FMCG news

• IBM CEO pens letter to Donald Trump, says tech can bring America together

  15-11-2016 23:35
  
  In an unprecedented move, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty issued a letter to President-elect Donald Trump today detailing steps  to bring America together with technology as a central theme. IBM is the biggest tech employer in the US, and her letter addressed a need for "new collar" IT jobs, saying that today, IBM does not always require it's employees to have a college degree. She said relevant skill is what "matters most."
  "I know that you are committed to help America's economy grow in ways t
  
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• Google commits to plans for new London headquarters

  15-11-2016 22:54
  
  Google has confirmed that it will be building a new £1bn headquarters in London, allaying fears that Brexit will have an adverse effect on business growth in the UK.
  In a speech at Google’s London office on Tuesday, chief executive Sundar Pichai said the company is “committed to the UK and excited to continue our investment in our new King’s Cross campus,” according to The Guardian.
  “Here in the UK, it’s clear to me that computer science has a great futu
  
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• Google commits to plans for new £1bn London headquarters

  15-11-2016 22:54
  
  Google has confirmed that it will be building a new £1bn headquarters in London, allaying fears that Brexit will have an adverse effect on business growth in the UK.
  In a speech at Google’s London office on Tuesday, chief executive Sundar Pichai said the company is “committed to the UK and excited to continue our investment in our new King’s Cross campus,” according to The Guardian.
  “Here in the UK, it’s clear to me that computer science has a great futu
  
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• Bill O'Reilly shuns Megyn Kelly book: 'I'm not going to make my network look bad '

  15-11-2016 22:32
  
   Fox News Channel host Bill O’Reilly  has not read Megyn Kelly‘s new memoir, which includes Kelly’s detailed description of sexual harassment by former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.
  O'Reilly said on Fox yesterday, “I’m trying to stay out of any of that kind of stuff. It doesn’t pertain to my life. I wish her well. She’s a very smart woman.”
  So don't expect Kelly, who has begun a series of media interviews to prom
  
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• Preserving youthful moments is theme behind new St. Louis Children's Hospital work

  15-11-2016 21:50
  
  "Guardians of Childhood" is the universal theme behind J. Walter Thompson Chicago's launch of three new TV ad spots today for St. Louis Children's Hospital. “The Wish,” “Gowns” and “Window” touch on simple pleasures like camp for children, a prom dress for a teen and the treasured moments sometimes denied children who are ill and highlight the impact donations have on the lives of sick children.
  Each video captures the children’s perspective on
  
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• Foursquare and Snapchat collaborate to offer a better sense of direction

  15-11-2016 20:52
  
  Foursquare and Snapchat announced today that Snapchatters will have better, more relevant geofilters that will now be  more specific, creative, and fun.
  Foursquare already has location data for Twitter, Uber, Apple, Pinterest and 100,000 other services, and Snapchatters can now harness the data at Foursquare, which includes over 87m places in Foursquare's database. The enhanced Snapchat geofilter will allow its advertisers more flexibility and creativity. 
  For example, a surf brand po
  
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• xAd acquires WeatherBug to bolster its location-specific marketing capabilities after $42.5m funding round

  15-11-2016 19:24
  
  Location-based marketing firm xAd has acquired the popular weather app, WeatherBug, giving it a huge trove of data that will allow it to deliver more relevant marketing to users based on their location. The purchase comes as xAd announced another round of funding totaling $42.5m, and marks its first acquisition in the world of consumer apps.
  WeatherBug competes with the likes of the Weather Channel app from The Weather Company, which is now owned by IBM, and is consistently ranking within the to
  
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• xAd acquires WeatherBug to bolster its location-specific marketing capabilities

  15-11-2016 19:24
  
  Location-based marketing firm xAd has acquired the popular weather app, WeatherBug, giving it a huge trove of data that will allow it to deliver more relevant marketing to users in particular locations.   
  The purchase comes as xAd announced another round of funding totaling $42.5m and marks its first acquisition in the world of consumer apps.
  WeatherBug competes with the likes of the Weather Channel app from The Weather Company, which is now owned by IBM, and is consistently ranking w
  
