Marketing Week articles from October 2004

Marketing Week archives from October 2004

Running the AA brand on empty.(This Week)(Automobile Association Ltd.)
October 7, 2004... While it's untrue the City believes Tim Parker walks on water, he has certainly established a reputation for turning around tired or fuddy-duddy businesses. Witness Kenwood and C&J Clark. The jury is still out on Kwik Fit--some would say his...

Weetabix marketing boss in sudden exit ...: cereal company's commercial director Humes goes as new chief executive starts restructure.(News)(Bill Humes, Ken Wood)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Weetabix top marketer Bill Humes has suddenly left the cereal company without a job to go to. His departure coincides with the arrival of new chief executive Ken Wood, the former managing director of Muller Dairies, who joined the company last...

... While incoming chief calls review.(News)(Weetabix Ltd., Ken Wood)
October 7, 2004... Weetabix has called a review of its 15m [pounds sterling] creative advertising business, held by FCB London, to coincide with Humes' departure. The review is being handled by the Haystack Group, and will be overseen by Ken Wood. It is...

Halifax forced to ditch Extras current account after new FSA insurance rules.(News)(Financial Services Authority, Halifax Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Halifax is being forced to withdraw its Extras current account by the end of the year because of a new Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation, which is expected to increase red tape when selling general insurance. The company claims...

AA and HBOS joint venture under threat.(News)(Automobile Association, Halifax Bank of Scotland)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The future of the Automobile Association's (AA) joint venture with Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) is in doubt following a dramatic purge of senior management, who were all on the board of the jointly owned company. The joint venture...

Masterfoods promotes cat food director to wider role.(News)(Mark Johnson)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Masterfoods has promoted European marketing director for cat food Mark Johnson to head of the dry petfood division across Europe. It is understood that Johnson's new job as business development director of dry petfood is part of a change in...

EU tardiness leads to tobacco warning delay.(News)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Government proposals to introduce shocking graphic images, such as photographs of diseased lungs, on cigarette packs have been put on hold after the European Union failed to meet a deadline on producing the pictures. The decision means the...

Microsoft picks Xbox UK marketing chief.(News)(Indy Saha)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Microsoft is understood to have appointed Adidas European advertising manager Indy Saha to be head of advertising at Xbox UK. It is understood that Saha, a former account director at advertising agency DFGW, will start next month. Xbox has...

Indy crowned Effectiveness Awards champ.(News)(Steve Jobs)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Independent, which launched its mould-breaking compact newspaper last year, stole the limelight at last night's (Tuesday's) Marketing Week Effectiveness Awards, winning four major prizes. The paper won the Grand Prix, as well as coming...

Volkswagen appoints sales chief.(News)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Volkswagen Group has promoted Georg Flandoffer to take control of sales and marketing for its core Volkswagen brand worldwide. As the Volkswagen brand board of management member responsible for sales and marketing, Flandorfer will report...

Sara Lee plans Sanex for men range.(News)(Sara Lee Branded Apparel)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Consumer products giant Sara Lee is to become the latest company to tap into the growing men's grooming category with plans for the launch of a range of male-only products under its Sanex brand. This is the first time the company has...

Northern Foods revamps marketing team.(News)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Northern Foods has completed a review of its marketing team following the recent reorganisation of its business units into three divisions: ambient, frozen and chilled. The company, which makes branded and own-label food products, is...

Marketing director quits betting company.(News)(Stanley Leisure Organisation PLC, Tony Gibbons)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Stanley Leisure marketing director Tony Gibbons has left the bet ting and casino operator just weeks after the departure of managing director Paul Collis. It is not known whether he has a job to go to. Director of business Steve Myers will...

EU stymies government casino plan.(News)(European Union)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... US gaming giant MGM Mirage has warned that an EU money laundering law, designed to verify customer identities, will jeopardise the introduction of regional casinos to the UK. The Government is hoping regional casinos will bring in foreign...

ASA censures Frosties 'eat right' ad.(News)(United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Cereal manufacturer Kellogg has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) from using the strapline "Eat Right" in a cinema ad for its Frosties brand, because it misleadingly implies that the product is healthy. The ASA has...

Mattel plans to trump Hasbro's VideoNow.(News)
October 7, 2004... Barbie manufacturer Matte1 is set to clash with rival Hasbro when it launches a children's personal media player in the UK later this month. It will be Mattel's first foray into the consumer electronics market. Called Juice Box, the media...

Pretty Polly, the Sara Lee-owned hosiery brand, is launching a contemporary stocking design that does not require a suspender belt.(News)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Pretty Polly, the Sara Lee-owned hosiery brand, is launching a contemporary stocking design that does not require a suspender belt. Called Link Up, it is expected to be Pretty Polly's major launch for this year. The product, to be launched next...

