Volkswagen has applied the brakes on plans to launch a banking service in the UK, because of the uncertainty and increased competition in this market. VW was granted a UK banking licence two years ago, and said it would be offering telephone and Internet banking. The car company wanted to extend its customer base beyond […]
Mars has restructured its petcare operation so that the marketing of brands such as Whiskas and Pedigree will be managed on a pan-European basis. The shake-up, as predicted in Marketing Week (January 6), is overseen by vice-president of European petcare marketing Anne Francke. It hands marketing chiefs in the UK, France and Germany extra European […]
Mars is being forced to alter its advertising plans for this year following poor ratings for ITV programmes in January and February. The confectionery giant’s European media manager Angus McIntosh told the TV 2000 conference in Lisbon last week: “Mars has just had to write down substantially its ratings for the year based on your […]
D’Arcy has created a £10m pan-European TV and press campaign for Mars bar, featuring the slogan ‘Every day should be this good’.
In the cut-throat world of digital technology, scientists have done the unthinkable in allowing mobile phone users to eat and speak simultaneously.
Thorntons, the struggling upmarket confectionery manufacturer, is launching a mainstream product to rival Mars Celebrations and Cadbury’s Miniature Heroes. The confectionery company is developing the product and hopes to begin trials before Christmas. The initiative is part of a drive by Thorntons to create a new image for its stores through family-focused advertising. The company […]
Beleaguered car company Rover has been hit by yet another defection from its senior management team. After less than three months as managing director with responsibility for sales and marketing of Rover Cars in the UK, Paul Willis has left to join rival car company Volkswagen. As director of Volkswagen Cars, Willis has overall responsibility […]
Channel 4 is seeking a new sponsor for its entire sports programming because Volkswagen has decided not to renew the &£3m deal. The car manufacturer, which has been contracted to Channel 4 for two years, believes that the sponsorship has served its purpose. The contract comes to an end in May. Volkswagen communications manager Bernard […]
Laurence Haselhurst is retiring from his role as international media manager for petfoods at Pedigree Masterfoods. Haselhurst will be replaced by Angus McIntosh, media manager at Mars Confectionery. Haselhurst is also chairman of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers’ TV Action Group. Pedigree Masterfoods refused to comment on the moves. The announcement comes amid a […]
Volkswagen has decided to ignore public pressure to cut prices, and is scrapping its “Surprisingly ordinary prices” campaign in favour of a new strategy promising customers they will get more for their money. “More Volkswagen for your money”, replaces “Surprisingly ordinary prices,” as a retaliation to the recent public outcry over UK car pricing. Created […]
Volkswagen has appointed BMP InterAction to handle its Internet business. The appointment has forced BMP InterAction, the sister company of Volkswagen’s creative agency BMP DDB, to resign from the rival Vauxhall business which it has handled
Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]
Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]
Novartis Consumer Health has appointed Grey Advertising to launch a new functional foods brand across Europe with a &£20m campaign. Grey pitched against TBWA Worldwide for the creative account, although it is unclear if other agencies were involved. The consumer brand division of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant has also appointed CIA Medianetwork and Grey-owned Joshua […]
The local press should not be underestimated. New media trends must incorporate not ignore its influence to be effective.