7/19

Chat boards and message boards have been buzzing about problems with My Coke Rewards point values, disappearing prizes, wish lists and expiration dates, some even referring to the program as “My Coke Rewards Scam.” Some of its more than 2 million members have contacted Coca-Cola, and the company has taken action.

Starting in September, CBS is rolling out a new ad campaign branding millions of fresh eggs with the CBS eye trademark and show logos and taglines.

7/18

Nickelodeon is pounding the pavement this summer with a five-city interactive tour to promote its Nicktoons Network Animation Festival.

Church & Dwight Co. will buy Orange Glo International for $325 million in cash, adding two growing household-products brand to its portfolio led by Arm & Hammer.

7/17

State Farm is activating its sponsorship of the 2006 American Idols Live! Tour with on-site displays and a two-part text-messaging promotion that brings fans closer to their favorite performers.

Volvo Cars of North America will drive traffic to its dealerships via a sweepstakes tied to Walt Disney’s summer blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

7/14

Seagram’s is after New York bartenders to create their own tropical sensations using the newest flavor in the Seagram’s Coolers Escapes line, Tahitian Sunset. The contest winner gets to take a friend on a five-night trip to Tahiti.

Nestlé USA has signed its Baby Ruth candy brand to sponsor Major League Baseball.

7/13

Jeans brand Mudd is rolling out a new back-to-school campaign that uses a backdrop of real-life girls and their charitable causes to target other teens.

Hoping to attract moviegoers to its 2007 Dodge Caliber, Chrysler’s Dodge brand is heading to 20 movie theaters where it will break 60-second spots on the big screen and park its vehicles in theater lobbies.

Sony has been named as the “best brand” for the seventh consecutive year in an annual consumer poll conducted by research company Harris Interactive, Inc.

7/12

Electronics maker Maxell Corp. of America is showcasing its “blow-away guy” in an online game that stars the iconic advertising character. The debut of the game coincides with Maxell’s first-time sponsorship of ESPN’s X Games 12.

Seven companies have partnered to spend $150 million in trade and consumer marketing to promote HD digital-video discs and to educate consumers.

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6/15

M&M’s is one of a number of brands (including Volvo, Valpak and McDonald’s) that are backing the Disney film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, which opens nationwide July 7.

Philips Norelco is out with an on-pack promotion that lets shoppers buy an electric razor or trimmer and then access $500 in rebates toward a host of other Philips Norelco products.

6/14

Yahoo unveiled a purple brain in Times Square to promote Yahoo Answers, an online community where consumers ask and answer questions on any topic. Twenty-two “brainiacs,” work within the gigantic brain answering questions from Yahoo Answers users around the world.

The Latin Grammy Awards, working with NYC Marketing, is seeking corporate sponsors to support the show — the first time the event will take place in New York.

6/13

In a rare product-placement deal, the word “Lipslicks,” a Cover Girl brand, will appear in a young adult novel to be published in September.

Meow Mix is going primetime with its new reality TV show debuting this week on Animal Planet. Ten “cat-testants” from across the country are vying for two top jobs at Meow Mix.

6/12

Disney Parks, which last week said that it was integrating the marketing of its entire portfolio of parks and resorts worldwide under one theme, spent many months conducting the consumer research that lead to the change.

As part of a longstanding partnership, PowerBar is collaborating with championship cyclist Lance Armstrong to launch a sweepstakes and mobile tour.

6/9

McDonald’s is touting its ongoing sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup with a host of promotions and in-store activations spanning the globe to reach Hispanic consumers and soccer fans, alike.

Coors Brewing Co. has unveiled a new campaign showcasing important Hispanic community leaders in its ongoing bid to reach the Latino demographic.

A number of big rivals of pharmaceutical company Pfizer have bid more than $14 billion for its consumer products unit, which includes Listerine, Sudafed and Lubriderm.

6/8

Disney Parks is making dreams come true as part of a major new initiative that integrates its entire global portfolio of parks and resorts under one marketing theme.

Universal Studios’ The Break Up, has provided plenty of fodder for brands to play on the trials and tribulations of romantic woes, including MasterCard and Bud.

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5/22

Anheuser-Busch has purchased the Rolling Rock brands from InBev USA for $82 million. Anheuser-Busch will begin brewing Rolling Rock and Rock Green Light in August.

