'Ogre-Sized' M&M's On Display As SHREK 2 Hits Theaters
Tying into the widely-anticipated opening of SHREK 2 in movie theaters nationwide, M&M's is introducing the first-ever "Ogre-sized" version of its signature M&M's chocolate candies. The M&M's Brand SHREK Mix, featuring 50% bigger Milk Chocolate and Peanut M&M's, is currently being displayed in stores and theaters.
"We wanted to create a chocolate taste fit for an ogre and his princess," said Janis Smith-Gomez, V.P. of Marketing, M&M's brand, Masterfoods USA. "Nothing says big chocolate taste like ogre-sized M&M's; add that to the biggest movie and the biggest star, and you've got an unbeatable recipe for ogre-sized fun."
As part of the promotion, M&M's is also conducting an "Ogre-Sized Load" sweepstakes. By guessing how many Ogre-sized M&M's will fit in the Grand Canyon, one winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip for four to the Grand Canyon. The prize will be awarded at the M&M's World store in Las Vegas, where Shrek will be on hand to congratulate the winner.
palmOne Opens Flagship Store At Philadelphia International Airport
palmOne, Inc. has opened a flagship store in Philadelphia International Airport to showcase the Company's Zire and Tungsten handheld computers, Treo smartphones and accessories.
The goal behind the flagship store is to reach new customers who don't necessarily shop in traditional office of high technology superstores or online. The Company also wanted to illustrate that handheld computers and communications solutions can and will be used by people in all walks of life to improve productivity and enhance the enjoyment of life. The store offers an attractive and comfortable environment staffed by expert consultants enabling potential customers to interact with and buy palmOne handhelds, smartphones and a wide range of software and accessories.
"The surprise of seeing and interacting with our products in open-air mall settings or attractive airport locations is working," said John Hartnett, V.P., palmOne Stores Worldwide. "Half of our palmOne Store customers tell us they bought on impulse, and we're attracting an excellent mix of new clientele and loyalists."
Cereality Cereal Bar & Café Plans National Rollout
Cereality Cereal Bar & Café, a breakthrough foodservice concept serving cereal out-of-home, is planning for a national rollout in late 2004 via company-owned stores and a franchise system.
The "Seinfeld-esque" kitchen setting features homey kitchen cabinets stocked with familiar cereals. From morning to night, Cereality exclusively focuses on the custom-blending and serving of both cold and hot cereals, along with a variety of original recipe cereal-based snack foods (i.e. bars, mixes and smoothies). Cereality features 33 choices of cereal including brand names from Quaker, General Mills, Kellogg's and Post, 34 choices of toppings, 3 types of milk, plus an assortment of specialty milks available from the "Moo Machine."
A prototype Cereality recently opened at Arizona State University in Tempe, to test the concept in a real-life setting. Said David Roth, co-founder and CEO of Cereality, "The loyal and enthusiastic response to Cereality from the students, faculty and staff at ASU only serves to reinforce how sure we are about our concept. We've 'cracked the code'-and we've created a standardized, branded restaurant format for eating cereal away from home all day long. We're also tapping into the customization/personalization trend and we have built-in equity by using branded ingredients in our proprietary recipes."
Invent-a-Blend, developed in partnership with Quaker, allows the customers to opt for a variety of basic grains, or select from three Quaker hot cereals. "The touch screen technology will remember you and what you like and be ready with your order on your next visit," said Roth.
Exxon Mobil 1 Race Team Promoted At Daytonna Races
Exxon Mobil recently used this Xtra Lite Display system to create a hospitality area for the Exxon Mobil 1 Race Team before and during the Daytonna 2004 races. The portable Mobil 1 exhibit and signage was very successful and even stood up under some 30 mile an hour wind gusts.
For more information, contact Xtra Lite Displays, 501 E. Hwy. 13, Burnsville, MN 55337; (Tel) 952-894-6622, ext. 105.
SoBe And Jeep Launch Joint Marketing Program
SoBe Beverages and Jeep have formed a marketing partnership designed to reach consumers through several events across the country beginning this summer.
