FMCG news

• Samsung halts sales of Galaxy Note 7 phones due to explosive batteries

  02-09-2016 20:19
  
  Samsung has halted sales of its new Galaxy Note 7 smartphone following reports that the device explodes while being charged.
  The company is attributing the explosions to a battery cell issue. In a statement, Samsung said that 35 cases have been reported globally and that it will replace the phones of those who have already purchased the faulty device.
  “We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality p
  
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• What is FMCG? Top 5 FMCG Companies in India - The Indian Talks

  02-09-2016 18:46
  
  The Indian Talks
  What is FMCG? Top 5 FMCG Companies in India
  The Indian Talks
  FMCG goods are popularly known as consumer packaged goods. Items in this category include all consumables (other than groceries/pulses) people buy at regular intervals. The most common in the list are toilet soaps, detergents, shampoos, toothpaste, ...
  
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• Dixie has created ‘deadzone diners’ so people can talk instead of text during meals

  02-09-2016 18:41
  
  Labor Day weekend is sure to bring with it lots of parties, picnics and barbecues as everyone gathers to bid adieu to summer, but how much of that time will be spent on phones instead of in conversation? To get people talking instead of texting, Dixie has rolled out a campaign featuring its ‘deadzone diners’ in the hopes of encouraging people to put down their phones once in a while so they can actually enjoy some real human interaction.
  The initiative is part of Dixie’s ongoin
  
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• Nisa chairman Christopher Baker to step down

  02-09-2016 18:23
  
  Baker, who has held the role since January 2013, will resign as chairman at the conclusion of the meeting on 29 September
  
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• HP CMO pens letter to agency roster demanding more diversity in creative departments

  02-09-2016 18:12
  
  Tech giant HP is following in the footsteps of General Mills by demanding that its advertising agencies are more proactive when it comes to creating diverse workforces. 
  In a letter to the brand's advertising and PR agencies on Thursday (1 September), which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the brand's chief marketing officer Antonio Lucio requested that all of the brand's incumbent creative and communications partners hire more women and minorities. 
  He has asked eac
  
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• Hewlett Packard CMO pens letter to agency roster demanding more diversity in creative departments

  02-09-2016 18:12
  
  Tech giant Hewlett Packard (HP) is following in the footsteps of General Mills by demanding that its advertising agencies are more proactive when it comes to creating diverse workforces. 
  In a letter to the brand's advertising and PR agencies on Thursday (1 September), which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the brand's chief marketing officer Antonio Lucio requested that all of the brand's incumbent creative and communications partners hire more women and minorities. 
  
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• Trinity Mirror removes 'traditional' ad sales silos and unites marketing and branded content divisions under Zoe Harris

  02-09-2016 18:09
  
  Trinity Mirror doesn’t want another ad sales executive running its branded content division and is instead appointing marketing director Zoe Harris head of both marketing and branded content, uniting the two.
  Mark Field, the former director of Invention, the publisher’s branded content arm, left last month to join News UK after 11 years at the publisher.
  The publisher said Field’s departure was a “good opportunity” for it to move away from the traditional ad sales p
  
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• Sans Frontières: Why maverick PR man Lord Bell may enjoy being his own man again

  02-09-2016 18:06
  
  The big news in marcomms last week was the resignation of Lord Tim Bell from Bell Pottinger, the company he founded 30 years ago. 
  As the industry prepared for the August Bank Holiday weekend, Bell, a former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, announced last Thursday that he’d decided he would like to step back from the day-to-day running of the business.
  The news was significant because Bell is the biggest of big beasts in the PR jungle; along with Matthew Freud, Lynne Franks and Mark Bork
  
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• Chambord blends premium with the ‘absurd’ at east London flamingo croquet club

  02-09-2016 18:01
  
  Bacardi Brown-Forman’s French liqueur Chambord is hoping to bring to life the ‘playful and absurd’ side of its brand this weekend (1-4 September) through the medium of flamingo croquet.
  Located on a rooftop in east London’s Dalston, the French label’s Chapter Eight Games take inspiration from chapter eight of Alice in Wonderland, when the protagonist gets involved in a wacky version of croquet.
  Alongside the (fake) pink mallets, consumers can snack on Le Bun burgers
  