Corona Extra is aiming its sights at the urban market in a partnership with Playboy for a summer-long promotion. The central component is a sweepstakes that dangles a luxury home for the weekend with a Playboy Playmate.

5/18

Burger King has inked a deal with Microsoft to feature its King mascot in three Xbox video games that will hit restaurants in December.

The Hershey Co. this week breaks an on-pack and online sweeps leveraging its title sponsorship of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “Soul2Soul II” tour. At the same time, Hershey courts filmmakers with a contest touting its Take 5 candy bar.

5/19

A committee of state Attorneys General has urged the FTC to take a hard look at the role that alcohol marketing plays in promoting underage drinking.

Embassy Suites Hotels appears on The Apprentice next week for its first task sponsorship by giving competing teams a chance to design new uniforms for 30,000 Embassy Suites employees.

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4/24

Visa International’s newly signed $200 million sponsorship of Fedération Internationale de Football Association World Cup soccer events may be in jeopardy following a complaint filed by MasterCard International claiming the soccer body breached its agreement.

Visa is bringing its “Life Takes Recycling” TV spot to the streets of New York City next week to drive home a message that checkbooks are becoming obsolete.

4/21

Bud Light is sponsoring a new viral humor site by JibJab that lets users store and share funny e-mails, pictures and jokes with the cyber world.

Wal-Mart will host “Fresh Start for Spring” events this weekend in 1,000 stores with six sponsoring brands: Weight Watchers, Suave, Nature Made, Mott’s, Sunkist and WD-40.

4/20

Mariah Carey has inked a unique deal with Pepsi to write and record original downloadable ringtones as part of a summer promotion.

Wendy’s new CEO plans to ramp up marketing efforts to make the QSR more attractive to customers and shareholders.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. is running a poker-themed collect-and-win game across five gum brands, dangling a grand prize of $250,000.

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3/21

ConAgra Foods will spend another $75 million on marketing and R&D next year as it rallies around its core brands.

Burger King will sponsor five races in the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Its last affiliation with NASCAR dates back to 1997.

Caribou Coffee is out with a new instant-win game dangling more than 30,000 prizes including iTunes music downloads and Apple iPods.

3/20

Microsoft has earmarked $500 million for a global marketing and sales campaign to sway business customers to use its new software.

Diet Pepsi is out with an under-the-cap promotion that offers players “Movie Bucks” good toward admission to a movie.

L’Oréal has acquired the Body Shop International PLC in a take-over deal worth $1.14 billion.

3/17

Starbucks Coffee Co. is testing consumers’ love of puzzles and knowledge of the company with an on-going crossword contest that promises coffee for life.

Del Monte Corp. will buy the Milk-Bone brand from Kraft for $580 million, pumping its pet-food portfolio on the heels of a $705 million buy of Meow Mix.

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2/16

JCPenney is set to open a virtual store in New York City where customers can purchase the company’s products at interactive kiosks in a spectacular initiative the company said is its largest branding event ever.

Wal-Mart Stores has made its merchandise the centerpiece of image ads breaking this week. The TV and print campaign, tagged “Look beyond the basics,” follows Wal-Mart’s strategy of using shopper testimonials.

2/15

Pepsi is giving away one Chevy Tahoe each day during a 10-week “Free Ride” sweepstakes. Pepsi is also awarding $20 cash for gas prizes, one for every minute of the sweepstakes.

Glad Products Co. has added NFL quarterback Eli Manning to its crew for Glad’s Mardi Gras sponsorship and promotions to boost the profile of its clean-up efforts.

2/14

U.K. grocer Tesco is coming to the U.S. next year with a chain of convenience stores on the West Coast. Tesco will spend about $436 million a year to build stores in 2007 and 2008.

Ice cream maker Baskin-Robbins is offering a sweet incentive to celebrate Valentine’s Day — a free scoop of its Love Potion No. 31 ice cream. But there’s a catch. To receive the free treat, ice-cream lovers must dress like cupid.

2/9

Pizza Hut will roadblock drive-time programming today in 50 markets with a simultaneous one-hour ad buy on 115 radio stations. That hour urges listeners to visit Pizza Hut for a free slice of Cheesy Bites pizza.

TracyLocke has promoted Mike Musachio to president of its New York and Wilton, CT offices as COO Tim Zuckert leaves the agency.

