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Burnett’s Starcom Wins $80 Mil. From Sara Lee
CHICAGO–Sara Lee Corp. has selected Leo Burnett’s Starcom media division for its $80 million U.S. broadcast and print buying business. The win follows a review that included incumbent Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York, pitching with Western International Media; Optimum Media and MediaCom, both in New York, sources said.
Starbucks Lands at Fallon McElligott
CHICAGO– As expected, Starbucks Coffee moved its advertising account to Fallon McElligott in Minneapolis following last month’s dismissal of BBDO West [Adweek, Oct. 12]. The Seattle-based coffee chain cited Fallon’s creative chief, David Lubars, who worked on the account while at BBDO, and the shop’s track record at building brands, as draws. Starbucks spent just $14 million on ads last year, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
Lowe Set To Reposition Amstel Light
NEW YORK–Lowe & Partners/SMS here is abandoning a 2-year-old campaign that positions Heineken USA’s Amstel Light as the brew for adventurous types who are “open for anything.” Within the next few months, the White Plains, N.Y.-based brewer will play up the quality of the premium low-calorie beer as “the beer drinker’s light beer.” The push eliminates TV ads from the media mix in favor of radio, outdoor and print, said wholesalers briefed on the effort. The client would not comment on the proposed creative shift, except to say that final approval was pending. The agency declined comment.
Saturn Coupe Debuts with New Ads From Riney
SAN FRANCISCO–Publicis & Hal Riney is breaking a campaign this week introducing Saturn Corp.’s Three-Door Coupe. TV ads play up the sporty-looking car’s standard third door behind the driver’s seat and pose the question, “Why didn’t anyone think of this before?” Media support will hit $40-50 million, said sources. The campaign uses Saturn’s long-running tagline, “A different kind of company. A different kind of car.” Print executions announce, “The world’s first three-door coupe. From Saturn.”
Account Activity
Earle Palmer Brown, New York, pulled out of the creative review for the $10 million Foxwoods Resort Casino account. Ingalls Advertising, Boston, and a pair of undisclosed contenders remain Suissa Miller, Los Angeles, bested Deutsch/LA, Marina del Rey, Calif., for Balance Bar’s estimated $9 million account Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston, and New York shops Citigate/Albert-Frank and Broulliard Communications, a unit of J. Walter Thompson have moved into the final round of the $5-8 million review for First Union Corp.’s wholesale financial products division, sources said. Boston’s Pile and Co. is overseeing the review Au Bon Pain, New York, has contacted “three to five” undisclosed shops about its account, sources said. The client is planning a brand relaunch. There is no incumbent.