Quaker Kicks Off Brand Campaign in Times Square
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Monday, March 9, 2009

Massive Oatmeal Giveaway Aims to Boost Entire Portfolio
By Emily Bryson York
Published: March 09, 2009
CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Quaker Foods launched a yearlong campaign in New York's Times Square this morning with a massive breakfast giveaway, part of its cause-marketing effort to combat hunger. The campaign -- themed "Go, humans, go" -- is the first work from Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, which nabbed the account last fall. Quaker's business was previously with Element 79, Chicago.

Quaker Chief Marketing Officer Annie Young-Scrivner said the work represents a more "holistic" approach to Quaker products by leveraging the iconic Quaker man, a property that has about 100% recall with consumers, she said. Ms. Young-Scrivner said while consumers are getting more interested in oats, and the Quaker brand has a lot of equity, there's some confusion about the breadth the company's product line. As a result, the campaign aims to pump up the entire portfolio -- and the health benefits of oats -- rather than a particular product. "This helps [consumers] understand what else they can buy from Quaker," she said.

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All its oats in one basket
Quaker launching first-ever campaign touting entire product line as collection of healthy foods, targeting childhood obesity

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Starbucks to debut new drinks in L.A.
Troubled coffee giant to try new smoothie drinks Tuesday
By Rene Lynch, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 
5:38 PM PDT, July 14, 2008

 
Is your wait at Starbucks about to get longer?
The coffee giant is unveiling not one, not two, but four new drinks starting at midnight tonight, including two icy blends that will be exclusive to the Los Angeles and Orange County area. The other two – called Vivannos – will be available nationally and are billed as "nourishing blends" that can include fruit and bittersweet cocoa, whey and fiber. It's part of Starbucks' effort to expand into healthier fare.
The decidedly non-coffee drinks come on the heels of bad news for Starbucks. It recently announced the closure of 600 stores in the wake of sluggish sales. The build-up to the unveiling of the Vivanno has been relatively quiet, but the on-line world is wondering whether it has the potential to become the new frappuccino. Others, meanwhile wonder whether Starbucks is too late to the smoothie game.
Restaurant research analyst Nicole Miller Regan said Starbucks gets credit for introducing non-dairy, non-coffee beverages to appeal to a wider audience, but added that a struggle still lies ahead. "It's not going to move the needle," she said bluntly of the new drinks. "We're focused on the turnaround strategy…the competition is difficult."

The Vivannos come in two flavors: Orange Mango Banana Blend, and Banana Chocolate Blend. They are both under 300 calories.
In contrast to the roll-out for the Vivanno, the coffee giant is unleashing an advertizing blitz in Los Angeles to make sure that the sun doesn't go down tonight without making you aware of their pair of new icy beverages. There will be skywriting. There will be murals. Marquee signs at the likes of The Roxy and the El Ray, and House of Blues will trumpet its coming.
We signed a non-disclosure agreement to get the skinny – and a private tasting in Beverly Hills this afternoon -- in exchange for agreeing that we wouldn't reveal the particulars about the local new drinks, not even the name, until midnight. And we'll keep that promise, so check back here.
Be forewarned that the drinks are only being tested at select Starbucks in the Los Angeles and Orange County area – roughly half of the stores will offer it. A spokesman says Starbucks locations selling the new drinks will be visibly "branded" out front, so that should save you from wasting your time. Sales will determine whether the drink rolls out to additional stores.
Here's hoping that these fancy new drinks won't make long lines any longer than they already get while someone is trying to specialty order a frappo-mocha-nilla-whatever.
Management, however, contends that the lines won't be a problem.

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Get Your Condoms Today
Friday, June 13, 2008

Condoms are in the air. No, not literally, but they are on the street today. Early this morning “Free Condom Friday” began, sponsored by Trojan. The free condoms will be handed out until 2:30 today at: W. 45th and 9th Ave. and on Wall Street in Manhattan, Borough Hall in Brooklyn, Astoria and 30th Street in Queens, and 149th Street Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Trojan said the reason for the giveaway is to bring attention to a recent report from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which stated that one fourth of adults in the city have herpes. So grab a condom and a friend and enjoy a fun and safe weekend.

If you miss the condom giveaway, feel free to choose the presidential candidate you deem the safest with the Obama and McCain rubbers. Created by Practice Safe Policy, you can pick the strongest man for you. Obamacondoms.com totes “experience not necessary” and “not for the typical white guy,” while mccaincondoms.com advertises that they are “old but not expired and “for the conservative dick.” This brings a whole other meaning to bedroom politics.

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