FMCG news

• Ford aims to build a self-driving car with no pedals or steering wheel by 2021

  16-08-2016 23:36
  
  Ford has announced its intention to build autonomous cars with no steering wheel or pedals within the next five years.
  The automaker said the cars will be used in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing capacity, and will be considered level-4 capable vehicles by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which according to Wired means that “the car does everything and human involvement is strictly optional.”
  To meet its five-year goal, Ford said it is investing in or collaborating with four startu
  
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• Silicon Valley tech companies make strides to encourage voter turnout in November

  16-08-2016 22:47
  
  And for many Silicon Valley techies there will be no excuses — such as a pesky job to report to — to keep them from the polls this year.
  As part of a growing push to drive more California voters to the polls, tech startups are launching voter registration campaigns, partnering on voter turnout initiatives and even pledging to give employees the day off on Nov. 8, according to an article this week in the San Jose Mercury news.
  The article notes that many 'valley techies' will have no
  
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• Google cloud computing services are ready for corporate clients, company says

  16-08-2016 22:07
  
  Google Cloud Platform today announced a major release of three database services from beta, signaling that they’re ready for production use. Google Cloud Platform will now be positioned to handle the routine but vital database needs of corporate clients as AWS and Microsoft have been doing exclusively until now. Cloud SQL, Cloud Bigtable and Cloud Datastore are all now in general release, Google said in a blog post.
  Though Google Cloud Platform excels at AI and machine learning, it has bee
  
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• Tracey Norman, first black transgender model, is the star of Clairol’s latest campaign

  16-08-2016 21:32
  
  Last year, New York magazine wrote a story about Tracey Norman, a black model who rose to fame in the 1970s and appeared in ads for beauty brands including P&G's Clairol despite having to hide her transgender identity. Now, Clairol has invited Norman back as the star of its latest campaign, ‘Color As Real As You Are,’ giving her the chance to model for the brand without harboring any secrets.
  The campaign comes 35 years after Norman graced a box of Clairol hair dye – Dark A
  
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• Havas Media taps Manning Gottlieb OMD's Alison Tsang as head of group insight as it strengthens data offering

  16-08-2016 19:42
  
  Havas Media Group has appointed Alison Tsang as its new head of group insight, reporting to Yvonne O’Brien, the group's chief insight and data officer. 
  The appointment comes as the agency is consolidating its insight and data science teams to a single unit; bringing together specialists across the company to offer an improved proposition for clients.
  Tsang who was most recently head of insight and people behaviour, deputy head of evidence at Manning Gottlieb 
  
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• The Sun's in-house agency Pulse Creative launches first TV ad for Sun Bets

  16-08-2016 19:39
  
  The Sun has launched the first ever TV campaign for its digital betting and gaming platform, Sun Bets.
  The spot was produced by News UK's in-house agency Pulse and focuses on the camaraderie of football culture. Sun Bets hopes to establish the brand with the general public through the drive, which promotes the immediacy and convenience of the site and it's accompanying app.
  The publisher launched the online betting shop earlier this month in a bid to open up fresh r
  
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• Olympics update: Dick's Sporting Goods Ad "The Contender" gets top viewing in recent survey

  16-08-2016 19:26
  
  With the Olympic Games more than halfway through, Ace Metrix took a snapshot to see how the ads were performing, among official sponsors and non-sponsors. Overall, the company tested 135 Olympic-themed ads since the beginning of the year, with an overall average Ace Score of 577. An "Ace Score" is tallied using six factors most likely to influence consumer behavior including relevance, likeability, information, change, attention and desire—as well as re-watchability, purchase intent and br
  
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• London Philharmonic Orchestra names Sunshine as agency of record

  16-08-2016 19:18
  
  The London Philharmonic Orchestra has named Sunshine as its agency of record.
  Sunshine, which has offices in London and Los Angeles, will be tasked with bringing the 84-year old orchestra “further into pop culture on a global scale” by “introducing it to new audiences and showcasing the transformative power of orchestral music.” The agency will also be responsible for brand positioning, visual identity, developing brand partnerships, and creative collaborations.
  “We
  
