Latest Marketing News RSS 24 July 2008

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Government and advertisers unite to battle obesity

Cadbury, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Mars are among a number of companies that have pledged £200m to the help the fight against obesity, and have formed a consortium with the Government to encourage healthy diets and exercise.

PepsiCo posts strong second-quarter profit

PepsiCo has reported a stronger than expected rise in its second quarter financial results, with operating profit up by 12%. Similarly, operating profit for the UK and Europe grew by 19%

Johnson calls for "national movement" to combat obesity

Health secretary Alan Johnson will call for a national movement to tackle obesity in a speech tonight (July 23). Speaking to the Fabien Society, he will outline the public health implications of the growth obesity epidemic.

Northern Rock names Hoffman as new chief

Northern Rock has named Barclays vice chairman Gary Hoffman as its new chief executive. He will replace Andy Kuipers from the start of October.

Saatchi & Saatchi creative to join Nitro

Saatchi & Saatchi head of creative for Toyota, Richard Russell, is leaving the agency to head to Nitro. The appointment is just the latest in a string of new hires made by the agency.

Club Med appoints Cogent Elliot and Brilliant Media

Club Med has handed Cogent Elliot, the Midlands-based agency, its £1.5m advertising account, and has also appointed Brilliant Media to handle media planning and buying.

Can The Co-op make a quick success of the Somerfield merger?

The Co-operative Group’s £1.56bn takeover of Somerfield last week gives the retailer added fire power in its battle for the high street pound. Now the pressure is on Co-op’s recently installed senior management to prove it can stage a comeback for the group, which was once the UK’s biggest grocer.

SABMiller remains solo as consolidation sweeps the brewing industry

As Inbev sets to work digesting the blockbuster $52bn (£26bn) acquisition of Anheuser-Busch – the biggest deal in brewing – the industry lies in wait for the next round of consolidation.

Spend your way to future happiness during the credit crunch

Let’s go shopping to beat the credit crunch. No, that’s right, I’m suggesting that instead of all this belt-tightening malarkey, we throw caution to the wind and splurge. Let’s go crazy in the aisles, just in case we regret missing out on those Topshop jeans in later life.