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• #WomenNotObjects: how objectification is damaging young boys

  15-11-2016 18:38
  
  Sex in advertising is a cliché by now. “Sex Sells” was a mantra (and still is for many) for our industry, and one movement is saying no in an effective campaign, which may seem a little more important after the recent US election.
  #WomenNotObjects was launched by Manhattan agency Badger & Winters in January to end objectification in advertising, to stop the harm caused by sexual objectification, to teach girls and young women that they have worth and to support brands that
  
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• My experience working on the Amnesty International challenge at Do It Day

  15-11-2016 18:37
  
  When I was asked to participate in The Drum’s Do It Day, I was beyond thrilled. Aside from the day-off-from-work perk, the opportunity to do social activism is a huge win. And when I was assigned to work on Amnesty International, it almost felt like kismet.
   The challenge Amnesty posed on Plan It Day was to change the perception of refugees in the US. Both the UK and US received this challenge, but with an interesting difference. In the UK, refugees are perceived as an economic burden
  
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• Arla Organic Farm Milk launches into Tesco

  15-11-2016 18:37
  
  Arla has continued its NPD push with the introduction of its first ever branded organic product in the UK
  
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• Arla continues NPD push with first ever branded organic milk

  15-11-2016 18:37
  
  Arla Organic Farm Milk was a response to the resurgence in organic food, dairy co-op said
  
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• Channel 4 creates 'first ever’ interactive broadcast ad as catch-up viewing shifts from desktop to TV

  15-11-2016 18:31
  
  Channel 4 has created the "first ever" broadcast interactive ad format for TV in response to a shift in on-demand viewing from digital devices to "bigger screens", a.k.a. connected TVs, which now represents over half of All 4 viewing.
  The broadcaster has seen 'big screen' views to its on-demand platform All 4 overtake other devices for the first time, up 35% from last year according to its own numbers. This supports the broadcaster's own research which found a 22% uplift in the presence of smart
  
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• Channel 4 responds to rise of Netflix and Amazon with heavy investment in online programming

  15-11-2016 18:30
  
  Channel 4 is revitalising its on-demand platform All4, expanding into new content areas and pumping a multi-million pound investment into original and acquired online content as the broadcaster hopes to capitalise on the growth of connected TV viewing and compete with the giants in this space: Netflix and Amazon.
  At its Upfronts today (15 November), the broadcaster unveiled a bold new interface for its on-demand platform to stand out in the connected TV space, and has designed the user experienc
  
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• Exports drive increased sales and profits at Moy Park

  15-11-2016 18:11
  
  Third quarter sales edged up at Northern Irish chicken producer Moy Park as a jump in exports negated a fall in domestic sales volumes.
  
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• Twitter rolls out abuse keyword mute and updates hateful conduct policy

  15-11-2016 18:03
  
  Twitter is looking to make itself a more appealing acquisition by making efforts to clean up abuse and harmful behavior on the site.
  With rumoured buyers supposedly put off by the systematic and unpoliced abuse taking place on Twitter, the company is giving users more protections and more actively combating abuse.
  Firstly, it has expanded its Mute feature beyond other users and into keywords, “enabling you to mute keywords, phrases, and even entire conversations you don’t want to see
  
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• Black Friday expected to take up almost a quarter of all Christmas spend, according to new report

  15-11-2016 17:57
  
  Black Friday is set to take almost a quarter of the overall Christmas spend, according to a new study from technology publisher Purch.
  The Purch 2016 Christmas Spending report surveyed 1,000 people aged between 18-55 years-old and highlighted some key factors around consumer behaviour in the lead up to Christmas.
  One of the main takeaways is the percentage of Christmas spend which will happen on and around Black as consumers increasingly make their purchases earlier in the festive period.
  Almost
  
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• Future Group FMCG arm in JV with UK-based firm for cash & carry format - Hindu Business Line