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• YouTube puts onus on influencers ‘to be across’ advertising guidelines in wake of CMA crackdown as it opens up YouTube Space in London

  16-08-2016 18:51
  
  YouTube unveiled its content creator space at Google’s new Kings Cross office this morning (16 August), to give its creators a platform to produce high quality content using technology that is “unimaginably expensive”.
  Yet while YouTube is keen to collaborate in content creation, when it comes to advertising guidelines, the video sharing site believes the responsibility lies with the individual.
  The 20,000 square foot new Space is designed to give the UK’s plethora of cre
  
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• Vista Equity Partners completes acquisition of marketing software innovator Marketo

  16-08-2016 18:40
  
  Marketo, one of the leading provider of engagement marketing software and solutions, has been acquired by Vista Equity Partners ("Vista"), the company announced today.
  The acquisition – which will combine Marketo's product and industry leadership with Vista's unique investment and operating model for high-growth SaaS companies - marks the next phase of growth for Marketo, in which the company will continue to focus on setting the agenda for innovation and thought leadership for the entire
  
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• How the jobs market markets itself: which recruiter is winning the online battle?

  16-08-2016 18:38
  
  With the thrill of a hot summer break away spurring a desire for change at home, September is one of the busiest months for recruiters around the country. As users have become more confident job searching online, the growth of online recruitment services has rocketed.
  With numerous different propositions in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market, the Drum’s Mystery Shopper this week compares the online performances of five of the biggest recruitment websites in the UK. They ar
  
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• Gamescom attendees subjected to cruel joke as poster teases Half-Life 3 release

  16-08-2016 18:31
  
  Fans of science fiction first-shooter videogame Half-Life have been trolled by an ad which at first glance indicated that a long-awaited Half-Life 3 release was in the pipeline.
  Gamers making their way to the Gamescom conference in Cologne were today greeted with a giant poster adorned with the text ‘Half-Life 3’.
  The ad was positioned alongside real banners for titles like Sniper 3 and Titanfall 2, but unfortunately for fans it turned out to be nothing more than a ruse.
  On clos
  
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• Why sports marketing must cater to the new 24/7 sports fan

  16-08-2016 18:30
  
  Sports marketers will have to create more original content around live events if they are to meet the demands of the modern day 24/7 sports fan, according to a new study mapping out the future trends of sports marketing.
  Sports fans are increasingly looking for more content on the go, according to the research, meaning brands and rights holders must find new ways to prolong the life of live sports.
  In attempting to map out a number of key trends of the future, the study from Performance Communic
  
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• Morrisons sells 10% stake in Fresh Direct back to US grocer for £45m

  16-08-2016 18:20
  
  Morrisons took the stake in 2011 when it was exploring options for launching an online grocery offer
  
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• Grocery gets behind the NHS MissingType blood donation campaign

  16-08-2016 18:20
  
  You won’t miss it when you give it; but patients could miss it if you don’t.
  
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• The best and most advanced child teaching aid is already here

  16-08-2016 18:20 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Mono continues clever campaign for Children's Hospital of Minnesota
  
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• Amazon Web Services sales & marketing head Adam Selipsky is leaving the company

  16-08-2016 18:12
  
   One of the longest serving members of the executive team at Amazon WebServices is leaving the company. Sales and marketing head Adam Selipsky's departure was confirmed in an email by AWS recently and first reported here.
  Selipsky is one of the longest-serving members of the executive team at the multi- billion dollar cloud computing business.  A graduate of Harvard Business School, he joined AWS in 2005 and helped take the company from pre-revenue to $10bn revenue busin
  
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• Diving dad and Henry Blofeld win points for Shredded Wheat

  16-08-2016 18:09
  
  Alas, the Olympics is almost at an end! But there’s time for one last splash, from Nestlé
  
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• Specsavers' application to trademark the word 'should've' has been approved

  16-08-2016 17:08
  
  'Should've Gone To Specsavers' is one of those advertising slogans that has weaved its way into everyday language, but the brand is now seeking to trademark the 'should've' part of its catchphrase. 
  The company's application to become the rights holder to the word has been approved by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), meaning that the global optician chain can potentially block other companies from using the world in their marketing. 
  However, the firm will have to w
  
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• UK inflation hits its highest point since November 2014

  16-08-2016 17:01
  
  UK inflation is at its highest level for almost two years after the Office of National Statistics announced the Consumer Prices Index rose to 0.6% in the year to July.
  
