Profile: AB InBev CMO Chris Burggraeve

The CMO of the world’s biggest brewer on creating 30 million ‘brand fans’.

AB InBev shifts spend from TV to social

Budweiser owner says traditional channels such as television are becoming a ‘secondary medium’ to social media channels.

AB InBev cites social media for profit boost

AB InBev says ‘Fans First’ social media marketing strategy boosted profits in 2011.

AB InBev launches Family Talk responsible drinking strategy

AB InBev works with Mumsnet to encourage parents to talk about alcohol with their children

AOL to “rethink core purpose” of its site

AOL to overhaul its homepage after admitting it has not focused enough on consumer needs.

AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo! confirm ad sales pact

AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo! have confirmed they are to sell each other’s remnant display inventory via their respective ad networks in the US, as they each seek to gain marketshare from Google.

AOL launches first tablet magazine, Editions

AOL has launched its first tablet magazine, Editions, to take on publishers such as News Corp and Seven Publishing.

Apple faces iPad ad bans

ASA is looking to investigate why Apple advertises its iPad as having 4G capabilities - despite 4G being unavailable in the UK.

Apple profit soars 94%

Technology company shrugs off concern that iPhone sales have peaked by almost doubling profit.

Apple stands on the edge of a parent trap

‘When was the last time you saw anyone under 25 using an iPhone? Therein lies the problem for Apple. It’s a parent’s phone.’

Apple unveils faster 4G iPad

Apple steps up assault on the tablet market with a faster, lighter 4G iPad.

Asda to increase in-store marketing

Asda will increase its in-store marketing ahead of this summer’s Olympic and Jubilee events.

Rick Bendel steps down as Asda CMO

Bendel to take on new global marketing role with parent company Walmart as China marketing chief Stephen Smith takes on the CMO role.

Asda lowest price ad banned

Asda must withdraw a price comparison ad after the advertising watchdog upheld a complaint from rival Tesco.

Asda to reshape business around mums

Asda first to use insight from mums to shape business.

Asos names marketing director

Terri Westlake will head up marketing at Asos as former global marketing chief Clare Dobbie joins Hobbs.

Asos launches click and collect

Asos customers can now arrange delivery of items to local shops through the CollectPlus service.

Young marketers’ leadership strategies

Find out why ’brand me’ is your winning career move, click hereFor the The Marketing Academy’s power players’ leadership tips from the top,

Why ‘brand me’ is your winning career move

Working out your next move: Talented young marketers meet the industry’s power players to talk leadership, career development and ’brand me’.

Barclays launches money transfer app

Customers can transfer money using a mobile app in a move that Barclays claims will “revolutionise” UK banking.

Barclays appoints David Wheldon to top brand role

Former Vodafone and Coca-Cola marketer David Wheldon has joined Barclays to oversee the banking group’s branding.

Barclays mulling restructure after Burns exit

Barclays is reviewing the marketing structure for its UK retail banking operations following the departure of marketing director Emmet Burns.

Barclaycard offers chance to win an easier Christmas

Barclaycard is running an interactive advent calendar campaign to give customers a chance to win prizes in the run up to Christmas.

BA trials cabin crew reward scheme

British Airways looks to incentivise cabin crew and improve customer service.

BA unveils its London Olympics TV campaign

British Airways to debut new Olympics ad showcasing staff on social media.

BA promotes Abigail Comber to lead marketer

British Airways has promoted head of brand engagement Abigail Comber to lead its global marketing strategy.

Facebook now ‘equal’ to traditional ad platforms

Facebook says big brands now consider it “a lot more seriously” as a major advertising platform, a claim that comes amid fresh criticism that its importance in the marketing mix is being “distorted”.

British Gas exec berates energy industry’s “lack of innovation”

Head of connected homes calls on mobile industry to help drive innovation in the utilities sector

British Gas profits down despite tariff increases

British Gas sees profit slide due to warmer than expected weather in 2011.