As part of the new relationship, eight Jeep Wrangler Unlimited vehicles will be awarded to grand-prize winners in SoBe's summer-long under-the-cap consumer promotion, Lizard Liberation. Additionally, a one-of-a-kind SoBe Jeep Wrangler Rubicon will be on display at Jeep 101, Jeep Music Trax and Camp Jeep events throughout the summer. Beginning with Jeep 101, a 12-stop driving experience with both on- and off-road courses, SoBe will offer free beverage samples to event-goers. SoBe sampling will also be incorporated into the ten-stop Jeep Trax concert tour, which features the Counting Crows. At the Camp Jeep events in Nelson County, VA and Santa Barbara, CA, SoBe will sponsor the Thrills and Spills arena, where consumers can participate in and view numerous action sports, including freestyle motocross, skateboarding and mountain biking.
Said Mike Joyce, SoBe Director of Integrated Marketing, "The Jeep brand embraces SoBe's creativity and personality, and demonstrates a similar passion for their consumers that we have for our fans. It's a great fit, and we look forward to offering our fans the benefit of a fun, relevant partnership between two powerful brands."
"Along with sharing our target market, our brands share similar values-both are passionate about active lifestyles, music, gaming and action sports," said Jeff Bell, V.P., Jeep. "Together, we are able to leverage our resources, events and promotions to reach more consumers."
Food Lion To Introduce New Store Concept
Food Lion LLC plans to open five pilot stores to test a new store concept, format and brand name. The pilot stores, all scheduled to open by the end of 2004 in the Charlotte, NC area, will be named, "Bloom, A Food Lion Market." Food Lion operates more than 1,200 stores in 11 states.
The Bloom pilot stores will place an emphasis on meeting customers' needs for home meal solutions. Among the products and services offered will be Boston Market home-style meals.
"Bloom is a different kind of name for a grocery store," said Robert Canipe, Food Lion V.P. of Business Strategy. "The name reflects the beginning of something new and our desire to create a unique shopping experience."
Customers will quickly notice Bloom's new approach to store design, layout and merchandising. The store will also incorporate leading edge technologies designed to help customers find products, get information and check out with greater ease.
Tropicana Light 'N Healthy Juice Products Introduced
Tropicana has introduced Light 'N Healthy, a new OJ beverage that provides diet/health-minded consumers with significantly fewer calories, carbohydrates and sugars than regular orange juice without sacrificing taste and nutrition. Light 'n Healthy's introduction coincides with a surge in the number of consumers committing to low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diets. Building on the robust reception Light 'n Healthy has received in the chilled section, Tropicana is enhancing its product line with lighter versions of juice beverages in new flavors and is extending the Light 'n Healthy label into shelf-stable packaging in apple, grape and mixed berry.
Gateway Names C. Stauffer Sr. V.P., Mktg.
Gateway, Inc. has named Cathy Stauffer Senior V.P., Marketing. Stauffer will oversee all retail, consumer, professional and brand marketing functions. For more than 20 years, Stauffer has held a number of corporate marketing positions with Good Guys, most recently as President, Good Guys Retail.
Ampad Creates New Marketing Positions To Support Growth Plans
American Pad & Paper LLC (Ampad) has announced organizational changes within its marketing group including the creation of two new positions. Todd Elms has been promoted to Director of Product Marketing and Kathy Martinez has assumed the role of Business Development Manager. Elms, who recently held the title of Marketing Manager for filing products, now has overall responsibility for Ampad's core product lines, with individual product and marketing managers reporting to him. Martinez, who previously held the title of Product Manager for envelopes and specialty papers, will identify and analyze new product, market and other business opportunities.
Metaline Adds Jenna Zilincar To Family Business
Metaline, a New Jersey-based designed and manufacturer of point-of-purchase displays since 1923, has added Jenna Zilincar as a display designer, joining the family-owned business. Metaline has been passed down through four generations of August John Zilincars, with August III as President and August IV as Vice President. Metaline believes that Jenna's design expertise will bring a fresh, new perspective to the established display company.
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