• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, November 22, 2011

Delicious Japanese beer brand Sapporo has selected KSL Media as its new media shop. Importer Sapporo U.S.A. assigned media planning and buying in North America to KSL, following a review with other unnamed agencies.

KSL will work on Sapporo’s 2012 ad campaign with St. Louis-based creative shop Moosylvania. The campaign will kick off an aggressive expansion effort to significantly increase Sapporo’s U.S. sales and market share in the import beer category.

“The KSL team’s expertise in customer analytics and strategy development as well as their proven track record of superior rate negotiations were key factors in our decision to partner with them. We aim to solidify Sapporo’s position as a top 10 import beer, through further investment in marketing our premium brands with enhanced activities starting in Spring 2012,” stated Jun Utsumi, Vice President, Sapporo U.S.A.

Sapporo’s media efforts will be national while focusing on various key markets across the nation.

KSL President David Sklaver attributed part of KSL's success to the work it has done helping to make Grey Goose the "gold standard" in the ultra competitive vodka category. He said that experience, "gave Sapporo the confidence to partner with us in achieving their aggressive goals. We love a challenge, and we intend to help Sapporo meet and exceed their target to be a top 10 import beer.”