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POPAI SmartBrief

November 5, 2009

Top Story

BIA/Kelsey sees bright future for DOOH
A BIA/Kelsey report forecasts the market for digital out-of-home advertising hitting $2.2 billion this year and $3.7 billion in 2013. Mediaweek (11/4)

Industry Focus

Utz puts brakes on Snyder's of Hanover merger
Utz Quality Foods is no longer pursuing a merger with Snyder's of Hanover because of difficulties winning Federal Trade Commission approval, the companies said in a joint statement. The two family-owned snack companies, both based in Hanover, Pa., had hoped to complete the deal by the end of the year. The Evening Sun (Hanover, Pa.) (11/4)

Controversy bubbles over Coke deal with doctors group
The American Academy of Family Physicians has sparked an outcry and prompted some members to quit because of its six-figure deal with Coca-Cola Co. The arrangement calls for the doctors group to provide educational materials about soft drinks on its Web site, although Academy CEO Dr. Douglas Henley noted that Coca-Cola will have no control over editorial content. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (11/4)

Shopper Engagement

Sunday papers still provide most coupons, says eMarketer
Coupon use remains high as the economic downturn lingers, says eMarketer, with consumers across socio-economic lines clipping and clicking for savings. Coupons from Sunday fliers still dominate, with 47% of consumers citing newspapers as a source, though 31% of consumers use online coupon sites and 29% get coupons from brands' Web sites. Adweek/eMarketer (11/4)

Report: E-tailers add social tools, enhance sites for holiday season
The coming holiday shopping season has prompted e-tailers to enhance their sites, with about six in 10 online merchants boosting their presence on Facebook and Twitter, more than four in 10 improving their search functions and nearly 80% featuring some type of free shipping for the season, according to the annual eHoliday report from Shop.org and BIGresearch. Adweek (11/4)

Marketing Spotlight

Kellogg dials back immunity claims on cereal boxes
Kellogg is removing banners on Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies cereal boxes that say the products can boost immunity. The move comes amid public concerns about the H1N1 virus. Kellogg will continue to add antioxidant vitamins to the brands. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (11/4) Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.)/The Associated Press (11/4)

General Mills seeks solutions through Web site
General Mills has created a Web portal seeking help from food scientists and inventors. The General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network could lead to funding, licensing or joint ventures to those offering ideas for meeting specific food-related challenges, such as reducing sugar in chewy granola bars and finding alternate uses for vegetable waste. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (11/5)

Toys make Hollywood's A-list
The U.S. movies industry is banking on established toy brands as the prime force behind feature films. This summer's box office showed the power of brands such as G.I. Joe and Transformers to lure moviegoers, while flicks starring once-bankable names such as Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler didn't perform as well. Even popular games are getting into the act, with movie versions of Monopoly and Battleship in the pipeline. The Wall Street Journal (11/5)

POPAI News

Mark Your Calendar: POPAI's Market Smart 2010
POPAI's Market Smart 2010 is taking place Jan. 21, 2010, in Miami. The conference will include the presentation of POPAI's Marketing at Retail Initiative Results and POPAI's Night of Honors Celebration.

Conference registration is $495 for POPAI Members; $995 for Non-Members. To register or obtain more information, contact Alicia Rutherford at arutherford@popai.com or (703) 373-8805.

The Endcap

There is no such thing as a great talent without great willpower."

--Honoré de Balzac,
French novelist