe. PR, on-pack stickers and in-pack inserts and online marketing support the promotion.

Agency: Promotion Fulfillment Center

CARVEL

Believe in Holiday Magic Sweepstakes

Carvel and Warner Home Video have teamed up to run an instant-win game tied to the DVD re-release of film “The Polar Express.” Specially marked packages of Carvel ice cream cakes sold in grocery stores carry 550,000 instant-win game pieces. One grand-prize winner will receive a $5,000 American Express gift card, while five first-prize winners will find vouchers for an entertainment package, which includes a plasma HDTV and DVD player. Lesser prizes include coupons for a “Polar Express” DVD. In-store P-O-P, signage and an FSI support the promotion, which runs through March 31.

Agency: MatchPoint Marketing

SNORESTOP

Renew Your Marriage

A snoring spouse keeping you awake? This promo lets couples submit an e-mail, letter or home video citing the impact snoring has had on their relationship via www.SnoreStop.com through Feb. 18. Entrants also need to show how other stop-snoring strategies and products have not proven effective. Five couples will be chosen to receive a year’s supply of SnoreStop products along with a choice of either a SnoreStop-sponsored wedding ceremony to renew their vows or a two-night, three-day all-expenses-paid second honeymoon.

Agency: In house

PRINGLES AND NINTENDO

Wii Sweepstakes

Procter & Gamble’s Pringles is out with an on-pack promotion and sweepstakes offering the chance to win one of 26 Nintendo Wii Game Kits. Each prize package includes a Wii console (complete with Wii remote and Wii Sports video game), three video games, a Wii point card with 2,000 points and a Wii remote. One winner will be randomly selected each week through March 28. Registration is at www.pringles.com. On-pack materials and online marketing supports the promotion.

Agency: Procter & Gamble, D.L. Blair

CONAGRA FOODS

Shrek’s Quest for the Crown

ConAgra Foods is running on an-pack promotion and instant-win game featuring six of its products tied to the “Shrek the Third” DVD release. People can enter UPC codes from Act II, Crunch ‘n Munch, Hunt’s Ketchup, Hunt’s Manwich, Hunt’s Snack Pack and Peter Pan products at www.shrekspert.com for a chance to win one of three $1,000 Visa gift cards and a limited edition Shrek Litho Poster. Other prizes include “Shrek” DVDs, T-Shirts and lunchboxes. The site also includes a rebate offer for $3 off the “Shrek The Third” DVD with the purchase of five ConAgra items. Online marketing and packaging support the promotion, which runs through Dec. 31.
Agency: ePrize, Bridge Worldwide

KB HOME

Magical Dream Sweepstakes

To kick-off a collaboration between KB Home and Disney Consumer, the Magical Dream Sweepstakes lets people who visit a KB Home community enter for a chance to win one of 10 children’s Disney-themed bedrooms. In addition, Disney-themed merchandise, including children’s lunch boxes, watches, notebooks, crayons and more, will be given away during the promotion, which runs through Nov. 25.
Agency: in-house KB Home

KRAFT FOODS

Have A Happy Sandwich

Kraft Foods is giving grilled cheese lovers their 15-minutes of fame through a video contest on MySpace. Ten- to 15-second videos showing their version of a Kraft Singles “Have a Happy Sandwich” commercial can be uploaded to www.myspace.com/haveahappysandwich for a shot at $50,000 and the chance to have their creation aired as a national commercial. A digital camera will be awarded to randomly selected MySpace friends each week of the contest, which runs through Nov. 12. Visitors can vote for their favorite video between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10. The winner will be revealed at the end of December.
Agency: Nitro, Ogilvy Action

MARS SNACKFOOD U.S.

M&Ms Halloween sweepstakes

M&Ms is out with a Halloween sweepstakes that offers the chance to win $1 million. People who buy large bags of M&Ms candies can enter UPC codes on www.MMS.com for a chance to win the grand prize. A supporting instant-win game offers a seven-day family trip to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney and $1,000 in spending money. Lesser prizes include a year’s worth of M&M treats and a three pack of Halloween DVD movies. TV spots, FSIs and PR support the sweepstakes, which runs through Oct. 31.

Agency: T.J. Paul, G2, Weber Shandwick

KELLOGG/TARGET/FORD/HOT WHEELS

Ford Hot Wheels Collect-to-Win Game

Kellogg’s has launched an on-pack promotion with Target, Ford and Hot Wheels, which offers the chance to win a 2008 Ford F-150, a Ford Edge or a Ford Mustang. Target stores are selling specially marked packages of Kellogg’s Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes and Cocoa Krispies tied to the promotion. Each carries a Hot Wheels vehicle and a collector’s card. People who collect all three game cards will win. The game runs through August 2008.

Agency: In-house

MARIANI PACKAGING CO.

Snack Pink promotion and help save a life

Mariani Packing is running a cause-marketing retail promotion tied to National Breast Cancer Awareness month. The company is branding four varieties of its dried fruit (6-ounce cherries, 50-ounce prunes, 36-ounce Sun-Ripened Mixed Fruit and 48-ounce Ultimate Apricots) with promotional packaging and messaging tied to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The messaging asks consumers to support the brand and drives people to www.Komen.org and www.Mariani.com. Products are sold at local retail and club stores nationwide. As part of the promotion, which runs through May, Mariani will donate $414,000 to Susan G. Komen.