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• Nationwide sponsors Snapchat Lens and geofilter for A-Level results day

  16-08-2016 16:56 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Nationwide has joined a growing number of British brands leaping onto Snapchat, sponsoring a Lens and geofilter on A-Level results day.
  
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• Google is moving “Hangouts on Air” to YouTube Live

  16-08-2016 16:08
  
  Google Hangouts are no more. Well, sort of.
  Google announced on its support page that Google Hangouts On Air will move to YouTube Live from Google+ on September 12. At that time; “If you want to schedule new Hangouts On Air you will need to use YouTube Live. Events cannot be scheduled on Google+ after September 12 and you will need to move existing events scheduled to happen after September 12 to YouTube Live.”
  While the company may not see it as a loss, especially since they have lo
  
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• Nandos, Microsoft and Google are all removing letters from their names for #MissingType blood donor campaign

  16-08-2016 15:55
  
  NHS Blood and Transplant has launched its #MissingType campaign for the second year running.
  The campaign, which kicked off last year, is asking brands and individuals to remove the As, Bs and Os from their names to highlight the lack of people signing up to donate blood. According to figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant, the number of new volunteers has dropped by 40 per cent since 2005.
  With over 30,000 people signing up during National Blood Week last year, this year's
  
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• Vanderbilt set to pay $1.2m to remove ‘confederate’ from campus dorm

  16-08-2016 15:50
  
  In a move that shows that the south and its venerable institutions are warming to the idea to change, Vanderbilt University is changing the name of its Confederate Memorial Hall and it’s paying the United Daughters of the Confederacy a hefty price to do so.
  The historic campus in Nashville, Tenn., has been trying to get rid of the name on the dorm building since 2002, citing that it invoked racial segregation. But the Daughters of the Confederacy, who originally donated $50,000 in 1933 tow
  
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• SAG-AFTRA posts record income and dues

  16-08-2016 15:50
  
  The most recent financial reports from SAG-AFTRA, the actors union that represents roughly 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters, dancers, singers, songwriters and other people in the entertainment industry, showed that the organization’s income went over the $200 million mark for the first time, and dues topped $100 million for the first time.
  The union filed a detailed report to the U.S. Department of Labor that noted that the union’s net assets have almost quadrupled during the
  
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• Currys PC World ad for 4K not OK, rules ad watchdog

  16-08-2016 15:50 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Currys PC World has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority for a TV ad that gave a false impression that live Euro 2016 matches could be watched in ultra high-definition 4K resolution.
  
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• Snapchat unveils 360-degree ad format with campaign for Sony's Don't Breathe horror flick

  16-08-2016 15:27
  
  Snapchat has debuted a new 360-video ad format, with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) rushing to be the first brand out of the gate with a campaign for its forthcoming horror movie Don’t Breathe.
  The video push marks the first time Snap Ads have integrated a 360-degree element. Essentially a 10-second Snapchat video ad, the latest format from the messaging app allows viewers to ‘swipe up’ in order to see an intimate 360-degree version of the trailer via a web page link inside
  
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• Pitch update: Sainsbury's, BMW, Marks & Spencer, Beiersdorf, UK government

  16-08-2016 15:22 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  MullenLowe London is out of the running for the Sainsbury's ad account.
  
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• Sky and BT kick off ad battle for football viewers

  16-08-2016 14:55 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  The football season has begun but the battle between Sky Sports and BT Sport for viewers is more bloody than anything on the pitch.
  