British Gas readies push to promote price cut

UK’s biggest energy supplier to launch heavyweight campaign claiming it now offers the “cheapest electricity” after cutting rates by 5%.

British Gas scraps top commercial role following Vlemmiks’ exit

Rick Vlemmiks’ departure sees the commercial director role separated into three: marketing, insight and sales.

Britvic creates MD role and recruits Diageo GB chief

Britvic creates GB MD role and appoints former Diageo chief Simon Litherland.

Pepsi launches mini cans to appeal to women

PepsiCo has launched a mini can variant for its Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max brands in the UK as it looks to boost its appeal with women.

Britvic creates “squirty cream” Tango drink

Britvic is to launch a new Tango variant that places the drink in aerosol cans, which it says will “shake up” the fruit carbonates sector.

Tizer owner launches energy drink for women

AG Barr, the owner of Irn Bru and Tizer, is launching what it claims to be the first energy drink targeted specifically at women.

BT and TalkTalk in dock over broadband speeds

Ofcom probe finds BT and TalkTalk were not giving consumers adequate information about likely broadband speeds early enough in the sales process.

BT drops Adam and Jane ad series

My Family star Kris Marshall parts ways with the company, while Spooks actress Esther Hall’s role is scaled back.

Is effort the new loyalty?

Customer service is a vital element for brand loyalty and part of this is making it as easy as possible for consumers to find answers to their questions. Collecting data from interactions can help smooth the process

BT Vision overhauls brand identity

BT Vision has an adapted logo and colour scheme to better reflect its variety of channels.

Burger King drops The King character in the US

Burger King has ditched its brand mascot “The King” in the US in favour of a greater focus on its food credentials.

Coke inks deal with Spotify to boost music

Soft drinks maker and music streaming service partner to cross-promote services.

Coca-Cola hails marketing for profit boost

Drinks manufacturer backs marketing and global cost-cutting initiative to build on Q1 profit boost.

Brands sign calorie reduction pledge

Coca-Cola, Mars and Tesco are three of a raft of brands and retailers that have agreed a deal with the government to reduce calories.

Coca-Cola launches campaign for new bottle size

Coca-Cola is launching an outdoor campaign to promote its first new bottle size in 20 years.

Diageo apologises for BrewDog award veto

Smirnoff maker blames a ‘serious misjudgement’ by staff after allegations that it vetoed an award BrewDog was set to win.

'Brand managers must be multi-skilled'

Diageo European chief Philip Gladman says brand managers of the future are going to have to be like “Swiss army knives”.

Guinness to host “world’s largest St Patrick’s Day party”

Guinness to team up with millions of fans next month to host the world’s largest St Patrick’s Day celebration.

Diageo hails marketing strategy for sales bump

Diageo says brand building investment, particulary in emerging markets, helped boost sales despite “uncertain” economic environment.

DMGT warns of profit fall this year

Publisher of Daily Mail says that while B2B revenue is strong consumer titles are struggling.

Sunday red tops benefit massively from News of the World closure

The Sunday tabloid newspaper market saw an unprecedented circulation boost in July following the closure of the News of the World.

Q&A with Metro MD Linda Grant

Daily Mail owner reports tough ad spend climate

DMGT, owner of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Metro newspapers, says national advertising revenues were “weak” over its third quarter.

Airline spreads wings on back of business travel

Board-level marketing director Peter Duffy talks to MaryLou Costa about his role in easyJet’s strategy to attract more business passengers, the use of customer data and spoofing BA advertising

EasyJet profits defy economic squeeze

Low cost airline’s cost cutting and strategy of targeting business flyers pays off.

Case study: Europe by easyJet

Learn how brands can boost productivity by bringing together their employees in our feature, here Read a case study on how My Wellbeing app has helped raise staff morale,

The vital connection between staff and the bottom line

How brands can boost productivity by bringing together their employees.

eBay to push users in-store via mobile

MWC: eBay is moving into the offline retail sector by using mobile to drive footfall into bricks-and-mortar outlets.

