Marketplace Roundup
USA TODAY's Theresa Howard reports despite Belgium-based InBev's $52B takeover, Anheuser-Busch is "moving ahead with its sports deals." A-B VP/Marketing Dave Peacock said that A-B for now "still runs its own marketing, but InBev has some say." Beer Marketer's Insights Editor Benj Steinman: "InBev gets the whole thing that they need to step up marketing to make Bud a global brand." Howard notes NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1 will "include 10 spots for A-B brands." Also, as part of a $5M campaign for the company's Bud Light Lime line, ads will run "during sports programming and on cable with the message: Seasons change, but tastes don't" (USA TODAY, 7/23).
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Hainer Believes adidas Can Surpass
Nike In Foreseeable Future |
AIMING HIGH: adidas Chair & CEO Herbert Hainer told German language newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that adidas "can 'definitely' surpass ... Nike Inc. in the foreseeable future." Hainer: "Nike is only a little bit ahead of us, it posts about [US$1.6B] more in sales than we do." Hainer said that Nike is still ahead of adidas in the U.S. "because margins are lower in Nike's home market." He added that he "expects the global sporting goods industry to weather the current downturn in economic growth as consumers are more health conscious, live longer and are more active than in the past" (REUTERS, 7/23).
GOODIE BAG: The GLOBE & MAIL’s Jeff Brooke reports PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open organizers, along with "providing BMW courtesy cars and arranging a charter flight from the British Open to Toronto last Sunday," are offering players tickets to this week's ATP Tour Rogers Cup and training sessions for tomorrow's MLS All-Star Game as "part of the package of goodies the tournament uses to lure players and make their week more memorable" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/23). Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported about 30 players "hopped on a plane sponsored by RBC that left England on Sunday and landed in Toronto early Monday morning” (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 7/22).
BRAZILIAN COURT: Sony Latin America, Inc. has signed AC Milan F Kaka to globally promote Sony's HD products and a wide range of other Sony products. Sony plans to feature Kaka in various HD promotions, including a range of TV spots and Web productions (Sony).
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