Food

Krafty Cadbury – a sign of the times that swings over our heads

Posted Thursday 3, February 2011 by: JJG

Cadbury brand owner, Kraft has kept true to character by putting profits before criticism in the knowledge that today’s consumers will put up with just about anything in a climate of fear and uncertainty.

Kraft has cut the size of many of its Cadbury brand chocolate bars – whilst keeping confectionary prices at pre-size reduction costs.

For example, a squatter version of Cadbury Dairy Milk bar has two less chunks, but still costs £1 at the till.

Toblerone has removed an entire ‘mountain’ from its bar.

Similar cuts have been applied to British brand favourites such as Mars, Snickers, Yorkie and Rolo.

Posted in Brand expert, brand uk, Branding, Cadbury brand, Kraft food brand | No Comments »>

Arrogance breeds arrogance

Posted Sunday 12, December 2010 by: JJG

There have been riots again on the streets of London. Legitimate protestors had arguments, rather than arms in the mind. However, spotting an opportunity for a ‘good kicking’ many illegitimate rioters turned chants of complaint into assaults on democracy. Meanwhile, following a pleasant lunch at the House of Commons restaurant, MPs, elected by the people [...]

Posted in British brands, global brands, McDonalds, political branding, Politics | No Comments »>

China looks for fortune from cookie brands

Posted Monday 27, September 2010 by: JJG

Chinese brand leader, Bright Food has become the front line contender, ahead of Campbell Soup, PepsiCo, Nestle and Kellogg’s for buying Britain’s biggest biscuit producer United Biscuits (UB). The company employs 7,000 people and owns some of the UK’s best-loved food brands. These include McVitie’s biscuits, Jaffa Cakes, McCoys, Twiglets, Hula Hoops, Phileas Fogg and [...]

Posted in Cadbury brand, fmcg, fmcg brand, Food, Kraft food brand, McDonalds | No Comments »>

Gay McDonald’s commercial

Posted Tuesday 8, June 2010 by: JJG

McDonalds in France has premiered its first ever gay teenager tv commerical entitled, ‘Come As You Are’.

The commercial addresses traditional ‘macho’ views of homosexuality with a teenager boy being questioned about his ‘all -male’ school by an older man who feels sorry for him as he lost opportunities to date girls. The teenager responds with a wry smile.

McDonalds spokesperson explained that the commercial aimed to recognise the diversity of McDonald’s customers in France.

A YouTube version of the ad has already received in excess of 1,691,642 hits.

Posted in fmcg brand, global brands, McDonalds | 2 Comments »>

Love it or Hate brand hits back at hate it or ignore it political party

Posted Thursday 22, April 2010 by: JJG

Not content with hijacking St. George’s Day to publish the BNP’s odious manifesto, Nick Griffin, the leader of the ultra-right political party, the BNP has decided to plagerise another great British icon – Marmite.

Posted in bnp brand, Marmite brand, Misc | 1 Comment »>

Cadbury brand. What’s in it for the Kraft Foods brand? (Updated)

Posted Wednesday 20, January 2010 by: JJG

To all intents and purposes, unless there is a last minute change by January 25th, it appears that global brand giant, Kraft Foods has succeeded in a £11.9bn bid to buy one the UK’s best loved brands, Cadbury.

Kraft increased its bid from an initial offer of 771p a share back in September 2009 to 840p plus a dividend (the equivalent of 8581/2 p, including the fee).

If and once the deal goes ahead, it will lead to the creation of the world’s biggest confectionary group with sales of nearly £37bn.

Kraft said it would own 40 confectionary brands with sales in excess of $100m.

From a regional branding perception stance, in the short term at least, such a deal could spell trouble ahead for the Bourneville brand.

Posted in Brand expert, Branding, Cadbury brand, fmcg, fmcg brand, Food, Kraft food brand | No Comments »>

Santa – the real thing?

Posted Thursday 24, December 2009 by: JJG

In 1862 the Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper’s Weekly.  Santa was depicted as a small elf-like figure who supported the Union.  By good chance for the Coca-Cola Company, the character wore red and white – inadvertently reflecting the company’s brand colours.  Officially the company explains the red suit came from [...]

Posted in Branding, Food, global brands, Misc | 2 Comments »>

McDonald’s viral marketing rap

Posted Friday 10, July 2009 by: JJG

Love this piece of viral marketing – but is it real? Share on FacebookBookmark to:

Posted in Food, global brands, Misc, top brands | 6 Comments »>

When beans are just too much of a mouthful

Posted Sunday 13, July 2008 by: JJG

How stupid do brands think people are? Discussing Heinz’s decision last week to drop the word ‘baked’ which has graced its tins of iconic beans since 1886, John Alderman, marketing manager for the company said: “Heinz Beanz have been powering the nation for over a hundred years and to say thank you to our loyal fans, we have given this iconic product a 21st century makeover”.

Posted in Brand expert, Branding, fmcg, Food, top brands | 1 Comment »>

Heinz pulls out of gay sex before it gets in too deep.

Posted Thursday 26, June 2008 by: JJG

Heinz, the perennial family brand favourite, has withdrawn its television commercial for mayonnaise because it believes it offends family values. The thirty-second commercial, which was due to run over five weeks, features a man in a typical middle-class family kitchen setting preparing sandwiches for a schoolboy and girl.  The man, dressed as a chef, sounds [...]

Posted in Advertising, Branding, fmcg, Food, global brands, top brands | No Comments »>