  15-11-2016 17:40
  
  Future Group FMCG arm in JV with UK-based firm for cash & carry format
  Hindu Business Line
  Future Consumer, the food and FMCG arm of Future Group, has entered the cash & carry business by forging an equal joint venture with the UK-based wholesaler, Booker Group, which has already been present in India since 2009. Booker Group has ...and more »
  
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• 'Perfect Parent' campaign encourages adoption of older children and teenagers

  15-11-2016 17:08
  
  November is National Adoption month, and it also marks the debut of the 'multiple choice parenting' campaign launched today by the Ad Council and KBS in partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and AdoptUSKids. 
  The launch involves a series of public service advertisements encouraging adoption from foster care, reminding adults that “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent" as the central idea behind the
  
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• Chime's CSM buys brand experience specialist Curb Media

  15-11-2016 16:57 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Brand experience agency Curb Media has been acquired by Chime-owned CSM's brand and live experience business, Icon.
  
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• Twitter rolls out long-awaited tools to combat abuse

  15-11-2016 16:46 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Twitter has introduced new tools for users trying to combat abuse, including the long-awaited ability to mute conversations in a granular way.
  
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• The Grand Tour producer will judge show's performance using Twitter as Amazon won't disclose viewing figures

  15-11-2016 16:43
  
  The production team behind Amazon’s The Grand Tour has admitted they will not be informed of how well the show is performing after its launch.
  As Amazon Video looks to grow its global audience by pushing Prime subscriptions, the company’s been especially protective of its viewing figures, apparently this mentally even extends to the producers of its shows.
  Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, The Grand Tour producer Andy Wilman said: “We'll never know the number, because,
  
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• Channel 4 announces first ever interactive ads on TV at 2017 upfronts

  15-11-2016 16:33 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Channel 4 is set to launch the first ever interactive ads on British TV through a broadcast player in response to a surge in demand for video-on-demand.
  
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• Movers and shakers: Twitter, News UK, William Hill, ISBA, MRM Meteorite and more

  15-11-2016 16:23 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Welcome to Campaign's weekly round-up of the hires, departures and promotions across the industry.
  
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• Tinder heralds inclusivity with 37 new gender options

  15-11-2016 16:01
  
  A new update from Tinder is embracing the transgender community, moving away from the binary male/female fields to allow users to instead describe their gender if they wish.
  The IAC-owned company is allowing users to describe their gender on the bio page, helping certain users provide a more authentic description. Additionally, the update syncs up with Transgender Awareness Week.
  Company chief executive Sean Rad announced the move: “Our goal is to provide a product that gives our tran
  
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• A Main Street movement to challenge Trump's brand

  15-11-2016 15:59
  
  Post election divisions continue to grow deeper and more pronounced, yet this trend does not seem to be motivating our president-elect to broaden his appeal and heal the wounds. With each passing day and each announcement, the battle lines are being drawn and we are being asked to choose sides. The Trump team is either determined to inflame or is just tone deaf with picks like Steve Bannon as strategic advisor. Forget Lincoln’s Band of Rivals favored by Obama, the Trump team is w
  
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• Frosted Flakes says its new cinnamon-flavored cereal was created in response to fan demand

  15-11-2016 15:18
  
  Frosted Flakes has rolled out a cinnamon version of its classic cereal, a move that the brand said was “100% driven by fan demand.”
  The new flavor comes months after the Kellogg brand rolled out its “Let Your Great Out” positioning, which targets tweens and dads by encouraging them to “be true to themselves and proudly share with the world what makes them g-r-reat.” According to Frosted Flakes, the new positioning and accompanying campaign &ndas
  
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• Alzheimer's Research UK imagines Christmas without Santa in powerful animated ad

  15-11-2016 15:17 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  A new campaign for Alzheimer's Research UK images a world in which Santa is living with the effects of dementia and has stopped delivering presents to children.
  