Agency: In-house

RCA

The Small Wonders of America

RCA has launched a video contest with online travel guide RoadsideAmerica.com in search of the country’s top attractions. To enter, people upload 30-second videos of their favorite destination to www.mysmallwonder.com/contest through Sept. 15. A panel of judges will review the top three submissions with the most consumer ratings and choose a winner. The grand-prize is a trip for four to the Grand Canyon. Three semi-finalists will receive an RCA Small Wonder Digital Camcorder and an RCA travel bag. Online marketing supports the promotion.

Agency: in-house

TASTYKAKE

Gear for Good

Tastykake and Minor League Baseball have launched a summer program to support local Boys & Girls Clubs of America. People who donate “gently used” sports equipment to the program receive a coupon for a free pack of Tastykakes. The company has set up stations in several cities throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware and Maryland to collect the gear. Details can be found at www.tastykake.com.

Agency: in-house

OXYGEN

Girls Gone Wired

Oxygen, in partnership with Westinghouse Digital, is educating women about technology products via a sweeps and series of “Tech Talk” vignettes launching Aug. 13. The sweeps, at www.oxygen.com/girlsgonewiredsweeps, offers a grand prize Total Techover. The prize includes a “tech guru” who will assess how to make the winner’s life more tech-savvy and up to $5,000 worth of Westinghouse Digital products, including installation. A separate sweeps offering the same prize runs Oct. 22 through Nov. 18. TV spots and Web banners support the initiative.

Agency: Kobin Integrated Marketing

BUCKLE/JONES SODA

Your Jeans, Your Jones

Specialty retailer Buckle has partnered with Jones Soda to help sell its jeans. Every customer that tries on three pairs of jeans at any of Buckle’s 357 retail locations will receive a can of Jones Pure Cane Soda. The national promo, which began last month, runs while supplies last. A supporting sweeps at www.buckle.com/jones lets players enter to win one of more than 500 Buckle gift cards. The grand prize features a trip for two to Seattle, a $1,000 shopping spree and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jones Soda headquarters, including tastings and a chance to help select the next soda label. Buckle customers can also enter their photos to be one of 10 people to have their images appear on a national run of Jones Soda bottles (a contest Jones runs on a regular basis).

Agency: In-house

OXY ACNE SOLUTIONS

Cash for College Sweepstakes

Visitors to www.oxymom.com can enter to win the Cash for College Sweepstakes. The grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 as a contribution to a 529B College Savings Plan. Three runners-up will each receive $5,000. The promotion, which runs through Sept. 30, targets mothers with sons between ages 13 and 19. PR and prints ads in Good House Keeping, Country Living, Redbook and Quick & Simple support it.

Agency: Hearst Publications, Cenergy Communications

DIPPIN’ DOTS

Movie Mash-Up Challenge

Ice cream company Dippin’ Dots is out with a contest to create an animated short film starring its mascot, Packy. Entrants can submit 15- to 90-second videos to www.dippindots.com/contest through Aug. 7. One grand-prize winner gets $2,500 and a year’s supply of Dippin’ Dots. One wildcard winner will receive $1,000 and a six-month supply of ice cream. YouTube.com will host the five finalists. The most viewed entry will win the wildcard prize. Online materials and P-O-P support the promotion.

Agency: Matrixx pictures

MASTERFOODS

My Treasured Moments

M&M’s will pay $31,000 to a couple if they can spend the next month communicating only with M&M’s candy. The campaign begins with an essay contest: Entrants describe a “treasured moment” with M&M’s, and tell how they’ll use custom-printed My M&M’s to communicate. This month, Masterfoods picks three finalists, with one of those couples adopting the silent treatment for 31 days. They win $1,000 for every day they stay silent. (Masterfoods puts four video cameras throughout their home to keep track, and posts some of that video on its Web site.) The grand prize includes a party with 50 friends, and a trip for two to the My M&M’s factory in New York City.

Agency: Weber Shandwick

MASTERCARD/THE HOME DEPOT

$100,000 backyard Retreat Sweepstakes

MasterCard and The Home Depot have teamed up to award $100,000 for one grand-prize winner to create the backyard retreat of their dreams. Shoppers are automatically entered when they buy items with the cards. Customers receive two entries when they use The Home Depot Rewards MasterCard. The sweepstakes runs through June 23. Print ads, radio spots and P-O-P in over 2,000 retail stores support the promotion.

Agency: MediaVest Digital Connections and Alloy Media + Marketing

ICEHOUSE

Hometown Hotties Game

In a partnership with Maxim magazine, Icehouse beer is putting 12-digit codes on specially marked 12 packs of cans and bottles and 24- and 34-can multi-packs. The codes can be entered at www.icehouse.com for a chance to win the grand-prize trip for four to the Maxim Hometown Hotties party in South Beach, FL, to be held in November or December. Other prizes include Icehouse merchandise such as jackets, t-shirts, posters and pint glasses. The promo runs through Aug. 7.

Agency: D.L. Blair