Jerky brand Oberto today announced that it has added Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, MLB Giants RF Hunter Pence and action sports star Travis Pastrana to its roster of sports-related endorsers, joining Seahawks CB Richard Sherman and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. All five endorsers will be featured in the brand's '16 marketing campaign, in which Smith will reprise his role as the "Little Voice In The Stomach" for a series of TV spots (Oberto). Oberto Senior VP/Marketing David Lakey was "hesitant to share too much about the new round of ads expected to appear beginning in March." However, he said that Gronkowski and Sherman "might appear together in some of the advertising." AD AGE's Jessica Wohl notes Oberto is "using TV, primary during live sporting events, as well as digital, radio, social and events in its campaign." The brand also will become the official beef jerky of Nitro Circus, the "action sports and entertainment touring show" founded by Pastrana. Meanwhile, gourmet jerky brand Krave is launching its "biggest marketing push to date," featuring Broncos TE Vernon Davis, U.S. marathoner Meb Keflezighi and fitness trainer Jillian Michaels. The brand's marketing budget "is more than doubling" for '16. Krave VP/Marketing Rusti Porter said that the brand in turn "expects revenue will more than double" this year. Wohl notes following this campaign, Krave is "gearing up for the Olympics" as part of parent company Hershey's role as an official sponsor of Team USA (ADAGE.com, 1/19).