EBay readies hot spot sponsorship

EBay is looking to sponsor public Wi-Fi hotspots as it bids to offset the absence of high-speed mobile internet access available in the UK.

EBay revenue lifted by PayPal

EBay revenues rose by 25% in second quarter of this year, boosted by a strong performance by its payments platform PayPal.

EDF ‘fined’ for breaking marketing rules

Energy supplier to pay for price cuts for ‘fuel poverty’ customers.

EDF Energy joins marketing battle over price cuts

EDF Energy is claiming to be the “cheapest major supplier” among the big six energy companies in a press campaign to trumpet its recent price cuts.

EDF Energy fined for spying on Greenpeace

The Olympic sponsor must pay damages to Greenpeace for hacking into its computers for information.

EDF hikes prices

The energy provider is the last of the Big Six to increase its prices.

O2, EE and Vodafone to create mobile ad network

Joint venture proposal extends beyond co-branded mobile wallet to creating a mobile ad sales house to sell space across third party publishers’ websites.

Everything Everywhere sees record contract growth

UK’s biggest mobile operator says 48% of its customers are now on contracts.

Q&A with Everything Everywhere’s Spencer McHugh

Everything Everywhere director of brand Spencer McHugh speaks to Marketing Week about the forthcoming campaigns for T-Mobile and |

Everything Everywhere readies Orange and T-Mobile brand campaigns

Everything Everywhere launches multi-million pound brand campaigns to emphasise distinctions between Orange and T-Mobile.

Facebook more valuable than McDonald’s

World’s largest social network’s $104bn IPO makes it more valuable than the fast food chain, Kraft and Disney.

Marketers need more data from Facebook

Facebook has convinced investors of its potential but it still has work to do to convince some marketers of its long-term worth.

Facebook unveils hub for brand apps

Social network unveils latest effort to generate revenue from its worldwide audience.

Doubts over Facebook’s Reach Generator

Brands reluctant to try Reach Generator despite Facebook’s efforts to push the tool.

Google+ appoints first EMEA marketing head

Ning VP and former MySpace marketer Cristian Cussen to lead marketing for Google’s social network.

Google CPC drops again

Search giant says lower CPCs give advertisers a better return on investment, as it posts quarterly revenues of $2.89bn.

Google+ rolls out major redesign

New features aim to accelerate company towards a ‘simpler, more beautiful Google’.

Google to launch first push for Google+

First UK above the line campaign for Google+ to highlight its benefits over Facebook and Twitter.

Groupon TV ads to focus on brand building over DR

Daily deals service to switch to brand building in search for repeat custom.

Groupon uses mobile for future growth

MWC: Over a quarter of the group-buying site’s US sales come via mobile.

ASA refers Groupon complaints to the OFT

The advertising watchdog is “seriously concerned” about Groupon’s ability to adhere to the advertising code after “repeated” breaches.

Groupon IPO raises more than £400m

Online discount coupon company Groupon launches on Nasdaq with shares priced at £12.50.

HMV launches multiplatform Easter campaign

HMV is encouraging people to avoid chocolate eggs this Easter and spend money on entertainment instead.

HMV outlines multichannel strategy

HMV is planning a raft of digital marketing initiatives to halt the decline of its struggling high street business.

HMV brings together insight and ecommerce in marketing overhaul

The struggling entertainment retailer has created a new senior role and restructured its marketing teams to focus efforts on a cohesive multichannel strategy.

HMV gets financial boost from supplier deal

Music labels take stake in HMV in a bid to secure future of their main high street outlet.

Honda ventures into the unknown with latest Civic ad

See the campaign here.

Nationwide extends product placement deal

Building Society’s ATM will remain in ITV’s Coronation Street for at least another year.

Why Apple is keeping an eye on TV brand

‘On rare occasions it’s the desire for a brand name itself that creates the demand to buy a business’

ITV reiterates concern over Apple TV branding clash

ITV has reiterated its appeal to Apple not to use iTV for the latter’s connected TV product, according to reports.