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• Under Armour places Andy Murray's personality at the heart of its latest campaign

  02-09-2016 17:10
  
  As Andy Murray progresses through the US Open Under Armour has taken the opportunity to showcase the more endearing side of his personality which the world rarely has the opportunity to see.
  As part of a new digital content series called ‘Murray Meets Murica’ the Rio Olympics gold medallist met with some young stars of the New York Junior Tennis League to learn how to add a New York edge to his game.
  Murray’s personality is the driver of the new spot and sees him interact
  
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• Everything you need to know about content marketing episode 4: 'As content becomes more sophisticated, the metrics need to be too'

  02-09-2016 17:00
  
  How much can a click tell you? A decade ago, content marketing was all about click-through rates (CTRs) and impressions. It was in an era when content marketers wrote for search engines and such measures – crude and imperfect as they were – broadly sufficed.
  But content marketers and industry strategists say that in today’s more nuanced communications landscape, and at a time where marketers of all colours under greater pressure to tie effectiveness to the business bottom line,
  
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• Adam Graham is eyeing at least five agency acquisitions in 12 months to fuel ‘Project Oak’

  02-09-2016 16:58
  
  Adam Graham, the former chief executive of digital agency Weapon7, is in talks to make at least one acquisition of an agency in the coming months as he readies the launch of a new ‘digital and data centric’ marketing services group.
  The group has been code-named ‘Project Oak’ and has received £100m in backing from an unnamed private equity firm.
  Don Elgie, the former chief executive of Creston, has also come on board as chairman.
  The Drum understands that it will of
  
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• Adam Graham is eyeing 10 agency acquisitions in 12 months to fuel ‘Project Oak’

  02-09-2016 16:58
  
  Adam Graham, the former chief executive of digital agency Weapon7, is in talks to make at least one acquisition of an agency in the coming months as he readies the launch of a new ‘digital and data centric’ marketing services group.
  The group has been code-named ‘Project Oak’ and has received £100m in backing from an unnamed private equity firm.
  Don Elgie, the former chief executive of Creston, has also come on board as chairman.
  The Drum understands that it will of
  
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• Apple's egg-shaped Twitter account finally gets a revamp ahead of the iPhone 7 launch

  02-09-2016 16:50
  
  Apple appears to have made several updates to its official Twitter page as it gears up for the launch of the iPhone 7.
  The tech giant has owned the @Apple handle for five years and despite having almost 90,000 followers, the account has (until now) been dormant.​Over the past few days, however, the egg-shaped profile picture on the account has been replaced with the Apple logo, while a verification tick and background image have also been added – the former of which is reported
  
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• 'An all icing cake sucks' – How to sell your creative ideas to clients

  02-09-2016 16:45
  
  Have you ever watched a commercial and thought to yourself, "well I could have done better than that"? I do all the time. The amount of epic fails in advertising baffles me, especially when you know how much is spent on media.
  Don't worry, The Smink Agency isn't challenging the market anytime soon, even though the name is catchy. Selling a creative idea is however, a part of my everyday at The Drum. It can be as simple as a branded article to as complex as a video series. The best part is that e
  
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• A PR's take on why so many journalists think PRs are not up to the job

  02-09-2016 16:24
  
  Why can't journalists and PRs just get along? Agency boss Mark Borkowski offers a view from PR land on why the relationship keeps breaking down.
  Pokemon Go has entered the decline stage. This is the phase after the belles-lettres stage that sees a flurry of pretentious musing on how said fad is changing everything and the one before the stage where your parents get into it. The Washington Post quotes a psychologist, Robert Bartholomew, who posits that digital living has accelerated the
  
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• Facebook takes aim at Snapchat with Instant Video on Messenger

  02-09-2016 16:22
  
  Following on from the launch of Instagram Stories, Facebook has introduced another Snapchat-like feature designed to make video calling easier for Messenger users. 
  The introduction of Instant Video on messenger, described by Facebook as "a reflection of the ubiquity of video," will allow users to share live video instantly with friends on Facebook private messaging service. It's not dissimilar to Snapchat 's own Video Chat offering, which allows users to share snippets of their day wi
  
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• SpaceX explosion is a reminder of how closely every success walks the line of failure

  02-09-2016 15:27
  
  News of an explosion during a SpaceX rocket test was reported all around the world with incredible video footage being shared online. What does such an incident mean for the reputation and image of the audacious technology company being run by entrepreneur Elon Musk now? Nasa engineer Bobak Ferdowsi shared these thoughts.
  This video is a heartbreaking, but good reminder of how incredibly difficult space exploration is, and how closely every success walks the line of failure.
  
