Russell Stover Plans to be a Chic Chocolatier

When you think of Russell Stover chocolates, you think of grandmas. Russell Stover is trying to change that, with a complete image overhaul. More sophisticated lines, upscale flavors and trendy packaging is all part of the new marketing push.

How will consumers respond to the revamping and repositioning of a standard?

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Advertising Age - Russell Stover Plans to be a Chic Chocolatier
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Want to give your loved one a trendy, exciting and sexy gift for Valentine’s Day? Pick up some Russell Stover candy. Stop laughing. We’ll wait.

Happy Super Bowl Ending for Snickers

One of the biggest ads from the Super Bowl is continuing on. And, it will give consumers a chance to chose an ending, which will air on Fox during the Daytona 500 later this month.

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Happy Super Bowl Ending for Snickers
Masterfoods is keeping fans snickering over its own Super Bowl spot.

The company ran a spot for Snickers, then asked viewers to go online and vote for the ending. The ending that gets the most votes will air on Fox during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.

Harrah’s & Hershey Gamble On Older Male Audience

Hershey’s will be the Official Chocolate of the 2007 World Series of Poker. With increased scrutiny in marketing sweets to children and the concern of childhood obesity, confectioners will have to look for new ways to reach different consumers.

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MediaPost Publications - Harrah’s & Hershey Gamble On Older Male Audience - 02/06/2007
WITH CANDY MAKERS UNDER CONSTANTLY increasing scrutiny for marketing to children — and any connection to America’s childhood obesity epidemic — the Hershey Co. has found itself an older audience.The company said yesterday it would partner with Harrah’s to become the Official Chocolate of the 2007 World Series of Poker, a huge favorite of the young, male demographic.

Sealed With a Hershey’s Kiss

What to a Hershey’s Kiss and Elvis have in common? Both have their own stamps!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, and to help kick off the Kiss’ centennial, a postage stamp featuring the candy icon has been released. The stamp features a Kiss and a red heart that form mirror images of each other. Additionally, the U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the launch of the stamp with a sweepstakes that offers a chance to win $10,000 for a romantic getaway. Consumers have to guess how many Hershey’s Kisses will fit inside a priority mail flat-rate box.

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MediaPost Publications - Sealed With a Hershey’s Kiss - 01/17/2007
HOW SWEET IT IS FOR Hershey.

The chocolate maker is getting a marketing boost few can match with its iconic Kiss featured on a new postage stamp likely to grace many of the 190 million or so Valentine’s Day cards that are sent through the mail this month.

Baskin-Robbins Kicks off Chocolate Lovers Sweepstakes

Do you love chocolate and ice cream? If so, Baskin Robbons has a contest for you!

By writing a 1,000 word essay on what you would do with a year’s supply of chocolate ice cream, you could be entered to win 150 $2 Baskin-Robbins gift checks. The promootion leads into Valentine’s Day. The company is is also touting a new flavor, Swiss Choclate Treasure.

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Baskin-Robbins Kicks off Chocolate Lovers Sweepstakes
Baskin-Robbins is out with a sweepstakes sure to satisfy ice cream lovers and chocoholics alike.

The company has launched an online promotion that offers the chance to win a year’s supply of ice cream. The task? Consumers register at BaskinRobbins.com and write a short essay (no longer than 1,000 words) to the following question: What would you do with a year’s supply of chocolate ice cream?

Brands Line Up To Promote ‘American Idol’

It’s January, which means the new season of American Idol is about to start. Brands have battled it out to be the official X of the show, which ropes in LOTS of viewers.

Nestle will become the official candy of the show, while Dreyer’s the official ice cream sponsor. Coca-Cola, Ford and Cingular Wireless will continue to be three key integration partners again.

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MediaPost Publications - Brands Line Up To Promote ‘American Idol’ - 01/09/2007

SIX COMPANIES, NESTLE AND DREYER’S among them, have signed up to promote “American Idol,” turning it into a year-round property. Nestle will become the official candy of “Idol,” with more than 70 million candy bars featuring “Idol” branding and the chance to win a trip for two to Hollywood and tickets to both the 2007 “Idol” performance finale and results show.

Putting the Horror Back in Halloween - New York Times

Putting the Horror Back in Halloween - New York Times
This year, Halloween has finally gone back to what it used to be - full of ghots, goblins and frights to delight.

For the first time since 9/11, marketers and retailers have ventured back to putting the scary fun back into Halloween. ABC Family is promoting themed programming under “13 Nights of Halloween,” while Sirius Sattelite Radio will devote an entire channel on Oct. 31 to the sounds and scares of Halloween. Even M&M’s is getting back into the swing of things, featuring the Headless Horseman next to a bowl of Pumpkin Patch Mix M&M’s.

Another reason the kind of Halloween we remember as kids is back, is because the growing eagerness of adults to celebrate Halloween as evidenced by data from the National Retail Federation showing sharp increases in spending on candy, costumes and decorations.

M&Ms Dark Game

Just in time for Halloween, M&Ms Dark is challenging scary movie fans with an online game. The game features a picture with clues about “dark” movies hidden it in. The goal is to identify the 50 dark movies represented in the picture. So far, I’ve got 26. Jason has an impressive 46. Enjoy! http://us.mms.com/us/dark/

Butterfinger Points Out Video Contest

Butterfinger Points Out Video Contest
Nestlé USA taps YouTube for a Butterfinger contest dangling a grand-prize Ultimate Mobile Movie Studio package.

Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s(TM) Invites Consumers to Explore a New World of Chocolate

Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s(TM) Invites Consumers to Explore a New World of Chocolate
New, Premium Line of All-Natural Chocolate and Drinking Cocoa Products
Introduced

HERSHEY, Pa., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ — The Hershey Company invites
consumers to explore a new world of chocolate with Cacao Reserve by
Hershey’s, a new, premium line of all-natural chocolates and drinking
cocoa. The Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s line, available in September, will
offer a variety of superior flavors, pleasing textures and exotic aromas
unlike any other chocolate.
“Consumers today are searching for new, premium experiences,” said
Chris Baldwin, Senior Vice President, President, U.S. Commercial Group, The
Hershey Company. “Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s meets this rapidly growing
demand by offering consumers an indulgent chocolate made with carefully
chosen, slowly roasted cacao beans, blended with the finest all-natural
ingredients.”