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Mars, Wrigley Select MediaVest as Media Agency of Record:
Comprehensive Joint Account Review Consolidates Responsibilities
McLean, VA, May 5, 2009 – Today the U.S. Petcare, Snackfood and Wrigley business segments of Mars, Incorporated announced the selection of New York based MediaVest, a division of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) owned by Publicis Groupe, as its media planning and buying agency of record. The decision follows a comprehensive agency assessment conducted jointly by Mars and subsidiary the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company to consolidate planning and buying responsibilities for the general and Hispanic market television, cinema and radio within these business segments.
The formal review which included MediaVest and Mindshare follows the merger of Mars and Wrigley, which took effect on October 6, 2008. Mindshare, a Group M partner within the WPP family, has handled Wrigley's U.S. media buying and planning since 2006 while MediaVest was the Mars' incumbent (2004).
"The combination of Mars and Wrigley provides a strategic opportunity that requires the optimum agency structure to ultimately drive growth and cost savings that address our collective media needs,” said Carole Walker, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications for Mars Snackfood U.S. “We have selected MediaVest as the best partner due to their demonstrated thought leadership and best in class go-to-market approach.”
As part of the consolidation, MediaVest will assume out-of-home (OOH) and digital buying and planning for Wrigley, while Mars will keep their OOH media with Kinetic NY , a Group M/WPP partner. Digital buying and planning for Mars will remain with Digitas
“The selection of MediaVest was driven by the clear and joint business needs that ensure Mars and Wrigley have the long-term structure in place to deliver strong performance while strengthening our competitive advantage and bringing additional value to our consumers,” said Paul Chibe, Vice President of North American Marketing for Wrigley. “Mindshare is a world-class agency with talented, dedicated people and we wish them the best in the future and appreciate the many contributions, hard work and professionalism they have demonstrated throughout our relationship."
Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employing 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean , Virginia , U.S.A. , Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world's leading brands: Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN 'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL TM MX, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPRO TM .
For more information, please visit www.mars.com.
WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Jennifer Jackson-Luth
312.645.8876
jennifer.jacksonluth@wrigley.com
Mars Snackfood
Ryan Bowling
908.850.2396
ryan.bowling@effem.com
Mars Petcare
Debra Fair
615.807.4605
mailto:debra.fair@effem.com
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