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• Dentsu Aegis owned Isobar confirms undertaking strategic review

  02-09-2016 15:00
  
  Written by Stephen Lepitak and Jessica Goodfellow
  Dentsu Aegis’ digital marketing agency Isobar is currently undergoing a strategic review, bulking up its consulting capabilities and customer relationship while appearing to slim down in other areas of the business.
  The agency has been undergoing a number of strategic changes across the year. Most recently Isobar launched a new unit by merging its consulting capabilities with Copernicus Marketing and Forbes Consulting, both subsidiaries of
  
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• Indie retail chain Proudfoot Group appoints two new board members

  02-09-2016 13:32
  
  Business and retail development manager Marcus Proudfoot and buying and distribution controller Valerie Aston join board
  
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• What’s next for Gawker Media founder Nick Denton?

  02-09-2016 13:19
  
  Nick Denton, founder of Gawker Media, has bid an emotional farewell to the company he setup 14 years ago after his empire built on the immediacy of the internet and fuelled by salacious gossip succumbed to the financial wrath of the rich and powerful.
  After filing for bankruptcy and closing the Gawker.com site Denton reflected on the media company’s rise to prominence, its downfall and where he goes from here in an interview with the Financial Times.
  As traditional medi
  
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• Morrisons Downgraded Amid Fears Trading Conditions In The Supermarket Sector Will Become Even Tougher

  02-09-2016 13:00
  Shares in Morrisons have been downgraded to ‘Sell’ amid fears that trading conditions in the supermarket sector will worsen in the months ahead. The supermarket’s shares have risen over 30% since the beginning of the year following a (more…)
  
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• Snyder’s-Lance Snaps Up Remaining Stake In Metcalfe’s Skinny

  02-09-2016 12:59
  US firm Snyder’s-Lance has announced that its Kettle Foods subsidiary has completed the acquisition of Metcalfe’s Skinny Limited., the owner of Metcalfe’s skinny Popcorn. The company has acquired the remaining 74% interest in the leading UK premium popcorn brand, having (more…)
  
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• Lindsay Lohan's GTA V lawsuit against Rockstar Games has been dismissed

  02-09-2016 12:59
  
  Actress Lindsay Lohan has had a lawsuit against the makers popular videogame Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) dismissed by a New York state appeals court. 
  The Mean Girls star was was suing Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, because she claimed that images used in the game and marketing materials of character 'Lacey Jonas' were based on a picture taken of the celebrity in 2007. 
  A panel of judges have, however, determined that Lohan's likeness was not us
  
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• Disappointing Year For Palmer and Harvey

  02-09-2016 12:57
  Palmer and Harvey (P&H) has reported disappointing year end results, impacted by “investment for long-term growth”. For the 12 months to 2 April 2016, the delivered wholesaler saw its total sales edge down 0.7% to £4.44bn. Gross profit (more…)
  
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• Birds Eye Set To Launch £6m Marketing Campaign Focused On Core Products

  02-09-2016 12:55
  Birds Eye is reportedly set to launch a new £6m marketing campaign which will focus on its core products and capitalise on growth in the frozen food sector. According to campaignlive.co.uk, it will be the first time Birds (more…)
  
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• Sainsbury’s Pharmacy Chain Makes Switch To LloydsPharmacy

  02-09-2016 12:54
  Sainsbury’s 281 pharmacies officially became LloydsPharmacy branches yesterday over a year on from the £125m takeover deal agreed by the supermarket and Celesio UK. The deal had been held up by an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) (more…)
  
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• Nisa’s Chairman Stepping Down

