25% Cut at JWT Chicago

CHICAGO WPP Group’s JWT here has begun laying off approximately 25 percent of its staff in the wake of losing roughly $200 million in Kraft business, an agency representative confirmed.

The shop is cutting “less than 30 staffers” in the Chicago office, the representative said. The shop had employed about 120 people.

Last month, Kraft moved creative duties on its $40 million Lunchables account to Interpublic Group’s DraftFCB here, and put brands such as Oscar Mayer meats, Grey Poupon mustard, Kraft Singles and Ritz and Triscuit crackers (worth about $165 million in media spending) into review.