Pfizer is considering a range of options for its consumer-products unit, including a spin off of products that could fetch top dollar, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

2/8

Wendy’s is shifting its marketing attention to younger consumers with fresh TV spots and new menu items in an effort to turn around declining sales as part of a new three-year, $25 million plan.

General Motors plans to slash its marketing budget by more than $200 million this year, bringing its marketing spend to $1.3 billion, Automotive News reported yesterday.

2/7

ConAgra Foods has put its refrigerated meats business on the block and merged its retail and foodservice divisions into a single Consumer Foods unit.

The Children’s Advertising Review Unit of the CBBB is engaging the children’s advertising industry to assist in a review of its self-regulatory guidelines for children’s advertising.

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January 19
Parents and advocacy groups plan to file suit against Viacom and Kellogg to stop them from marketing junk food to young children. The plaintiffs said that the companies are “directly harming kids’ health.”

Draft, Inc. has promoted Laurence Boschetto to president-CEO of global operations for the agency, grooming him to eventually replace Draft Chairman-CEO Howard Draft.

January 18
Kraft Foods is pursuing partnerships with technology companies and others to build new businesses like its South Beach Diet and Tassimo brands, both of which are joint efforts with outside companies. (see pg. 10)

Quiznos Sub is celebrating its silver anniversary giving consumers a chance to walk away with their very own Quiznos Sub restaurant.

January 17
Coca-Cola will break a loyalty-marketing program next month that lets consumers collect on-pack codes across several brands. “My Coke Rewards” will run as an open-ended continuity program, but also serve as an overlay for short-term promotions.

Michael Harris has been named president of the Wilton, CT headquarters of Marketing Drive Worldwide.

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12/15

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. will halt a promotion that couples cigarettes with heavy drinking. The promotion targets young adults and has come under attack from three state attorneys general, as well as public advocacy groups.

Source Marketing CEO Howard Steinberg will retire at the end of the year, leaving President Derek Correia in charge of the agency.

Burger King Corp. is rolling out a burger to feed king-sized appetites, the Triple Whopper with cheese, to help generate buzz over Universal Picture’s new film King Kong.

12/13

Starting Jan. 16, CBS will brand water coolers in some 1,300 Duane Reade and Rite Aid pharmacies in the New York and Los Angeles areas via “Coolertising” to promote a new comedy The Jenna Elfman Show, debuting next month.

McDonald’s Corp. is backing the 2006 FIFA World Cup with a global sponsorship that will include ticket giveaways, online games and new product offerings.

12/8

Panasonic is out with a game of mystery that revolves around its TV ads showing a funeral procession with a mysterious woman walking behind a hearse wearing dark sunglasses and a bright red dress under a black coat.

Sony Pictures Entertainment will replace Geoffrey Ammer as president of worldwide marketing at Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.

12/7

Food and beverage marketing to children under 12 leads them to eat more high calorie foods with low nutritional value, a report released by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has found. The authors stopped short of saying that TV ads are a direct cause of the epidemic of obesity in children, but said that the connection is strong.

Advertisers focus more of their marketing efforts on people who kids believe are the main influencers behind certain entertainment categories, including music, fashion and sports, according to a new study.

12/6

Just eight days before the national release of King Kong, a 6,000-pound gorilla (a statue, that is) took over New York City’s Times Square to generate excitement for the film.

Hard Rock International is breaking a new $12 million ad campaign to boost brand awareness. The “You Know Who You Are” campaign kicks off Dec. 12 with TV spots on CNN International, which reaches 2.5 million hotel rooms in 168 countries.

Sales in schools of full-calorie carbonated soft drinks were down sharply between 2002 and 2004; sales of other beverages were up in the period, according to a study by economist Robert Wescott.

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11/9

From Ad:Tech: If you’re looking for kids eight to 15 years old, you better check the Internet, now the main communication channel for kids in that age group. Fifty-four percent of them predict that in five years they will be spending more time online than playing sports.

Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart Stores continue to lead Cannondale Associates’ annual PoweRanking survey, but non-food manufacturers and non-grocery retailers are edging higher in the ranks.

Sunkist Growers has recruited Cookie Monster and Elmo to sell citrus fruit to kids.

11/8

Starz Entertainment Group is bringing mystery to life under a new campaign that lets viewers in on clue-solving action to find real-life treasure.

MasterCard International is giving away a house in its fourth-quarter sweepstakes, with an assist from Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Kellogg Co. will quit using a kids’ print ad that touts premiums, rather than products. The ad came under fire for violating CARU guidelines.