  02-09-2016 12:52
  Nisa Retail has announced that its Chairman Christopher Baker will not be standing for re-election at its AGM on 29 September, and subsequently resign following the meeting. He was appointed Chairman of Nisa in January 2013, bringing experience in retail, (more…)
  
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• P&G Names New Marketing Director For Northern Europe

  02-09-2016 12:50
  P&G has hired a new Marketing Director for Northern Europe to replace Roisin Donnelly who left the business in June, following a 31-year career. Stefan Feitoza has taken on the role having spent the last 16 years with (more…)
  
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• FMCG giants woo Indonesian Muslims with halal face creams, shampoos - Livemint

  02-09-2016 12:50
  
  Livemint
  FMCG giants woo Indonesian Muslims with halal face creams, shampoos
  Livemint
  The companies say demand for beauty products that are halal, or target specific issues like veiled hair, will grow as the Muslim middle class grows. Photo: AFP. London/Jakarta: Some of the world's biggest consumer groups are making halal face creams ...and more »
  
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• Tennent’s Appoints New Managing Director

  02-09-2016 12:49
  C&C’s Tennent Caledonian Breweries has appointed Andrea Pozzi its new Managing Director. He will replace Alastair Campbell, who is leaving the business after just a year, having taken over the role from Brian Calder last summer. Pozzi who (more…)
  
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• Owner Of Wimpy Buys Gourmet Burger Chain

  02-09-2016 12:46
  Famous Brands, the South African firm that owns Wimpy, has signed an agreement to acquire the fast-growing premium burger chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK). Launched in London back in 2001 by three New Zealanders, the business was acquired in 2010 (more…)
  
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• Waitrose Launches Organic Marketing Initiative As Sales Rise Nearly 5%

  02-09-2016 12:45
  Waitrose has revealed that sales of organic products in its stores are up 4.6% on last year, supporting recent data that showed the market for such goods is seeing strong growth. Waitrose revealed the figure as its launched an organic (more…)
  
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• Battle For Control Of Poundland Takes Fresh Twist

  02-09-2016 12:43
  The battle for control of Poundland took a fresh twist after a voracious New York hedge fund raised its stake in the high street chain to nearly 25%. Read the full article on the This is Money website (more…)
  
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• Organic Trade Board Launches Tie-Up With Tesco To Celebrate Organic September

  02-09-2016 12:42
  The Organic Trade Board (OTB) has announced a partnership with Tesco To mark Organic September which launched yesterday. Tesco and OTB have collaborated to send a selection of customers a surprise #OrganicUnboxed ingredients box which aims to inspire consumers to (more…)
  
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• Butterkist Planning £1m Advertising Campaign

  02-09-2016 12:41
  Popcorn brand Butterkist is set to launch a new £1m advertising campaign. A TV advert will debut next week, focusing on the brand’s two hero sharing bags – toffee and cinema sweet. The ten-second advert features a brand (more…)
  
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• New ‘Wow’ Seed-Based Drink Secures Listing With Waitrose

  02-09-2016 12:39
  Wow, a new chia seed-based drink, is now available nationwide after securing a listing with Waitrose. The cold pressed drinks launched in the UK last month and are currently available in Selfridges, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, Harrods (more…)
  
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• Kerry Foods Launches Campaign For Homepride Flour

  02-09-2016 12:38
  Kerry Foods has launched a consumer and trade campaign to promote its new use of 100% British wheat in its Homepride flour. The 100% British wheat status will be updated on pack and communicated across POS, print and online advertising, (more…)
  
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• People on the Move: Featuring The Drum, Twitter, IBM, Deezer and more

  02-09-2016 12:37
  
  This week has seen another wave of appointments and departures at brands, media owners and agencies. The Drum has rounded up the key moves from the EMEA, APAC and North America regions below.
   