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• Virgin Media celebrates Usain Bolt's speed in 'Be the Fastest' music video

  16-08-2016 14:36
  
  Virgin Media has continued to illustrate what it can do to leverage the popularity of Usain Bolt, despite not being an official sponsor of the Rio Olympics, with a new music video celebrating his speed.
  Titled ‘Be the Fastest’, the music video is by London-based synth band Arch Birds and features Usain Bolt taking care business on the dance floor.
  Virgin Media shot the film on location in Jamaica and very astutely released the video two days before Bolt made his mark on the Rio Olymp
  
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• Glen Dimplex Home Appliance’s Belling brand appoints Click Consult to drive SEO strategy

  16-08-2016 14:18
  
  Global manufacturer Glen Dimplex Home Appliances has engaged Cheshire based search marketing agency Click Consult to deliver the organic search (SEO) strategy for its Belling cooking appliance brand.
  Glen Dimplex Home Appliances has an extensive international portfolio of products across the cooking, cleaning, cooling, entertaining and heating industries, comprising household names such as Belling, Stoves, New World, Lec and Dimplex.
  Matt Bullas, founder and CEO of Click Consult, said: “We
  
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• MTV launches Instagram for the VMAs to bring its history to life

  16-08-2016 14:00
  
  On August 28th MTV will again honor the best in music video and pop culture at the "MTV Video Music Awards".
  To get viewers excited for the awards show, MTV finally launched an official VMAs Instagram account on August 8th, which includes a special treat for fans. As there have been many scandals and memorable moments in the show's 31-year-long history, the account is an impressive mosaic depicting the VMAs history in pictures, quotes and text.
  YO! We just launched the official @VMAs Instagram!
  
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• Advertising Association meets with Scottish government to discuss advertising reforms

  16-08-2016 13:58
  
  Scottish government officials will meet with the Advertising Association (AA) and Portman Group to outline their plans for reforms to alcohol advertising. But the real question likely to be on the minds of those representing advertisers is why a committee advising the government on those reforms is made up almost entirely of temperance campaigners.
  Representatives from the Scottish government will convene with the AA later today (16 August), while the Portman Group has requested a meet. The AA c
  
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• Wilko turns to smaller stores in search for London property

  16-08-2016 13:52
  
  It comes as the retailer has poached Anthony Houghton as retail director from Argos
  
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• The Co-op hits halfway mark in London store openings plan

  16-08-2016 13:38
  
  The Co-op said London was the fastest-growing region for convenience shopping
  
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• ISBA compag: The changing face of retail by Missouri Creative

  16-08-2016 13:38
  
  A change of pace in customer expectation has brought unprecedented challenges for retailers in recent years and shows no signs of slacking off. In a multi-channel world of smart technologies, fast and furious pace of life and high levels of competition, retailers and brands are all thinking outside the box and fashioning fresh tactics. You need to be smarter than ever to maintain relevance, not just by stepping outside the box, but by pulling apart the walls to reshape it completely.
  Despite the
  
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• Inside Ribena's digital 'Colouring Cafe' campaign, and why the brand is keeping an eye on Facebook Live

  16-08-2016 13:29
  
  In July, Ribena staged a pop-up 'Colouring Cafe' event in Covent Garden, bringing influencers and fans together to colour-in individuals tiles of a giant Ribena illustration, created by artist Alex Lucas.
  Designed for people who like to “grab life by the felt tip,” the stunt looked to capitalise on the current adult colouring book trend and bring the drink’s playful and vibrant positioning to life.
  In a first for the brand, the campaign is now being supported by a digital and s
  
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• Radox unveils Disney characters in first line-up for kids

  16-08-2016 12:57
  
  The brand hopes to grow the children’s skin cleansing category, particularly impulse purchases
  
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• Barney Davis hired as Lanchester Wines commercial boss

  16-08-2016 12:57
  
  Davis left his job as a consultant to wine and spirits supplier Kingsland Drinks earlier this month
  
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• Cereal Partners launches healthier breakfasts campaign