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• Why Nescafe is deepening its ties with Facebook

  15-11-2016 15:05
  
  Nestle-owned Nescafe is not letting the troubles Facebook has encountered over the past few months deter it from investing more budget into the social network as the coffee-brand forges ahead with its ambitious e-commerce plans.
  Advertiser confidence in Facebook has been arguably waning, not least because of the news that the self-described “video company” had been mismeasuring some basic statistics around viewing behaviour. But beyond that error, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg plan
  
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• Amazon won't give us viewing figures, says 'The Grand Tour' producer

  15-11-2016 14:53 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Amazon's take on Top Gear, The Grand Tour, will debut this week, but the production team won't be told the viewing figures.
  
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• Despite return of Dinotrux, children's TV viewership down on Netflix in October

  15-11-2016 14:38
  
  Everyone is blaming the presidential elections for any type of declines in viewership (see: NFL), but it's hard to make that argument for children's programming, which saw a 13% decline month-over-month on Netflix. Still, the platform can recover in November with viewers catching on to the return of Dinotrux. 
  Below, additional insights from Jumpshot: 
  - Dinotrux return: Season 3 of Dinotrux debuted on Netflix on October 7.  This new season helped the series break t
  
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• Construction specialist StructureTone takes time-lapse film-making to the next level with Heehaw

  15-11-2016 14:35
  
  To mark the completion of one of its most challenging new build construction projects yet, Structure Tone UK has released a short film, produced by Heehaw, that follows the journey of this highly complex Mission Critical new build project over a former graving dry dock adjacent to the River Thames in London.
  Heehaw worked in partnership with James Reid Photography, editing over 100,000 photos, GoPro footage and architectural plans to create a time-lapse film that tells the story of this amazing
  
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• William Hill now relying on its in-house talent as it looks to stand out from its rivals

  15-11-2016 14:33
  
  As some of the UK’s biggest betting firms opt into mergers with each other, William Hill is continuing to go in alone with a new approach that focuses on its in-house talent to help distance it from the lad culture advertising stereotypes used by so many of its rivals.
  To this end the bookmaker recruited Hollywood director Paul W.S. Anderson for its new ad titled ‘Clever Fast’.
  The ad promotes the speed of service on William Hill’s new app and is a conscious effort to be
  
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• TV industry bodies unite to hail impact of the medium on World Television Day

  15-11-2016 14:26 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Three European organisations representing sectors of the TV industry have united to create a campaign for World Television Day on 21 November aimed at underlining the impact and reach of the medium.
  
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• Lyft shaves the Glowstache – replacing it with the AMP, a colourful LED message board

  15-11-2016 14:10
  
  Ride-hailing company Lyft has shaved its famous brand mustache, instead putting its physical branding hopes upon a LED sign called ‘AMP’.
  The company claims that the sign will display text such as passenger names and can shine a user-requested colour to aid pickups.
  The Amp is a pill-shaped Bluetooth sign which, according to the company, creates a “new line of communication” between drivers and passengers.
  Video of A New Way To Glow 
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  It wasn't so long ago
  
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• MindShare benefits from its US westward migration as growth continues

  15-11-2016 14:09
  
  The US westward migration continues at the global media agency Mindshare as its west coast region caps off a second consecutive year of accelerated growth with its Los Angeles staff increasing by 33%, marked by a fourfold expansion of its analytics team.
  With a new office last year in the Silicon Beach area, the hub of LA's tech and startup community and n San Francisco, the growth also means top talent is migrating too. Cheryl Idell joined as west coast Lead in July, coming from Nielsen. A
  
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• UK Top Shazamed Chart: The long-awaited John Lewis ad glides to the top of the chart with a Vaults cover

  15-11-2016 13:46
  
  Lucozade remains at the top of the chart however it is no surprise John Lewis has swooped the second spot.The long-awaited Christmas ad features a boxer dog long awaiting Christmas so that he can go out and bounce on the trampoline given to the young girl with the cover of 'One Day I'll Fly Away' by Vaults.Elsewhere in the chart Audi has snagged eighth place thanks to Ginka Kushka with 'Homeward'.Shazam Chart PositionShazam Chart1CRANK IT Artist: KIDEKO & GEORGE KWALI Brand: Lucozade Sport C
  
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• EasyJet to set up continental airline as profits tumble

  15-11-2016 13:43 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Brexit, terrorism and flight cancellations resulted in EasyJet's profits falling 27.8% to £495m for the year.
  