BMW promotes motorcycle chief.(News)(BMW (GB) Ltd., Pieter de Waal )(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BMW GB general manager for motorcycles Pieter de Waal has been promoted to global sales and marketing director for the Bavarian manufacturer's motorcycle division, BMW Motorrad. He replaces Peter Muller, who has been moved to oversee...

EasyJet launches television campaign with new strapline.(News)(Easyjet Airline PLC)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... EasyJet is to launch its first national television campaign in November, introducing a new positioning strapline, expected to be "Come on let's fly". The new line will replace the low-cost airline's original strapline "the Web's favourite...

BT.(Digests)(Consumer complaints)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BT has been inundated with complaints from customers still waiting for their tickets after signing up for free flights during a broadband promotion earlier this year.

Littlewoods Stores.(Digests)(Littlewoods Organisation PLC contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Littlewoods Stores, the retailer owned by the Barclay brothers, is trialling concessions with Adams Chidrenswear and Cargo HomeShop.

Sainsbury's.(Digests)(J Sainsbury PLC appointed Mike Rayner)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Sainsbury's has appointed Cogent managing director Mike Rayner as a consultant project manager managing the brand marketing team on a day-to-day basis.

Coca-Cola Great Britain.(Digests)(marketing)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Coca-Cola Great Britain is to roll out its 'slimline' 250ml Diet Coke format to Compass Travel outlets, Superdrug, T&S One Stop stores and Total Final Elf garage forecourts. The roll out will be supported by a tie-up with homeless charity...

Cadbury Trebor Bassett.(Digests)(campaign)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Cadbury Trebor Bassett is planning a multi-million pound campaign to mark the centenary of its Dairy Milk brand next year. The theme will be celebrating 100 years of happiness, in line with its masterbrand campaign.

Saga.(Digests )(Charterhouse Group PLC acquired SAGA Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Saga, the financial services and holiday group, has been sold to private equity group Charterhouse. The firm is backing a management buy-out led by chief executive Andrew Goodsell.

Teletext.(Digests)(restructured commercial divisions)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Teletext has restructured into three commercial divisions, Teletext Holidays on TV, Teletext Holiday Online and Teletext Commercial Text Services. Marketing director Marc Bell becomes divisional managing director of Teletext Holidays Online,...

The Princess Diana Memorial Fund.(Digests)(Aprica)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Princess Diana Memorial Fund is understood to have granted a licence to use Diana's name on a range of maternity and babywear. It is believed the range will be launched by Japanese manufacturer Aprica later this month.

Universal Music International.(Digests)(Mattel (UK) Ltd. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Universal Music International and Mattel are teaming up to produce a series of Barbie-branded music compilations. The first album, Barbie Girls, features songs from the Sugababes, Girls Aloud and S Club 7, and will be supported by television...

Weight Watchers from Heinz.(Digests)(H.J. Heinz Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Weight Watchers from Heinz is launching a new range of noodles to replace the existing Heinz Noodles range. The relaunch is being rolled out into stores imminently.

McDonald's.(Digests)(John Hawkes retiring)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... McDonald's chief marketing officer John Hawkes is retiring from the company after 21 years in the role. He will leave in January but will remain as a consultant to the fastfood chain. A replacement will be appointed.

AA takeover sparks major carve-up of 70m [pounds sterling] budget.(Agencies)(Automobile Association Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Automobile Association (AA) is set to slash its 70m [pounds sterling]-plus marketing and advertising budget following its takeover last week by venture capitalist companies CVC and Permira. The principal casualty is set to be Rapier,...

Mother set to clinch Miller global brief.(Agencies)(SABMiller PLC)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... SABMiller is poised to appoint Mother to its multi-million pound global advertising and positioning brief for American beer brand Miller Genuine Draft following a three-way pitch. The agency pitched against VCCP and Toronto-based marketing...

Saatchi & Saatchi has created a hard-hitting television campaign for children's charity NSPCC to highlight the isolation of abused children.(Agencies)(National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Saatchi & Saatchi has created a hard-hitting television campaign for children's charity NSPCC to highlight the isolation of abused children. The ads show an eight-year-old girl being manipulated by her abuser, as a puppet is by a ventriloquist....

Euro RSCG poised to pick up Matalan task.(Agencies)(Euro RSCG Marketing Services)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Matalan is expected to appoint Euro RSCG London to handle an advertising brief for the discount clothing and homeware retailer. The company had turned its back on using an above-the-line agency last year, after parting company with M&C...