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  The Drum
  The Drum has made a number of promotions as it continues to focus on driving its international growth with the appointment of Cameron Clarke as deputy editor, Thomas O'Neill as managing editor and Katie McQuater as magazine editor.
  Clarke, who has been with The Drum
  
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• Nom Foods Extends Popcorn Range

  02-09-2016 12:36
  Nom Foods has added to its range with the launch of an all-new savoury Tomato Pesto Popcorn. At just 99 calories per bag, the popcorn is 100% organic, gluten free, dairy free and nut free. Set to sit alongside nom’s (more…)
  
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• US: Walmart Cutting 7,000 Back Office Store Jobs

  02-09-2016 12:34
  Walmart has announced that it is planning to cut 7,000 back office and accounting jobs across its stores in the US. The move comes as part of a plan to centralise its invoice and accounting departments to improve efficiency in (more…)
  
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• FRANCE: Rémy Cointreau Enters Negotiations To Form Passoã Joint Venture With Lucas Bols

  02-09-2016 12:33
  Rémy Cointreau and Lucas Bols have announced that they have entered into exclusive negotiations with a view to forming a joint venture, based in France, to operate and further develop the global activities of the Passoã brand, the passion fruit (more…)
  
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• JAPAN: FamilyMart and Uny Complete Merger To Create Convenience Store Giant

  02-09-2016 12:31
  FamilyMart, Japan’s No. 3 convenience store chain, and Uny, the owner of fourth-ranked Circle K Sunkus, yesterday completed their merger to create the country’s second-largest convenience store chain after 7-Eleven. The merger, which was agreed last October, marks (more…)
  
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• SpaceX explosion destroys Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to build out internet connectivity

  02-09-2016 12:30
  
  A SpaceX rocket exploded during a test-fire ahead of its launch, destroying Facebook’s communications satellite that was designed to deliver broadband internet coverage in sub-Saharan Africa.
  The explosion was referred to as an “anomaly” by SpaceX engineers, with chief executive Elon Musk tweeting that the “cause still unknown” the afternoon after the attack.
  Loss of Falcon vehicle today during propellant fill operation. Originated around upper stage oxygen tank. Ca
  
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• Adam Graham 'lines up £100m' to fund agency acquisition spree with Project Oak

  02-09-2016 12:28 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Adam Graham, the former chief executive of Omincom digital agency Weapon7, is in the advanced stages of launching a "data-centric" marketing services group to buy up agencies.
  
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• The Grocer Cup 2016

  02-09-2016 12:14
  
  This is your chance to decide who will carry off the trophy in 2016
  
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• Australian estate agency EST8 unveils branding collaboration with Ink Digital

  02-09-2016 12:08
  
  EST8, a new estate agency focused on Melbourne's luxury property market, has unveiled branding developed in collaboration with creative agency Ink Digital.
  With studios in Melbourne, Australia and Halifax in the UK, team Ink was approached by Nic Cuni, executive director at EST8 to collaborate on the overall look and feel for the branding of the new property venture. After whittling down a variety of design options, the final selection is a contemporary, monochromatic logo that will be seen on E
  
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• A CRM ghost story – or why artificial intelligence leads to real-life stupidity

  02-09-2016 11:52
  
  Answer that phone and you enter another dimension. A dimension of shadow and shade that lies between the two stools of marketing automation and personal service. A dimension of unclosed feedback loops and misfiring data synapses. A dimension that exists between the summit of marketing’s sophistication and the pit of its incompetence.
  You are entering the twilight zone of banking CRM.
  This is a true story but the names have been changed so as to avoid embarrassment.
  It is also a ghost story
  
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• Wimpy's parent company orders Gourmet Burger Kitchen to go

  02-09-2016 11:28
  
  South African conglomerate Famous Brands has added Gourmet Burger Kitchen to its stable after gobbling the upmarket burger chain in a £120m deal.
  Famous Brands have big plans for the business with the aim of opening up to 15 restaurants per year in the UK as it seeks to erode mass market giants such as McDonalds and Burger King.
  An explosion in burger dining has taken Britain by storm in recent years with a host of new players setting up shop such as Byron, Shake Shack and Five Guys togeth
  
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• New Product Development: FMCG Brands Avoidable Mistakes - Packaging Europe

  02-09-2016 11:26
  Packaging Europe
  New Product Development: FMCG Brands Avoidable Mistakes
  Packaging Europe
  Packaging is one of the most important touchpoints for consumers as it provides a physical opportunity to interact with a brand – to see and feel a product before it is consumed. Amid an increasingly competitive marketplace, FMCG brands are under ...
  
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