Frohlinger's Marketing Report articles from March 1997

Frohlinger's Marketing Report archives from March 1997

PERRIER LAUNCHES OASIS, NEW PREMIUM WATER
March 3, 1997... Perrier, which has had a phenomenal run in the U.S. water market, will launch Oasis as a new super premium water brand over the next few months. As volume on the flagship Perrier brand has declined, management debated the future of the Perrier...

FORD ADDS MANAGEMENT DEPTH
March 3, 1997... In its efforts to improve its global marketing and advertising prowess, Ford has added Dave Ropes as Director of Corporate Advertising. Ropes takes new position this week. "This is an exciting and interesting time for Ford. They have gone through...

CAMPBELL'S PRESSES NEW PRODUCTS
March 3, 1997... The Campbell Soup Company is working on several initiatives to bring new products growth and category revitalization back to the company. "Advertising for the company is up 15% in the first half of 1997 and we will increase it even more in the...

NESTLE ON EXPANSION DRIVE
March 3, 1997... Look for an aggressive new products pace in the U.S. and Canada from Nestle. On the drawing boards: national rollout in June of Flipz, a chocolate brand with European heritage. Nestle will also accelerate its marketing efforts in petfoods and...

REMINGTON CHANGES EXPECTED
March 3, 1997... Look for a back-to-basics approach at Remington Corp. as new President Neil DeFeo expected to return shaver company to heritage. "Neil is a marketing guy-he is a strategist and disciplined he understands the values in the franchise. Peter Cuneo...

P&G - NEVER BETTER
March 3, 1997... P&G's domestic operations are humming along with minor exceptions. "Overall morale is terrific. Lots of people are doing well on stock} options and the business is responding - the fact they are cutting deadwood out is positive also. What is...

McDONALD's - DESPERATION TIME
March 3, 1997... There is a smell of terror at the top of McDonald's management levels as the hamburger-chain cuts prices and steps up a major low price competition against Burger King and the major U.S. restaurant market. Concept flawed and illustrates the lack...

PROBLEMS AT GRAND METROPOLITAN
March 3, 1997... Pressure from Russian oversight on the Stolichnaya brand has created intense pressures inside Grand Metropolitan. With pressures mounting because of an expected merger between two of its units (Paddington and Carillon), Russian pressures have...

AMERICAN BRANDS - R.I.P.
March 3, 1997... Company in transition phase as company will be known as Fortune Brands in a few months. Metamorphosis part of change accomplished under CEO Tom Hays. Move follows spin-off of Gallaher tobacco to shareholders. "Fortune Brands will be a premier...

AT&T BETS ON ONE VOICE
March 3, 1997... Major announcement expected this week from AT&T top management. More streamlined and unified approach throughout company's businesses expected. Meanwhile, selection of McCann-Erickson to handle AT&Ts local business nationwide huge account win...

PRESSURE MOUNTS AT ALLURE
March 3, 1997... Efforts to resuscitate Allure Magazine may be in need of a new broom at the top. Eyes are pointed in the direction of Publisher Sandy Galonkin as the magazine tries to get its stalled ad sales effort going into a new direction. "Sandy has...

COKE TASTES REWARDS
March 3, 1997... Coca-Cola USA operations enjoyed one of their best years ever. Figures up 6% but importantly for Coke, the company has achieved strong success with Sprite and it embarking on a strong new products platform. The launch of the contour can for Coke...

Ad Libs:
March 3, 1997... Former Channel One president Ed Winter expected to open teen Consultancy business&Fallon McElligott Berlin drops out of Sun review&TBWA Chiat/Day in running for both Sun and Gateway account&On the loose: Martex sheets division of Schumacher. $3...

MILLER - CORE BRAND EMPHASIS TAKES CENTER STAGE
March 18, 1997... Miller Beer CEO Jack MacDonough has outlined a core brand strategy and instituted a new products moratorium based on a global model shift. Miller's focus this year will be concentrated on restoring momentum to the Miller Lite and Genuine Draft...

KEY CORPORATION - CHANGE IS THE MESSAGE
March 18, 1997... Key Corp. is moving rapidly towards its goal of a nationwide financial services retailer, setting in motion the strategic actions for broader, more convenient and modern financial services for American consumers and businesses. Key Corp....

LITTLE CAESAR'S SLICES VALUE
March 18, 1997... Little Caesar's will stay on track with its value niche positioning and try to deliver the dough in the competitive pizza fast food wars said Vice President, Marketing Phil Roos. "The consumer is bombarded by a lot of options right now and with...

A BLUSHING BRIDE
March 18, 1997... Bride's Magazine, published by Conde Nast, has been repositioned to reach a larger audience. "We are really redefining the reader relevance beyond the bridal category because it is the lifestage which is so unique. Bridal is $32 billion at retail...

TIMES ARE A CHANGING'
March 18, 1997... Forget the old paradigms in the ad world, packaged goods is broke and won't get you where you want to go in the advertising agency business. The rule of thumb was to develop skills in packaged goods which would open new doors. "Packaged goods is...

GIVE ME THE MONEY
March 18, 1997... Compensation talk continues to be front and center in ad agency and client negotiations. "Compensation is always the critical issue. An agency can lose money because of media staffing or whatever, we try to be objective and fair," said New York...

3M CLOSES OUT ON OUTDOOR
March 18, 1997... The 3M Company, a $14 billion (annual sales) diversified conglomerate, has placed its outdoor advertising division on the auction block. Move responsive to category's all-time investor interest. Investment firm Goldman Sachs handling possible...

McDONALD's - THE MORE THINGS CHANGE&
March 18, 1997... As the leading fast food company flails for direction, top strategist Fred Turner has returned to the business in a very quiet way. Turner, who retired several years ago, is back in action at McDonald's behind the scenes. "McDonald's is lost in...