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• EasyJet outlines post-Brexit plan as profits tumble

  15-11-2016 13:43 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Brexit, terrorism and flight cancellations resulted in EasyJet's profits falling 27.8% to £495m for the year.
  
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• The #spiritcooking effect: How junk news goes viral and influences an election

  15-11-2016 13:27
  
  As social media’s role in the spread of fake news stories in the run up to the US Election is coming increasingly under the microscope, Stuart Aitken, head of content at DigitasLBi, looks at one of the strangest stories to be cooked up in the last days before Trump's victory.
  “And people, if they just repeat attacks enough, and outright lies over and over again, as long as it’s on Facebook and people can see it, as long as it’s on social media, people start believing it&h
  
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• Aldi launches its most premium spirits and wine range to date

  15-11-2016 13:23
  
  Aldi says some of the luxury range are selling for up to 74% less than market equivalents
  
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• Study shows huge variations in amount of sugar in soft drinks

  15-11-2016 13:22
  
  The Action on Sugar study, published in the BMJ Open, calls for government to take additional measures
  
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• Upbeat rebrands after ‘getting lost in a maturing category’

  15-11-2016 13:12
  
  Dairy protein drink Upbeat has been given a fresh look after realising its previous packaging lacked clear benefit and occasion communication.
  While consumers bought the product (owned by The Good Whey Company) following in-store sampling, they were not picking it off the chiller shelves unprompted.
  Conran Design Group created the work and focused on the ‘energy swirl’, which is based on the key product benefits: the long-term source of energy and goodness of whey. Through the new de
  
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• Pret's 'alternative' Christmas campaign highlights apprenticeships for the homeless

  15-11-2016 13:00 via campaignlive.co.uk
  
  Café chain Pret A Manger has again taken a deliberately non-capitalist approach to its Christmas marketing campaign, which is designed to highlight its apprenticeship scheme for the homeless.
  
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• How to maximise your Facebook ad spend

  15-11-2016 12:59
  
  Every advertising channel has its benefits and drawbacks, and in the industry’s history, it’s always been difficult to prove true effectiveness. With the improvements in technology and tracking abilities, one thing the industry is collectively improving on is finding out where your money is making an impact and where it’s not.
  At the end of the day, any advertising channel you use needs to prove its ROI for your business. Facebook is no different. Here are a few ways to ensure
  
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• Köld frozen cocktails launched as single pouch format

  15-11-2016 12:51
  
  The move is aimed at increasing the product’s appeal to grocery retailers
  
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• Tyrrells owner Amplify posts 48.1% quarterly sales rise

  15-11-2016 12:44
  
  Amplify Snack Brands, which bought UK crisp producer Tyrrells for £300m in August, has posted a big jump in sales and profitability in the quarter it secured the deal.
  
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• Fisherman's Friend launches new mint flavoured variant

  15-11-2016 12:40
  
  The launch of a “popular” mint flavour follows the success of its fruity variants…
  
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• Tesco Grows At Fastest Rate In Three Years Whilst Growth Of Discounters Hits Five-Year Low

  15-11-2016 12:35
  The latest grocery share figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks ending 6 November reveal a second month of good news for Tesco, which grew at its fastest rate in three years. Meanwhile, sales growth at Aldi and Lidl (more…)
  
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• IGD Launch 2017 Trade Briefings, Conferences and Training

  15-11-2016 12:34
  IGD’s 2017 events are now open to bookings. The first two Trade Briefings next year are with Asda and Booths, while there’s a limited number of early bird tickets on offer for the Category Management and Shopper Marketing Summit. You (more…)
  
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