Scottish Widows in 5m [pounds sterling] ad review.(Agencies)(Scottish Widow's Fund and Life Assurance Society, Citigate Albert Frank contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Scottish Widows is reviewing its 5m [pounds sterling] advertising account, held by Citigate Albert Frank, which has handled the business for more than 17 years. The AAR is thought to be drawing up a list of agencies. Citigate Albert Frank...

EasyGroup in search for brand consultancy.(Agencies)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... EasyGroup is on the hunt for a branding consultancy to help develop a number of projects including easy.com centres, one-stop shops that showcase the range of easyGroup services. Easy.com centres will be sited within the 70 easy Internet...

Masterfoods.(Digests)(advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Masterfoods has consolidated its advertising business into Omnicom networks BBDO and TBWA. In the UK, TBWA/London will add the Twix, Galaxy and Starburst brands to the Skittles business it picked up at the start of the year (MW January 22). It...

BMW.(Digests)(Emery McLaven Orr contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BMW is reviewing its 5m [pounds sterling] dealership account, which has been held by Emery McLaven Orr for the past 15 years. The account covers BMW and Mini.

WCRS.(Digests)(Conde Nast Publications Inc. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... WCRS has been handed the 6m [pounds sterling] launch brief for Conde Nast's new magazine Easy Living. Manning Gottlieb OMD will handle media planning and buying.

The Leith Agency.(Digests)(Irn-Bru contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Leith Agency has created a 5m [pounds sterling] campaign for Irn Bru, taking in television, radio, outdoor, print and online activity. The campaign introduces the strapline 'Irn Bru Phenomenal' and a specially created tune, PHD is handling...

... The Leith Agency.(Digests)(Carling Brewing Co. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... ... The Leith Agency is developing a 6m [pounds sterling] TV advertising campaign for Carling, set to launch in February.

FCB London.(Digests)(Bournemouth University's School of design, engineering and computing)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... FCB London has struck an alliance with Bournemouth University's School of design, engineering and computing, giving marketing and communication advice in exchange for technical and production expertise with a view to helping develop new product...

Spirit Advertising.(Digests)(Richardson-Vicks USA Inc. Vidal Sassoon Inc. advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Spirit Advertising has created an ad campaign for Vidal Sassoon's recently launched bikini trimmer, Femme Fatale. The campaign features scantily clad and naked women in provocative poses.

Delaney Lund Knox Warren.(Digests)(Unison contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Delaney Lurid Knox Warren has created a 1.4m [pounds sterling] TV campaign to boost recruitment for the trade union Unison.

Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw.(Digests)(Virgin Holidays contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw has created a campaign for Virgin Holidays, using blocks of colour, rather than images of sun and sand, to evoke holiday memories. The campaign uses outdoor, radio and ticket barriers and media is being handled by...

ARM Direct.(Digests)(The Dandy advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... ARM Direct has created a TV campaign to support the relaunch of children's comic The Dandy. The ads have the strapline 'The Dandy--can you handle it?'.

WWAV Rapp Collins.(Digests)(new healthcare division )(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... WWAV Rapp Collins has launched a dedicated healthcare division to be known as Rapp Collins Consumer Health... The deadline for entries to the Marketing Week-backed MCCA Best Awards 2005 is November 19, 2004. Forms must be completed and...

Broadcasters agree plan to push TV as a medium.(Media)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Television broadcasters have finally agreed a plan to promote TV as a medium, but they will not be setting up a formal body to run the marketing initiative as some reports have suggested. The broadcasters have rejected the idea of a formal...

The Sun launches replica shirts for comic-strip football players.(Media)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Sun, in a deal with clothing manufacturer Le Coq Sportif, is to produce a replica football kit to sell to fans of its daily football comic strip, The Premier, later this month. The shirt will feature the logo of The Premier's sponsor,...

Mediaedge: CIA wins four-way battle for 8m [pounds sterling] Weight Watchers European brief.(Media)(Mediaege:cia Worldwide Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Weight-loss brand Weight Watchers has consolidated its 12m [pounds sterling] (8.2m [pounds sterling]) European planning and buying account into Mediaedge:CIA. The agency beat Zenith Optimedia, Universal McCann and UK incumbent Carat to the...

Premiership seeks social work backer.(Media)(Premier League)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The FA Premier League is searching for its first headline community sponsor in an effort to beef up its education, community and social inclusion work. The league is looking for a large packaged goods brand to help push educational...

Gov't seeks shop for 2m [pounds sterling] fuel brief.(Media)(Government)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Government is searching for a media agency to handle the media planning and buying for its estimated 2m [pounds sterling] drive to promote fuel-efficiency in the UK. The campaign will be launched under the Department of the...

