Bozell's Interest Helps Cook Gain Winn-Dixie Finals

The field has narrowed to three finalists in the race for Winn-Dixie Stores’ $42 million marketing account.

Incumbent Cook Marketing Communications, with some back-channel assistance from Bozell chairman Gene Bartley, came roaring back to join Chicago’s Cramer-Krasselt and FKQ Advertising, Clearwater, Fla., in the finals of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supermarket’s review.

According to one Winn-Dixie marketing executive, a final decision is expected in December.

Sources said Jacksonville-based Cook, which has held the account for 30 years, had all but been eliminated in an early round when Bartley, pursuing a possible acquisition strategy for parent True North, arrived from New York to pitch ad planning manager John Harden and other client executives on the marketing and media firepower Bozell could lend to Cook’s efforts.