Heinz has called in senior executives from agencies including Leo
Burnett, Bates Dorland and Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper, with a view to holding
a creative pitch for its pounds 50 million global convenience meals
division.
The accounts up for grabs are expected to include baked beans, soups and
pasta. Heinz, which is based in the US, works with a wide range of
agencies in different countries across the world and is now considering
consolidating its advertising into three or four global networks.
A spokesman from Heinz said: ’As a global company, we keep things under
review across all our eight categories’, but refused to confirm or deny
the latest review, which will get under way in January.
Burnetts, which is already a Heinz roster agency, recently won the
global account for Heinz Tomato Ketchup in a battle with TBWA GGT Simons
Palmer.
Dorlands is also a roster agency but Euro RSCG has no ties with the
global food giant at present.
Euro RSCG resigned the Heinz Weight Watchers account when it won the
Haagen-Dazs business last year, citing the possibility of ’a future
conflict’.
However, the conflict has yet to materialise and the agency seems to be
in a good position to re-establish its relationship with Heinz.
Dorlands is still Heinz’s main agency in this country. It handles baked
beans, salad cream, the Weight Watchers range and puddings.