11/3

Wal-Mart Stores are getting an early start with their holiday image advertising. This week it breaks a $150 million image ad.

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10/12

Early holiday displays are “season treason.” According to research firm Yankelovich, 36% of consumers say they don’t enjoy shopping as much because of the pressure to buy. In general, 74% feel they’re always doing more than one thing at a time, and 77% say they never have enough time to get everything done.

To boost subscriptions and showcase its programming, Showtime Networks is offering consumers free podcasts with stars and producers from its top programs.

Direct marketing companies plan to hire more workers this fall than at any time since 2001. In fact, 80% of companies plan to beef up staff before the end of the year, according to the latest direct marketing employment survey by Bernhart Associates Executive Search, LLC.

10/11

Ryan Partnership has spun off its channel marketing division to form a sister agency, Catapult Marketing. The Westport, CT-based shop opened its doors Oct. 1 with 100 staffers and $30 million in billings — nearly a third of the $100 million in billings that Ryan Partnership claims — from Ryan clients Subway, Mott’s, Timex, Pedigree, Dannon, Dole Sunbeam, Sunkist, Baker’s Square and Village Inn Restaurants.

The expansion of Wal-Mart’s in-store TV network puts flat-panel monitors in checkout lanes, running local entertainment, news and weather updates, and promos for new products and items shelved near checkout.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. vowed last week to fight a lawsuit filed by its largest franchisee that accuses company executives of misappropriating marketing money and billing false charges.

10/6

T-Mobile USA, Inc. has signed a multi-year $100 million marketing deal with the NBA and WNBA to become the Official Wireless Services Partner of both sports associations.

Michelle Wie, the 15-year-old golf phenomenon, has inked a $20 million, four-year deal with Nike that will help catapult women’s golf into the limelight. She will be represented by the William Morris Agency, who said she has also agreed to a multi-year deal with Sony.

Karen Sauder has been promoted to president of Zipatoni, replacing Jim Holbrook on day-to-day oversight of the St. Louis-based marketing agency. The position took effect Oct. 3.

10/5

Beginning this week, Fuji Photo Film USA has set up booths at 11 zoos across the country. Each is themed to tie into Halloween celebrations at the different locations, as well as showcase Fuji’s support of the giant panda preservation program.

Domino’s Pizza has beefed up its pizza line-up with a new flavor — the Steak Fanatic Pizza — and initiated a host of promotions keyed to match the new product.

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9/14

Mountain Dew Films, the brand’s new marketing arm to promote action sports through film, has financed a documentary film on the history of snowboarding, its first foray into filmmaking.

Diet Pepsi, the official soft drink of the National Football League, is dangling Super Bowl tickets for life in a sweepstakes tied to a fantasy football game.

Hasbro, Inc. is getting a little star power from actress Jamie Lee Curtis as its new spokesperson to promote the company’s board games and a new mail-in rebate campaign.

9/13

Volkwagen of America will move its promotions and below-the-line assignments to Crispin Porter + Bogusky as part of the abrupt shift of its advertising account to the Miami agency from Arnold Worldwide, Boston.

Fidelity Investments is readying a music-based cause-marketing program as part of its partnership with singer Paul McCartney.

TV Guide is giving itself a whole new look and fans a chance to celebrate with an online sweepstakes that awards a chance to visit TV show sets and meet some of the top stars.

9/8

Arc Worldwide has put President Marc Landsberg in charge of the $98 million agency and named Andrew Edwards president of Arc Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Leveraging its sponsorship of 25 teams in the National Football League, MasterCard International yesterday launched a sweepstakes that gives 30 lucky fans the tailgate party of a lifetime.

Verizon has gone into the take-out business. Its latest promotion covers the exterior of boldly-colored Chinese take-out cartons handed out to consumers at restaurants in dozens of markets across the U.S.

9/7

In a spin on product placement, CBS is using a new form of technology to feature the Chevrolet Impala logo in five primetime shows this month, and is supporting the effort with a car give-away each night of the promotion.

Coors Brewing Co. has extended its deal with the National Football League, protecting its position as the “Official Beer Sponsor” through the 2010 season.

The National Hockey League hired an entertainment marketing agency to help restore its image and build a stronger emotional fan-player connection following a 301-day lockout during the 2004-05 season.