Oasis fresh new sponsor of Celebrity Juice

Coca-Cola juice drink Oasis is partnering with ITV2’s comedy panel show Celebrity Juice to amplify the brand’s “cheeky personality”.

John Lewis plots broadband campaign

The retailer will launch a £2m campaign to promote the launch of John Lewis branded broadband service

Waitrose celebrates Queen with Jubilee range

Waitrose launches Jubilee inspired merchandise to help people celebrate Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

John Lewis price promise to stay

John Lewis will increase marketing around Never Knowingly Undersold pledge ‘no matter what’ despite recent fall in profit.

John Lewis morale might be up, but profits are down

I’d wager John Lewis staff are amongst the happiest in the UK, with every employee being rewarded…

Special K to reposition as long-term weight management brand

Kellogg’s wants to move away from short term dieting messages to long-term weight management to encourage body confidence.

Kellogg’s adds vitamin D to tackle rickets

Vitamin D will be added to its cereals to fend off the rising number of children suffering rickets from a lack of the vitamin.

Kellogg’s Cornflakes launches first cause campaign

Kellogg’s is targeting mums with Breakfast Club cornflakes campaign.

Special K teams up with Nails Inc

Kellogg’s looks to cosmetics to cement lifestyle positioning for Special K.

Daryl Fielding to leave Kraft

Kraft’s top marketer to leave the food company and be replaced by company veteran Chrystel Barranger.

Kraft unveils Trident gum global campaign

Kraft kicks off first global campaign for chewing gum brand Trident in shift towards emotion.

Kraft readies Cadbury Olympic ticket giveaway

Cadbury unwraps its first London 2012 on-pack ticket giveaway.

The brands that got lost in translation

‘Now we have Mondelez to add to the big, black book of brand naming mistakes’

Liverpool leads big club charge for more TV money

Liverpool wants the freedom to exploit brand internationally by club-by-club TV deals.

Liverpool FC revamps online video offering

Liverpool FC is overhauling its online video offering to allow clips to be watched across multiple devices.

Carlsberg stresses Liverpool FC links with stadium experience

Carlsberg has overhauled its “brand experience” at Liverpool Football Club’s Anfield stadium to reinforce its long-standing association with the club.

Senior Lloyds marketer Clift leaves

One of Lloyds Banking Group’s most senior marketers, Joe Clift, has left the company after almost three years.

How Lloyds TSB is overcoming the ‘no branding’ Olympics challenge

Head of group sponsorship at Lloyds TSB, Gordon Lott, says the brand is considering the community aspects of its partnership with the Olympics.

Sports sponsorship moves into the fast lane

The cash it generated from sport sponsorship will soon overtake ticket sales, however brands now need to form commercial relationships and strategic partnerships on the basis of shared objectives rather than awareness.

Lloyds boss takes break

Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive, Antonio Horta-Osorio has taken a leave of absence from the state-backed bank due to illness.

Locog polices easyJet’s Sally Gunnell photo shoot

The London Olympics organiser policed an easyJet event featuring champion athlete Sally Gunnell to prevent any ambush marketing and abuse of the Olympic brand and associated imagery.

News International’s exclusive Olympic coverage threatened

News International’s exclusive access to Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls in the run up to the 2012 Games is under threat following the hacking scandal that closed the News of the World.

McDonald’s to open its largest eatery at Olympics

McDonald's plans to launch its largest ever restaurant on the site of the main London 2012 Olympic site.

Manchester Utd inks first European mobile deal

Manchester Utd expands its roster of global partners by penning new three-year deal with Bulgarian telecoms firm.

Man U is world's 'most valuable' sports brand

Report says Glazers have more than doubled the club’s brand value.

Man U reports record profit ahead of Singapore IPO

Manchester United have reported a record annual operating profit of £110.9m, which is likely to strengthen their plans to float on the Singapore stock exchange later this year.

Sunderland appoints former Man U marketer to boost brand overseas

Sunderland AFC has ramped up its efforts to grow the club’s brand internationally by appointing former Manchester United marketer Mike Farnan.

