The talk on Wall Street is that a soft-drink company -- not
Coca-Cola -- and a "packaged-food company" have held talks with
Quaker Oats for "some kind of deal," writes Gene Marcial in the
current BUSINESS WEEK. One source puts Quaker's buyout value at
"more than $50 a share." The unnamed soft-drink company is said
to be interested in the Snapple Beverage and Gatorade divisions
and would sell off much of the snack-food operation. Snapple's
earnings have "disappointed many investors," but Michael
Maubossin, an analyst at CS First Boston, said the "ground is
being laid for improved performance, partly by integrating
Snapple with Gatorade more efficiently" (BUSINESS WEEK, 8/28
issue).
A-B LOOKS FOR NEW BUD ICE CAMPAIGN: Anheuser-Busch has
signed Goody, Silverstein and Partners to its brand marketing
creative team. Their first assignment will be to develop ideas
for Bud Ice and Bud Ice Light's next ad campaign (ST. LOUIS POST-
DISPATCH, 8/21).
PEPSI SCORES BIG IN ADS: USA TODAY's "Ad Track" today
features Pepsi. Pepsi is "reeling in a new catch of followers,"
writes Dottie Enrico. Their ads rank second in likeablity as the
company has "tried to reposition itself as a drink for the
masses." Pepsi has spent $29M on media in the first half of '95,
compared to $22M last year. Also, a review of the 15 national ad
campaigns reveals "the marketing muscle" of Michael Jordan. His
McDonald's "Looney Tunes" ad were rated most effective (USA
TODAY, 8/21).
MOLSON LOSING MARKET SHARE? Molson Breweries is "slowly
losing its leadership edge in the beer industry," writes Marina
Strass of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Molson has lost much of its
share to rival Labatt, and "stood on the sidelines watching its
sales in Quebec slide as rivals made inroads in that province"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/19).