American Online is searching for the next music superstar via an online reality show, The Biz, that lets contestants compete for a chance to run a record label.

AOL is teaming up with Warner Music Group to launch the new show at Thebiz.com. Starting today, the site will unveil 50 contestants.

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8/17

Sears, Roebuck and Co. will consolidate its reported $640 million advertising account for Sears and its private-label brands at Young & Rubicam, Chicago, on Oct. 1.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products is bringing its Looney Tunes characters to life under a new partnership with Taubman Centers, Inc. to launch Looney Tunes-themed children’s play areas in Taubman-branded shopping centers nationwide.

8/16

Sprint as signed on as the first wireless telecommunications sponsor of the National Football League. The deal begins with the 2005 season.

General Mills plans to bow three line extensions for Total cereal with TV, radio, print and sampling targeting the country’s 76 million Baby Boomers.

SMS messaging is providing buzz for fans of the Backstreet Boys concert tour this summer, as well as generating revenue for the group.

8/11

The Produce for Better Health Foundation will update the name and logo of its 5 A Day For Better Health program to promote fruit and vegetable consumption more aggressively.

Anheuser-Busch promoted its top advertising exec, Bob Lachky, to the new post of executive VP-global industry development to improve A-B’s image with industry groups and the public.

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7/19

In an effort to build buzz around the launch of its new real-life series Criss Angel: Mindfreak, A&E Networks has taken over Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall in New York City to give consumers a taste of illusionary wonder.

Tapping into the phenomenon of flash mobs, or instant gatherings of large groups of people who are notified via emails or text messages just prior to an event taking place, Ford Motor Co. is sponsoring a series of free “flash concerts” to raise awareness for its 2006 Fusion sedan.

Clothing, shoes, and school supplies are expected to be strong sellers for the upcoming back-to-school season, but spending on the electronics category will drop more than $1 billion, according to a National Retail Federation study.

7/14

Dr Pepper is in the midst of giving away one Mini-Cooper convertible a day in an under-the-cap promo to boost summer sales and to encourage trial of its new Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper.

The History Channel is visiting pizzerias nationally to drive tune-in for its new show Rome: Engineering an Empire. The cable channel, owned by A&E Networks, taps up to 3,500 independent pizza restaurants for a $500,000 campaign centered on a sweeps awarding a seven-day trip to Rome.

7/13

Colgate-Palmolive Co. has agreed to sell its North American heavy-duty laundry detergent brands to Phoenix Brands LLC.

As the war to build market share wages on among the Big Three automakers, Dodge’s 2006 Chargers and Dakotas are set to be featured in TNT’s new crime thriller Wanted via product integration, broadband features and widespread marketing.

Target Stores will turn New York City’s Rockefeller Center into a vertical catwalk for a p.r.-driven fashion show next week.

7/12

One fan at today’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Detroit, MI, will get the chance to win $1 million in a Taco Bell promotion where one fan is challenged to throw at least five baseballs through a target within 30 seconds.

Papa John’s International, Inc. is giving away its secret ingredients and its signature pizza as part of a promotion touting the opening of its 3,000th restaurant.

Hoping for a fresher, trendier look, McDonald’s Corp. is looking to upgrade its staff uniforms to reflect a more contemporary style that acknowledges the QSßR’s space in the fashion industry.

7/7

Marvel doesn’t need any super power strength to boost the release of the comic book-based movie Fantastic Four. A team of partners has already invested upwards of $100 million in promotional support of the film.

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6/16

Two New York judges last week dismissed two suits against D.L. Blair and The New York Daily News over a printing error in the newspaper’s Scratch n’ Match game.

McDonald’s Corp. has signed DIC Entertainment as its worldwide licensing agent for active play toys, entertainment and apparel. DIC will develop new programs and products for McDonald’s McKids brand.

6/15

Lexus has replaced Lincoln Mercury as the Official Vehicle of the U.S.Open.

Lipton is out with a sweeps that sends the winners on getaways to some of the nation’s most popular national parks.

6/14

To build buzz around its new reality series, The Takedown, Court TV is sponsoring a series of stunts, including an online sweepstakes and street team tactics, to reach its target audience.

Susan Spencer was been named the head of national promotions for DreamWorks Animation Consumer Products, effective May 23.

6/9

EMAK Worldwide has hired Jon Kramer as group president, a new post for the agency. Kramer had been CEO of J. Brown Agency; he resigned in August 2004.