Q&A: Steve Sharp, M&S marketing director

M&S marketing director Steve Sharp talks to Marketing Week about the launch of its ‘shwopping’ sustainable fashion initiative, the challenge of changing consumer behaviour and balancing long term responsible business with short term sales and profit growth.

M&S and Oxfam push clothes recycling

Joanna Lumley to front M&S sustainable fashion drive in partnership with Oxfam.

M&S to improve PR and ad coordination

M&S will improve coordination between marketing, PR and buying to avoid a future slide in clothing sales.

M&S posts unexpected sales slide

M&S has reported a fall in sales following a slide in clothing income.

McDonald’s launches 'healthy' fizzy drink

McDonald’s has introduced a fizzy fruit drink for kids that contains one of the recommended five fruit and veg a day.

McDonald’s promotes America-themed menu

Fast food chain visits ‘quintessential’ British town to promote its annual ‘Great Tastes of America’ menu promotion.

McDonald’s plans Games-themed Happy Meals

Former British Olympian Dean Macey to front McDonald’s Olympic Happy Meal campaign with 2012 mascots Wenlock and Mandeville.

McDonald’s steps up support of British farming

McDonald’s is launching a £1m training and apprenticeship scheme to encourage young people into the farming industry.

Microsoft tests interactive billboards

Internet Explorer uses gesture controlled digital billboards to showcase how its latest browser offers consumers “the beauty of the web”.

Microsoft launches global advertising contest

Microsoft is inviting UK marketers and agencies to enter a global creative storytelling contest to win over $150,000 (£95,213) in spend across its channels.

Microsoft to sue Comet over counterfeiting

The lawsuit over counterfeit software discs is the latest blow to the beleaguered retailer.

Microsoft's new app store offers better revenue share than rivals

Windows Store will offer a 80-20 revenue share with developers once their apps reach $25,000 in sales.

Morrisons slams hypermarkets

Morrisons outlines its plans to grow non-food via clicks not bricks and slams ‘soulless’ hypermarkets.

Morrisons hails ‘best year yet’

‘Innovative’ promotions and revamped own label ranges boost sales and profit as Morrisons hails its ‘best year yet’

Morrisons hires first non-food commercial director

Britain’s 4th largest supermarket signals non-food expansion as it hires former Peacocks MD Tim Bettley.

Morrisons steps up Kiddicare growth plans

The supermarket moves several directors and makes a raft of external hires ahead of multiplatform launch in UK.

Sainsbury’s offers Nectar points rebate

Sainsbury’s is to give customers a rebate on Nectar points spent booking with EasyJet.

Nectar to award points for viewing online ads

Loyalty card scheme Nectar is to offer members additional points for watching online ads through the launch of Adpoints.

Sainsbury’s: 'Nectar data makes our c-stores stronger than rivals'

The supermarket says data from its Nectar loyalty scheme will help its convenience chain perform better than rivals.

Groupe Aeroplan becomes Aimia

Nectar owner Groupe Aeroplan is rebranding to boost recognition.

News Corp board supports Murdoch

Murdoch gets board’s backing despite MPs saying he is ‘unfit’ to run a global company.

BSkyB posts bumper profit

Sky attributes 25% profit lift to decision to focus marketing on home communications, amid heightened scrutiny of major shareholder News Corp.

Murdoch ‘not fit’ to be global company chief

Select committee report says News International guilty of ‘huge failings of corporate governance’ in handling of NOTW scandal.

Ofcom steps up probe into BSkyB

Media regulator could reduce News Corp’s shareholding in BSkyB or revoke its broadcasting licence.

Nokia to sell off Vertu brand

Finnish mobile company “in advanced talks” to sell off its luxury handset brand.

Nokia steps up Lumia marketing

Phone maker hopes to broaden Lumia’s appeal to lower end of the market as it looks to return to profit.

Nokia reveals ‘chapter two’ of new strategy

MWC: Next stage of brand overhaul to focus on co-creation.