FAST COMPANY ON FAST TRACK
March 18, 1997... Publisher Tom Evans eyes significant circulation increase for technology business magazine. Fast Company on track for a hefty increase in circulation by year-end as property jumps from 125,000 to 175,000 figure. "The magazine has found a niche...

FOR PETE'S SAKE
March 18, 1997... Key organizational changes at top micro-brewer. President Mike Bozzini out and former Paddington new products whiz Omer Malchin hired as top marketing gun. Ad account has quietly switched from Gotham Advertising in New York to San Francisco's...

REAL MONEY
March 18, 1997... While all the talk has been focused on Internet access, on-line advertising and Web-hosts (all projected as multi-billion markets), smart money is looking at real revenues from using the Internet as a conduit for voice and fax applications. Voice...

CHAMPION MOVES CORPORATE
March 18, 1997... Vice President, Marketing Peggy Dyer switches gears for Sara Lee apparel division with entry into corporate apparel. "We were surprised after our Olympics experience at how large a market this is. We think it could be a $20 billion market and...

Ad Libs:
March 18, 1997... Rumored account activity: James River tipped as an account to watch. "There have been a lot of management changes in there. It could be a precursor of changes on the ad assignments," said an agency insider. Further movement on another, unnamed...

BENEVIA - A GLOBAL SWEET TOOTH
March 31, 1997... Benevia, the food ingredient unit of Monsanto Co., is aggressively moving forward to heighten its sweetener products Equal and Canderel and expand into new product areas. "The new campaign has a big idea for us. This company is very...

POLAROID DOES NEW ONE-STEP
March 31, 1997... Polaroid Corp. plans to put strengthen its consumer marketing and is banking on a series of new product introductions to restore marketplace momentum. "Polaroid is looking to get our new product pipeline flowing. We will have one more thing to...

LEO BURNETT TRIES TO CHANGE
March 31, 1997... Bloody management coup at Leo Burnett agency ranks as one of the most distressing events in history of ad business. Abrupt dismissal of CEO Bill Lynch and #2 executive James Jenness disappointing, besmirched agency's good name and does not tackle...

BRITISH AIR HIKES MARKETING
March 31, 1997... British Airways will be boosting its advertising directed at the business traveler in 1997 (BA currently spends some $20 million in U.S. on business traveler ads, with M&C Saatchi as its agency). "Our emphasis remains on the business traveler and...

FALLON McELLIGOTT BERLIN DEFIES SKEPTICS
March 31, 1997... While the strength of Fallon McElligott's operations have been tied to its high Midwestern orientation and roots, a beacon of hope for the agency has been found in its New York office. In eighteen months the agency has firmly established itself...

DOUGH BOY UNREST
March 31, 1997... Unrest has reached pitched levels in the Pillsbury sales force organization. Problem intensified under V-P Field Sales Ken Sobaski. "There is lots of grumbling, more than the usual. Part of the problem is that there is a great level of...

TOBACCO MAFIA CIRCLES THE WAGONS
March 31, 1997... Promotion of Bill Webb to new position of Chief Operating Officer and elevation of lawyer Murray Bring to new post of Vice Chairman indicative of direction. Move puts Webb in charge of running all of PM's business units including food. Previously...

NETSCAPE LOOKING FOR BETTER IMAGE?
March 31, 1997... Speculation has popped up that Netscape, the leading Internet browser developer, will shortly kick off an advertising agency review process. The Mountain View, California based company has developed application software for information exchange...

FUJI OUT OF FOCUS?
March 31, 1997... Recent events at Angotti, Thomas has started rumor mill; Fuji tabbed as one to watch. Account estimated at $8 million but not seen as highly profitable. "Fuji is not spending as much on building brand image as they once did. The majority of the...

NORTEL DIALS NEW NUMBER
March 31, 1997... With initial switch of account from J. Walter Thompson San Francisco to Temerlin McClain, several wheels are in motion are Nortel. Account globally worth in excess of $75 million. Thompson reportedly ran into problems on several divisions and...

WEIGHT WATCHERS THAWS
March 31, 1997... Weight Watchers' Frozen Food division is looking for a new president and several candidates approached have begged off. "It's a very difficult job with little upside. Most people are reluctant and it is understandable given the category and...

KAISER OPENS $50 MILL. DOOR
March 31, 1997... Look for a major ad review to kick off shortly for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, the nation's 3rd largest health maintenance organization (HMO). With 7.4 million members in 17 states, it ranks behind Blue Cross (#1) and United HealthCare. Kaiser...

GALLO ON ACQUISITION TRAIL
March 31, 1997... Marketplace rumors have E&J Gallo on the acquisition trail for high-end wine companies. "They are sniffing around in the marketplace. It will definitely be something very high-end," said a senior industry executive. Possibilities include Kenwood....

OUTDOOR LIFE?
March 31, 1997... Sources report that Universal Outdoors, a major player in the outdoor field could be on the auction block. "The rumor is making the rounds and it makes sense, it is really not that surprising," said a senior industry exec. "They are trading at a...

SHOWTIME FOR KIRCH
March 31, 1997... The end appears to be closer for one of the leading media players in Germany, the Leo Kirch Group. Kirch has approached the Bavarian state-owned bank for 500 million DM credit line and is reportedly in trouble financially. Move comes after Rupert...

Ad Libs:
March 31, 1997... A few major stories reported exclusively in FMR that were picked up in the trade press last week ($100 million AT&T local phone rollout assigned to McCann-Erickson reported here 3/3/97); Jockey looks for new agency (FMR predicted agency search...