Docs Want Ronald To Retire; Fat Chance It Happens by Thom Forbes

The headline in the tabloid Boston Herald reads: "Doctors cook up way to give McDonald's Ronald the boot." What they've really doing, however, is ratcheting up the pressure, as the lede admits. There's little indication that the fast food giant's mascot -- or accompanying charitable works -- are going anywhere soon despite the fact that more than 200 physicians in the Boston area have signed a letter to McDonald's CEO James Skinner "asking him to halt its marketing to kids," Thomas Grillo reports. A number of them will also hold an event at Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester today. ...Read the whole story

  • spirits Grey Goose TV Spot Backs New Facebook Initiatives by Karlene Lukovitz

    The television buy and supporting digital and other media (including streaming video, to commence about a week from now), plus public relations, represent a doubling of ad spending for the brand over last summer's campaign. The campaign strategy is designed to give Grey Goose "the #1 share of voice" in vodka over the summer, according to its brand director, Michelle Beauchamp. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Walmart Grocery Sales Gain; U.S. Sales Fall Again by Sarah Mahoney

    Mike Duke, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president/CEO says in a recorded conference call, "The good news is that the plan ... is gaining traction, and customers are responding favorably to everyday low prices and our wider assortment. In grocery, we are further along. But the work on general merchandise won't be complete until the second half of the year." ...Read the whole story

  • food Applegate Hits The Road With The 'Dogs' by Tanya Irwin

    The Bridgewater, N.J.-based company will also hand out $100,000 worth of coupons. The tour is aimed at anyone who loves hot dogs but has avoided them because hot dogs are perceived as unhealthy and full of "mystery" ingredients, says Stephen McDonnell, Applegate founder and CEO. ...Read the whole story

  • automotive Infiniti Extends Time, AmEx Publishing Deal by Karl Greenberg

    "Last year we also had inserts in Time, Inc. books but we included magazines like Golf and lifestyle magazines, not just epicurean magazines. It turned out really well but the scale was smaller. This year, we wanted to focus more on epicurean, and on owners of Infiniti vehicles rather than owners of competitive brands." ...Read the whole story

  • telecom Wireless Gains In Customer Satisfaction Scores by Aaron Baar

    "This is an industry that is doing a significantly better job with customers than they were five years ago," David VanAmburg, managing director of the ACSI, tells Marketing Daily. "It was one of the worst industries in [the Index]. Now it's getting closer to the average of all goods and services in the U.S." ...Read the whole story

  • packaged goods Kimberly-Clark GoodNites Effort Includes TV by Karl Greenberg

    The company says the campaign touts GoodNites' design and fit, with -- for the first time in three years -- a TV advertising component. The ad illustrates how quickly kids grow, as the creative shows a child getting bigger overnight. The TV ads run through September on programs like "The Today Show," "The View" and "Good Morning America." ...Read the whole story

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