Online sales poll indicates slow start for Nokia Lumia

Sales of Nokia’s flagship Windows device have gotten off to a slow start, garnering a 0.17% marketshare of online smartphone sales in November, according to a straw poll by mobilesplease.

Npower slapped with £2m fine for mishandling complaints

Energy regulator Ofgem levies the second large fine on a "big six" firm in four months.

Npower promises not to upsell when installing smart meters

Npower has become the first of the "big six" energy suppliers to promise not to use smart meters as a surreptitious sales tool.

Npower restructure means marketer Kevin Peake is out

Npower has restructured its operations into three new divisions, resulting in the departure of the energy provider’s marketing director Kevin Peake.

O2, EE and Vodafone to create mobile ad network

Joint venture proposal extends beyond co-branded mobile wallet to creating a mobile ad sales house to sell space across third party publishers’ websites.

O2’s new business director departs

Tim Sefton leaves telco company just weeks before the launch of its mobile wallet service.

Q&A: O2 marketing and consumer director Sally Cowdry

O2 marketing and consumer director Sally Cowdry explains the thinking behind O2’s new business strategy: “Fresh thinking, new possibilities”.

O2 brand campaign to trumpet new strategy

O2 is to implement a marketing-led new business approach designed to champion innovation.

Pepsi teams up with Nicki Minaj for global ad

Pepsi teams up with RnB singer for debut TV spot under its ‘Live for Now’ music campaign.

Pepsi readies global music campaign

Drinks giant hopes marketing push, featuring Nicki Minaj, will help it appeal to younger consumers.

PepsiCo readies Walkers Sensations nuts brand

PepsiCo to expand its UK crisp brand Walkers Sensations in to flavoured nuts.

Lionel Messi and Jack Wilshere star in Pepsi Max spot

Football stars Lionel Messi, Jack Wilshere and Didier Drogba take it to the Max in new spot.

P&G plans upsurge in Games-led marketing

Duracell and Gillette in line for Games-themed marketing campaigns.

Duracell Bunny finds his voice

P&G is giving its Duracell Bunny brand character a voice via social media after 39 years.

Braun unveils Jenna Randall campaign

British synchronised swimmer Jenna Randall will front a brand campaign for the P&G-owned brand’s Olympic activity.

P&G readies 175-year birthday campaign

The FMCG firm is to switch marketing focus to its anniversary after the Olympics.

Reckitt Benckiser exceeds expectations

Cillit Bang and Nurofen owner reports higher than expected sales on the back of increased marketing spend and sets out growth strategy for emerging markets.

Reckitt Benckiser moves into social commerce

Reckitt Benckiser is making its first move into f-commerce by making a new Cillit bang product available exclusively via Facebook.

Lemsip mulls comeback for ‘Hug in a Mug’ catchphrase

Lemsip is mulling the return of its original advertising strapline ‘Hug in a Mug’.

Green messaging isn't enough of a marketing proposition

Brands should only ramp up their sustainability marketing if it is being used to support a consumer need, according to design agency experts.

Royal Mail looks to placate marketers after price hike

Royal Mail is to hike the price it charges for handling direct mail by up to 7% from April.

Royal Mail’s long-term health should not be down to price

Royal Mail narrows losses in mail delivery business

Royal Mail Group posts operating profit and sees tight cost control pay off in cutting losses in delivery division.

Ofcom:‘Royal Mail should be free to increase DM prices’

Royal Mail handed greater commercial freedom to offset declining revenues.

SABMiller looks to boost global integration

SABMiller drafts in WPP man to lead global marketing integration.

SAB Miller steps up Foster’s bid

SAB Miller has turned hostile in its £6bn bid to acquire Foster’s lager brand owner Foster’s Group.

SAB Miller opts for a global approach to digital

SAB Miller is to ramp up its use of digital marketing for global brands such as Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni as it looks to “think digitally” when planning communications.