Pepsi has transitioned its summer concert TV program to an interactive music-themed Web site in a partnership with Yahoo.

The Gillette Co. will auction off a chopper, designed around its newest razor, on eBay. The motorcycle is valued at about $250,000 and the proceeds of the sales will go to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition.

6/8

New Jersey yesterday became the latest state to move forward on addressing the epidemic of childhood obesity by banning the sale of soda and “junk foods” in its schools as of the start of the 2007 school year.

General Motors said yesterday that the struggling automaker would re-tool its sales and marketing strategies as part of a plan to make up for a $1.3 billion first quarter loss by its North America business unit.

Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company, has agreed to buy the Bushmills brand from Pernod Ricard S.A. along with the option to acquire a wine business for $362 million.

6/7

Florida has modified its laws for game promotions, no longer requiring full rules in print ads for chance promotions. The move offers relief to marketers who avoided the state because of its rules.

Subway is ending its decades-old Sub Club program due to risks of consumer fraud and the company’s desire to update the overall promotion.

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5/17

Interactive work by Starcom MediaVest’s operating group GM Planworks helped the agency win General Motors’ $3.2 billion ad-buying contract. Interpublic Group’s GM Mediaworks and its 200 employees had handled the work for the last 10 years.

Ben & Jerry’s Homemade will bring at least one environmental activist along when it goes on the road with the Dave Matthews Band this summer.

Stephen H. Davis, senior VP-marketing for Heineken USA, plans to resign as of early July. A search has begun for a replacement.

Pepsi will discontinue its mid-calorie cola, Pepsi Edge by the end of the year due to sluggish sales. The beverage was introduced last summer.

5/12

Nestlé USA and Hershey Corp. are readying new candies for summer — some with familiar brand names, and some that are new.

Grocer A&P is restructuring following an ongoing slide in sales. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. will sell Michigan chain Farmer Jack, and Food Basics stores in Ohio; may put A&P Canada on the block.

Pepperidge Farm launches a new cookie brand next month, while General Mills readies its own brand of microwaveable treats.

5/11

An overwhelming response from NASCAR fans has prompted Nextel Communications, Inc. to extend fan voting for the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge, which will send an eligible driver to the circuit’s All-Star race.

Beaulieu Vineyards is taking its wine and grapes on the road in June for a tour through 25 U.S. states. The tour includes grape stomping and concerts by band Collective Soul, with a grand finale stop in Las Vegas.

Hasbro, Inc. is tapping star power from singer Jesse McCartney, with plans to incorporate his music and image on the Twister Moves game, the dance version of the classic Twister game.

5/10

French’s Foods has introduced its Cattlemen’s barbecue sauces, a long-time staple in food service and big-box stores, in an 18-ounce size designed for supermarkets. The $10 million launch includes p.r., a sweeps and events.

Midori tours nine cities to find the ‘It’ girl and guy to represent the brand at its Web site with a $2 million-plus budget in hand. Midori has added a new spin this year aimed at including one of the brands’ most important customer segments, gay men.

H.J. Heinz Co. consolidated advertising for its U.S. Consumer Products division at Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago., which won Heinz’s frozen foods business in August.

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4/14

Kellogg Co. will buy Kraft Foods’ $80 million fruit snacks business for $30 million.

Reebok had its first foray into video-on-demand interactive advertising this week.

Estée Lauder Cos. has signed former Gucci fashion designer Tom Ford to launch a new cosmetics line and fragrance products under Ford’s name.

4/13

Honda, Verizon DSL, Coca-Cola and Universal Music are among some of the latest brands to sign on with a new agency that creates interactive video game ad networks.

In a deal reported to be worth $2 million, L’Oréal Paris has tapped Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria as spokesperson.

Heineken NV has restructured its top ranks including the departure of its CEO Tony Ruys in Oct. ’05.

Long-time Ford Motor Co. employee Steve Lyons has been named group VP-North America marketing, sales and service, effective immediately.

4/12

Sony Corp. has signed a deal worth $305 million to be the official “Digital Life” partner of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

Miller Brewing Co. has named Tom Long, a veteran of Coca-Cola, as its executive VP and chief marketing officer.

Pfizer is set to debut a mouthwash promising to brighten smiles riding the coattails of its competitor Procter & Gamble, which just introduced its own version of the mouth rinse product.

