Asda is hoping to snatch the contract to produce Manchester
United’s football strip from the sports manufacturer, Umbro. The
supermarket chain’s partner, George Davies, hopes to design the kit,
with Archie Norman, the chairman of Asda, being brought in to make the
kit or stock it in Asda stores. Manchester United’s deal with Umbro has
an additional two years to run. - The Mail on Sunday
NatWest is said to be considering axing the Canning family campaign
devised by Bartle Bogle Hegarty as it seeks to cut costs in the wake of
an unsuccessful move into investment banking. The company is developing
a new press and poster campaign through Ammirati Puris Lintas. -
Marketing
Sir Tim Bell’s PR company, Lowe Bell, is to advise the Egyptian embassy
on how to restore its tourism industry following the massacre at Luxor
three weeks ago. Sixty-two people, including six British tourists, died
in the attack by religious extremists. - The Guardian
Speculation is mounting regarding Bill Gates’s long-awaited assault on
the British digital TV market following revelations that senior
personnel from his company, Microsoft, have had meetings with Don
Cruickshank, head of the telecoms regulator, Oftel. The meetings were to
discuss the rules governing access to the new broadcasting technology. -
The Guardian
Mikhail Gorbachev has signed an advertising deal with Pizza Hut as
tipped last week (Campaign, 5 November). The ads, which have already
been filmed, are set in a Russian Pizza Hut near the Kremlin. Gorbachev
will be paid pounds 100,000 for the ads, which will run in the UK next
year following Pizza Hut’s work featuring the Chelsea manager, Ruud
Gullit. - The Guardian
Ruth Blakemore, the former marketing director of Cable & Wireless
Communications, has joined Bradford & Bingley as commercial director.
She replaces John Wrigglesworth and is expected to spearhead a new
brand-building push. The building society currently uses Leo Burnett and
McCann-Erickson. - Marketing
Nicola Peers, the International Wool Secretariat’s group manager for
international marketing, has left after just one month. Peers began her
job by visiting agencies to discuss the future of the pounds 22 million
account, which is held by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. She is understood to
have drawn up a shortlist, but the IWS later issued a statement saying
the account was not up for review. - General release
The Independent Television Commission has ruled that flight prices
advertised on Teletext, Oracle or other moving ads have to be shown at
their true price, inclusive of any applicable taxes. The ITC’s decision
follows the Advertising Standards Authority’s ruling last month that
flight prices in print advertising should be quoted inclusive of air
taxes. - General release
Umbro Europe has signed Alan Shearer, England’s captain, to be its
global spokesman until the year 2012. Shearer was signed for Umbro when
he was 17 and the new contract makes his relationship with the company
the longest individual endorsement in the game’s history. - General
release
TBWA Simons Palmer has beaten Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO in the final
stages of the pitch for the pounds 2 million Ocean Spray account in the
UK. Ocean Spray is best known in this country for its cranberry fruit
drink, which is advertised in the US by the Duchess of York. - General
release
Wedgwood, the china manufacturer, is to relaunch with a pounds 5 million
campaign through Mustoe Merriman Herring Levy. The company, which was
founded in 1759, is hoping to persuade a younger group of customers to
see beyond its expensive blue-and-white crockery. - The Daily Telegraph.