Miller Genuine Draft readies campaign to push expansion

Miller Brands, the UK subsidiary of SAB Miller, is to launch Miller Genuine Draft in England and Wales next month.

Sainsbury’s cites 'compelling' marketing for sales lift

Supermarket says marketing initiatives such as Brand Match and “Live Well For Less” have boosted sales and market share.

Sainsbury's eyes mobile and TV integration

Sainsbury’s is looking at ways to allow smartphones to interact with its TV advertising as a way to drive traffic to stores with offers.

Sainsbury’s expands mobile offering

Sainsbury’s is to launch a mobile-optimised site for its grocery business.

Sainsbury’s £50 menu promo banned

An ad for Sainsbury’s Feed your Family for £50 offer has been ruled misleading by the advertising watchdog.

Samsung unveils biggest marketing effort

Samsung hopes multi-million pound global Galaxy S III campaign will help it be seen as a more “aspirational” brand than closest rival Apple.

Samsung is world’s biggest phone maker

Korean technology giant posts record profit on the back of a surge in Galaxy smartphone and tablet sales.

M&S ramps up digital with smart TV push

Marks & Spencer will be the first retailer to launch a branded-content app on Samsung Smart TV, as part of its broader strategy to expand its multi-channel operations.

Samsung redesigns Galaxy Tab to fend off Apple sales ban

Samsung rearranges speakers and redesigns frame in order for the tablet to go back on sale in Germany.

Celebrate the success of internal marketing

Keith Moor, director of brand and communications at Santander, spends a whopping 40% of his time on internal marketing. At Marketing ...

Call centres should play a key role in the marketing mix

Santander’s decision to bring their call centres back to the UK is aimed at improving its own poor customer service record but it is also an indication of a renewed focus by brands on an often over looked direct marketing channel - contact centres.

Starbucks claims 5.1m Twitter impressions in latte giveaway

The coffee chain gave away 2,000 lattes every minute as part of its latest marketing campaign.

Brian Waring to leave Starbucks

Former UK marketing director is to leave Starbucks just months after moving to an international marketing role.

Starbucks on first name terms

Starbucks hopes to personalise the service offered at its coffee shops by calling all customers by their first name.

Starbucks spends millions on latte overhaul

Starbucks says the relaunch of the latte is a “big” investment for the chain.

Tesco revives Clubcard Exchange

The month-long promotion comes just a month after the supermarket announced it would be investing in areas such as promotion and pricing strategies.

Tesco to ramp up personalisation through mobile

Tesco is looking to increase the level of personalisation in its mobile marketing in a bid to make the channel more effective.

Tesco rolls out ads for Everyday Value

Tesco champions improved quality of its Everyday Value own-label range in latest ad campaign.

Tesco marketing: unclear, irrelevant and not very successful

Tesco has pledged to make its marketing “better, clearer and more relevant” as part of a turnaround strategy…

Sainsbury’s and Disney to host Queen’s Jubilee festival

Sainsbury’s will host a two-day festival including a Disney concert to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

Disney appoints Strauss to chief marketing post

Disney has appointed industry veteran Ricky Strauss to its top marketing role after its previous marketing chief resigned from the role earlier this month.

Thomas Cook preps 'biggest ever campaign'

Travel company backs retail business with “unprecedented” spring campaign as it looks to revive UK sales.

Thomas Cook to use marketing to differentiate brand portfolio

Thomas Cook wants to raise awareness that it can offer more than summer holidays and package deals.

Thomas Cook looks online for UK boost as stores close

Thomas Cook boosts online offering as it looks to shift business from high street.

Thomson and First Choice owner reports record profit

TUI Travel, owner of the Thomson and First Choice brands, has reported what it claims was a "record" profit in its last financial year.

Toyota and Ford collaborate to build hybrid cars

Ford and Toyota, the world’s biggest seller of hybrid vehicles, are set to join forces to create a fuel-efficient system for pickup trucks and SUVs (sports utility vehicles).