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3/16

DaimlerChrysler AG will replace Joachim Schmidt, its top executive for sales and marketing, at its Mercedes Car Group division within days according The Wall Street Journal. He will be replaced by the European commercial vehicles division head, Klaus Maier.

In light of increasing reports of childhood obesity, McDonald’s Corp. has launched a new campaign targeting youngsters to promote healthy eating and exercise. The company taps tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams to promote its active lifestyle campaign. The “it’s what I eat and what I do…i’m lovin’ it” campaign includes a fresh approach to advertising with new packaging, TV ads, print ads, educational brochures and a refreshed Web site that includes active lifestyle tips.

3/15

Miller Brewing Co. has discontinued its promotions work with Zipatoni and reassigned the business to Chicago agencies Frankel and Upshot. The beer maker also chose GMR Marketing to handle its event marketing. The agencies will be working on the Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft brands.

Madison Road Entertainment filed a counter suit last week against affiliates of Mark Burnett Productions, claiming defamation and libel. Burnett had filed suit earlier this month, charging that Madison Road lied about a relationship with Burnett and charged “exorbitant” fees from sponsors of tasks for the hit show, The Apprentice.

3/10

Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board touts Wisconsin cheese with an on-pack/online instant-win game awarding $1.6 million in prizes.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. will hold casting calls in New York City and Chicago next month to find twins to star in a new version of its historic Doublemint Twins ad campaign.

Winners of separate sweepstakes held by 7 UP and Lincoln Mercury will compete against each other for a chance to win up to $1 Million during the Big East game Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

3/9

Brands are lining up to promote Twentieth Century Fox’s film Robots The Movie, in theaters nationwide on Friday. The movie has brought in $150 million in promotional tie-ins so far.

Volvo Cars of North America said that last month’s introduction of its new SUV and an online sweeps dangling a flight into outer space is the most successful integrated product launch in its history. During the promotional period, the site generated 18 million hits.

Revlon, Inc. has posted its first quarterly profit in more than six years. However, the company’s CEO acknowledged that it still has a lot of work to do.

3/8

Robert Connolly, Wal-Mart’s CMO, will retire at year’s end. Connolly, 61, joined the retail giant in 1989 as the apparel and merchandise manager.

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Excerpts from our e-newsletter

2/10

Donny Deutsch and his ad agency play a big role in tonight’s The Apprentice, as the teams are challenged to create TV commercials for a new Dove body wash.

That loveable canine, Clifford the Big Red Dog, has returned to celebrate Valentine’s Day touting a new PBS Kids special and a sweepstakes offering participants the chance to win one of 50 Clifford-themed packages.

2/9

After Diageo decided to reposition its consumer strategy and marketing department to focus purely on marketing, Mark Waller, the executive VP of the department, decided to resign to look for a broader U.S.-based role outside the company. His last day will be March 31.

Diet Dr Pepper is out with a 20-city national makeover tour that kicked off yesterday in New York City to support an under-the-cap promotion.

Saturn has signed on as presenting sponsor and the exclusive automotive sponsor of the Outdoor Life Network’s winter games.

2/8

Procter & Gamble is set to launch its biggest marketing initiative for the year, with a $100 million push to introduce its new mouthwash product, Crest Pro-Health, which will debut at the end of March.

Mattel is out with a new line of Hot Wheels vehicles and has created an online game and animation series to extend the reach of the toys to an older audience.

ConAgra Foods last week agreed to pay $14 million to settle a lawsuit filed by shareholders who were disputing its accounting practices.

2/3

The Home Depot has teamed up with reality-show producer Mark Burnett Productions to build its brand into a host of reality TV shows — including The Apprentice and The Contender — to further leverage the company. The production company also announced a new show, called The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, which will mimic the original Apprentice series, but will be tailored to Stewart’s brand identity.

Entertainment retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop has launched its first-ever mobile tour, and plans on hitting several sporting events and festivals this year.

2/2

Hershey Foods Corp. and Super Bowl quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady are giving consumers a chance to win $1 million in an online sweepstakes being held this week.

Wedding planning company The Knot has partnered with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for a special wedding edition of the hit game show, in which viewers can join the fun by entering a sweepstakes to win a trip to St. Lucia.

M.A.C. Cosmetics has named Diana Ross as its Beauty Icon to represent a new line of cosmetics named after the music and film super-star.

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