F1 marketers admit to pessimism over future.(Media)(British Grand Prix)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Marketing chiefs at the Jaguar and Jordan Formula One teams have admitted they are worried about the state of the sport following the removal of the British Grand Prix from next year's schedule and the high-profile withdrawal of Jaguar...

Emirates.(Digests)(Arsenal)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Emirates has signed a 100m [pounds sterling] deal with Arsenal to sponsor its new Ashburton Grove stadium for 15 years and the club's shirts for eight years, replacing current shirt sponsor O2. Chelsea Football Club will drop Emirates as its...

All Response Media.(Digests)(EmpireDirect.co.uk. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... All Response Media has won the 3m [pounds sterling] planning and buying account for online electrical retailer EmpireDirect.co.uk. EHS Braun Leeds will handle the advertising.

Times Newspapers.(Digests)(Airmiles partnership)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Times Newspapers is teaming up with The AirMiles Travel Company to offer readers the chance to collect AirMiles in The Sunday Times and The Times. As part of the partnership, AirMiles will sponsor a Sunday Times guide to 20 Hip Cities, to be...

BSkyB.(Digests)(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, Classic FM contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BSkyB has signed three-month sponsorship deals with Classic FM for its drivetime show and with Capital Gold for its breakfast show.

Manning Gottlieb OMD.(Digests)(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Manning Gottlieb OMD has promoted Phil Nunn to joint managing partner alongside Robert Ffitch and Neil Hurman. Ffitch also joins the OMD Group board. Alison Wright, who was managing director, has left the company.

Flextech.(Digests)(Service enhancement)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Flextech is to launch a channel specialising in reality and entertainment television, called Living TV 2. The channel is a brand extension from the existing Living TV channel and will be aimed at 16- to 44-year-old women.

Mirror Group Newspapers.(Digests)(John East promoted)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Mirror Group Newspapers' long-serving circulation sales director, Wally Cowley, who oversaw sales and promotional strategy, is leaving the company without a job to go to. Group circulation manager John East has been promoted to head of...

The Rugby Football League.(Digests)(Gillette U.K. Ltd. sponsors 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Rugby Football League has confirmed that Gillette will be the title sponsor of the 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament, in a one-year, six-figure agreement. The Gillette brand will also be worn on the Great Britain shirt.

Tim Schoonmaker.(Digests)(Odeon Cinemas, leaves office)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Tim Schoonmaker, former EMAP Performance chief executive, has quit as chief executive of the Odeon cinema chain after only six months. The chain was bought last month by venture capitalist Terra Firma.

BBC Worldwide.(Digests)(Alix Tidmarsh appointed)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BBC Worldwide has appointed Alix Tidmarsh as marketing director: Tidmarsh previously headed the company's intellectual property management unit, responsible for the marketing of factual programmes.

Redwood.(Digests)(Voyager Group Ltd. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Redwood has been appointed as the new publisher of airline bmi's in-flight magazine, Voyager. It will start seeking advertising on behalf of bmi from October 18. The previous publisher was PSP.

New IAB code to curb 'bad' pop-ups.(Online)(Interactive Advertising Bureau UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Intrusive pop-up ads and other ad formats that consumers find annoying could be banned under a new set of "best practice" guidelines published by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). IAB UK chief executive Danny Meadows-Klue says the...

Music downloaders more likely to respond to online ads, says BMRB.(Online)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Consumers who download music from the internet are more than twice as likely as those who do not download music to respond positively to online advertising. This suggests that brands that associate themselves with music download services should...

Fantasy League appoints Aura Sports to sales role.(Online)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Fantasy League has appointed specialist digital sports agency Aura Sports to handle third-party sales and sponsorship rights for all its online products. Fantasy League launched its now-famous football management game in 1991, and has...

IPC.(Digests)(IPC Magazines Ltd. digital version)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... IPC listings magazine TV & Satellite Week has added a digital version, which can be bought and viewed online. It is not just a static version of the print magazine, however: interactive features allow readers to view open embedded audio and...

Banc Leeds.(Digests)(Barr Soft Drinks advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Banc Leeds has won a pitch to redesign Barr Soft Drinks' Irn-Bru website to bring it into line with its new advertising campaign. Banc was responsible for the previous Irn-Bru site, launched three years ago.

Virgin.net.(Digests)(Toshiba Corp. contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Virgin.net, the UK's fifth-largest internet service provider, has signed a deal with Toshiba that will see Virgin.net's software pre-loaded on Toshiba's range of notebook computers.