  16-08-2016 12:50
  
  On-pack flashes and shelf barkers will appear for 12 products in the Shreddies and Cheerios ranges
  
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• Danny Trejo back on TV for £3.7m Old El Paso Mini push

  16-08-2016 12:41
  
  Half of the new range’s media investment has been spent on online activity
  
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• What makes an iconic sports image? The story behind that Usain Bolt smiling photo

  16-08-2016 12:37
  
  Usain Bolt is a sporting icon across the globe. He is so fast that when he runs it is hard for the human eye to track him quickly enough. With only 10 seconds in a race, how can a photographer possibly snap the image that stops a split moment in time so perfectly that it becomes a viral sensation worldwide?
  In the 100m Olympic semi-finals on Sunday, Getty Images sports photographer Cameron Spencer photographed Bolt turning his head and smiling confidently at the cameras mid-run, while
  
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• Forbes CEO on offsetting declines in print by focusing an 'enormous' amount of revenue on non-advertising related verticals

  16-08-2016 12:10
  
  Forbes is one of a handful of publishers that has managed to offset declines in print advertising with growth in other areas of the business.
  While digital is a key factor - 80 per cent of its ad revenue comes from digital - Forbes’ chief executive Mike Perlis suggested less of a reliance on advertising and an “enormous” investment in non-advertising related businesses has helped the company stay in the green.
  With 80 per cent of Forbes ad revenue now coming from digital, print
  
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• Tiptree and Haymans unite for fruit-flavoured gin range

  16-08-2016 12:02
  
  The three-strong range comprises English Raspberry, English Damson and Little Scarlet Strawberry
  
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• Lucy Gavaghan calls on Leadsom to ban caged hen farming

  16-08-2016 12:02
  
  Gavaghan’s petition began on Friday and has already gathered over 21,000 signatures
  
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• Should you migrate your website to HTTPS for SEO?

  16-08-2016 12:00
  
  If you’re planning on changing to HTTPS purely for SEO reasons, then we advise you not to make the switch. At Caliber, we work with a number of large travel and retail clients and have not observed any specific performance data which shows a correlation between higher rankings and implementation of HTTPS across our portfolio. If a client wants to unilaterally move their website to HTTPS as part of an internal security upgrade or for other reasons, then we would recommend the best prac
  
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• Manchester City launches new campaign profiling the stories behind its fans

  16-08-2016 11:54
  
  Manchester City has partnered with web development platform Wix.com to launch a new campaign showcasing fans and their personal stories.
  The ‘This City is Ours’ campaign centres around a refreshed website created by Wix.com , Man City’s website design and hosting partner, and marks the first fan engagement activity of the season.
  The campaign kicks off with seven Manchester City fans who share the personal stories and experience they’ve had with the club. One fan is
  
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• Facebook Messenger bots can now send ads to consumers

  16-08-2016 11:50 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Facebook has lifted its ban on Messenger bots sending promotional messages to consumers, as part of a wider set of rule changes.
  
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• Campaigners call for ad boycott of The Sun, Daily Mail and Express over migrant coverage

  16-08-2016 11:35
  
  Britain’s love-to-hate right-wing press, led by The Sun, Daily Mail Express, have found themselves at the centre of a social media campaign seeking to ferment an advertiser revolt over their coverage of migration to the UK.
  A ‘Stop Funding Hate’ campaign has gained 70,000 likes on Facebook over the past week and seeks to convince brands to disassociate themselves from titles which have posted articles critical of refugees and migrants.
  Brainchild of Richard Wilson, a London-bas
  
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• Sports Direct to back pay workers after years of underpaying them

  16-08-2016 11:13
  
  Sports Direct has been ordered to back pay staff after the retailer’s founder, Mike Ashley, admitted in parliament that it had broken minimum wage law.
  The company will hand over £1m to thousands of its warehouse workers after it was found to be underpaying them for years. The payments will be backdated to May 2012 and could be up to £1,000 for some workers.
  The agreement was struck between the Unite union, the retailer and HM Revenue and Customs and involves around 200 workers
  
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