Thomson Holidays ad track released as single

Thomson Holidays to release Pixies cover by Sunday Girl from its branding campaign via iTunes.

First Choice launches branding campaign

Holiday brand First Choice returns to TV advertising to promote new positioning.

TUI eyes digital expansion with new hire

TUI has signalled its intention to shift more of its sales online by creating a director level digital strategy role to explore ecommerce opportunities.

Thomson and First Choice owner reports record profit

TUI Travel, owner of the Thomson and First Choice brands, has reported what it claims was a "record" profit in its last financial year.

Unilever to crowdsource sustainability

Unilever is hosting an online event to crowdsource ideas for more sustainable marketing, production and sourcing.

‘Marketers are now curators of brands’

Unilever CMO Keith Weed says technology is changing the way marketers interact with consumers.

Unilever: “Marketing needs to be noble again”

Unilever believes its time for marketing to become a “noble” profession again by driving social progress as well as business growth.

Unilever readies new customer insight panel

Unilever is setting up an online panel to glean more insights from customers to shape the future of its brands.

Virgin Atlantic launches first red lipstick

Airline celebrates relaunched upper class cabin by creating the first official lipstick to use its signature red colour.

Virgin Media to provide free WiFi on the tube

Virgin Media wins London Underground WiFi contract ahead of Olympic Games.

Virgin Media interrupts ad breaks

Virgin Media to highlight frustration of slow broadband by interrupting TV ads with a buffer wheel.

Usain Bolt impersonates Sir Richard Branson in Virgin Media ad

Virgin Media has signed up world record holding sprinter Usain Bolt as the face of a campaign to push its “super fast” broadband service.

O2, EE and Vodafone to create mobile ad network

Joint venture proposal extends beyond co-branded mobile wallet to creating a mobile ad sales house to sell space across third party publishers’ websites.

Yoda to help Vodafone push smartphone services

Vodafone uses 900 year-old Jedi Master to promote its next generation mobile internet products.

The charitable face of data use

A new group of innovative non-governmental organisations are springing up in the wake of disasters around the world, driven by complex data analysis and backed by telecom brands

Vodafone data revenue boost cut by regulatory impact

Vodafone’s European revenues dipped 1.3% during the first half of the year, despite seeing a 23.8% growth in overall data revenues, due to cuts in the fees it charges other operators for using its network.

Costa Coffee marks lukewarm sales growth

Coffee brand still star performer for parent company Whitbread, which reported a third quarter slowdown in sales growth across all its brands.

Costa marketing chief promoted in restructure

Costa Coffee has split its business into four divisions and has promoted marketing director Jim Slater to oversee the new unit responsible for the recently launched Costa Express brand and partnerships.

Can you follow Costa in winning Brand of the Year?

Want to win Brand of the Year at the Marketing Week Engage Awards 2012? Then study the form shown by Costa, the company that walked away with the highest accolade of the night last year.

Costa's £10m tongue

… and how it is helping it win the ’coffee wars’

News Int to launch Sunday Sun this weekend

Sun to go seven days a week seven months after NOTW closure.

Sir Martin Sorrell: ‘The power in companies will shift to marketing’

Marketers will have an increasing amount of power in companies over the next ten years as technological and geographical shifts make their roles more important, says WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.

Sorrell tells TV execs to move faster

RTS: WPP boss urges TV broadcasters to “watch out” and to be less adversarial to clients

Creative solutions vital for sales, say CMOs

Leading CMOs have backed agency calls to pursue creative thinking to help drive sales in times of economic uncertainty.

Yahoo! CEO out

Scott Thompson, who allegedly lied about a degree in his CV, is to be replaced by global media head Ross Levinsohn.

Yahoo! defends scaling up content offer

Yahoo! committed to increasing original content across its sites, despite announcing it is to axe 2,000 staff.

Yahoo! confirms huge staff lay off

Marketing roles thought to be among the 2,000 axed in bid to become a ‘bold, new  Yahoo!’.

Yahoo! sues Facebook

Portal claims social network infringed its online advertising patents.