OTPmedia.(Digests)(WeatherOnline contracts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... OTPmedia, an online sales house, has been appointed to represent the UK's leading commercial weather website, WeatherOnline. WeatherOnline gets more than 1 million users a month, and offers PDA and WAP services in addition to the online site.

Cable digs deep in pursuit of customers; cable companies are staging a comeback after years in financial straits. NTL, the first to emerge, plans to lure customers with extra TV services and a 65m [pounds sterling] network extension.(Media Analysis)(Virgin Media Group)
October 7, 2004... For those who had thought the cable industry was dead, the news that NTL is to invest money in making its network available to more consumers must have come as a surprise. For many, the cable company and its industry fellow Telewest...

Why a united GWR and Capital will broaden advertiser horizons; when GWR and Capital merge, a 36 per cent listener share and the promise of network-wide campaigns should outweigh fears of rate hikes.(Media Comment)
October 7, 2004... Finally GWR and Capital Radio Group have confirmed their merger. The combined company will have a turnover of 243m; [pounds sterling] a 38 per cent share of the commercial radio market; own one national radio station (Classic FM), 55 local...

Untimely demise of ad-funded public service programming: Ofcom has painted a bleak picture for ad-funded public service broadcasting just as ITV prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.(Media)
October 7, 2004... So, farewell, TV advertising. For almost 50 years, the 30-second ad has funded a full range of high-quality public service broadcasting (PSB) in the UK. It was a remarkable achievement, harnessing ad revenue for public purposes--in stark...

Food brands consider the limits of snacking; led by their industry body, food manufacturers are clamouring to assist the Government in tackling obesity. Will their efforts be enough to head off an advertising clampdown?(News Analysis)( Food and Drink Federation )
October 7, 2004... Food manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to forestall a clampdown on the promotion of snack foods to children. They mounted a two-pronged attack last week, attempting to show that while they may be perceived as part of the problem,...

Casino owners lash out at Gambling Bill; the UK gaming industry is crying foul over the Government's Gambling Bill, claiming it is merely a cynical attempt to persuade foreign investors to open 'super-size' casinos.(News Analysis)
October 7, 2004... Like old-time gold prospectors, international gambling giants are lining up to rush to the UK, lured by promises of easy profits in a deregulated British market. It's a market with a lot at stake--it is estimated the industry will generate an...

Putting the bite back on.(Apple Computer Inc.)(Cover Story)
October 7, 2004... Until the late Nineties few consumers had experience of the Apple brand, but this changed with the launch of the iMac and the smash-hit iPod. Now Apple plans to make the most of its new-found mass appeal with a high street presence. But can it...

Play your cards right ...(Diary)(Blue Square Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Cor! What a pair! The Diary hasn't seen anything like that since the old Soho days. Yes, the aces just don't seem to be falling this way like they used to. The eye-watering beauty holding the hand is the new face of online gambling site...

Don't knock a little plain speaking.(christmas gifts)(Clearcraft Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... As Christmas edges ever nearer, thoughts turn to loved ones and gift ideas that prove to them just how much you care. So this year, instead of buying gran the usual bath salts, what could say "Happy Christmas" better than a "Scrubber"? And for...

He's no charlatan--there's no dead ringer here.(Diary)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Diary recently received a press release entitled Deadlines Cannot Be Met With Dead Lines, all about how PR companies must be available 24 hours a day to answer out-of-hours queries. The release was from a company called Bond PR, so, at...

Successful hunt for some sanity...(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 7, 2004... Hallelujah! Having just read George Pitcher's article on hunting (MW September 23) I felt I had to respond. Thank you both to George Pitcher and Marketing Week for publishing such a pertinent piece. The news footage over the past few weeks has...

... But not without hint of prejudice.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 7, 2004... George Pitcher gave a clever analysis of the hunting debate as a marketing exercise. Both sides have been guilty of muddying the waters around this issue, but what it comes down to is that one side is trying to get the other stopped...

Change is what the banks need.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 7, 2004... As Stuart Smith says in his leader (MW September 30), financial services providers will be in for a nasty shock when the supermarkets stop playing with their food. The main obstacle banks have to overcome is making the cynical trust again....

Being super-sized boils down to personal choice; giant-sized chocolate bars are to be taken off the shelves in an attempt to tackle the obesity epidemic, but such bans will solve very little.(Business)
October 7, 2004... To sustain me on a journey last week, I picked up a copy of Private Eye and one of those single fingers of Cadbury's Fruit & Nut at a branch of WH Smith at London's City Thameslink station. Somewhat incongruously, the cashier asked me if I...