In a blow to food marketers who target kids, a federal advisory group has issued a new report that for the first time claims to statistically link exposure to television advertising for certain food products to obesity in children. The report was issued by the Institute of Medicine, which claimed it proved that food marketing of high-calorie, low-nutrient food products influenced the diets, food preferences and requests of kids under 12. The report recommended an educational campaign to educate the public about healthy food choices and said that if food marketers do not voluntary shift the emphasis of its TV …

In a scathing, 800-word posting on his blog, Association of National Advertisers President-CEO Bob Liodice attacked the Institute of Medicine's report linking TV advertising for food products to obesity in kids as "irresponsible" and "shameful." Liodice readily acknowledged that advertising influences consumers' purchasing habits. "But to lay the blame of childhood obesity on the doorstep of advertisers is outrageously irresponsible and downright shameful," he wrote. "The Institute of Medicine ought to be embarrassed by their recommendation to have Congress enact legislation mandating the shift of advertising to what are considered 'healthy foods.'" Liodice goes on to point out that while …

Tyson Foods has faith that consumers will buy their products, and as such the company is helping them pray. The food marketer now provides free downloadable prayer booklets on its Web site that contain mealtime prayers appropriate for faiths ranging from Christian to Muslim. The move has all the makings of a possible trend toward "faith-friendly" marketing tactics among marketers trying to appeal to spiritual Americans. "There is a broader trend among bigger businesses to be faith-friendly employers, acknowledging that employees don't want to leave their soul in the parking lot," said David Miller, director of the Yale Divinity School's …

Marketers who think e-mail is an endangered species as an effective communications tool should think again. Stefan Tornquist, Research Director for MarketingSherpa, says quite the opposite is true and that consumers' interest in receiving e-mail newsletters and sales alerts is growing at a healthy rate, according to new findings. On average, lists are growing by 5.2 percent per month, and with an average attrition rate of about 2 percent per month, that leaves an aggregate growth of about 3.2 percent per month, or 40 percent per year. Although open rates have dropped by about 20 percent in the past year, …

The beer industry has discovered Christmas. In an effort to improve their overall image, as well as sell a bit more beer, major brewers are focusing more than ever on offering seasonal brews and special holiday packaging. Leading the pack is the granddaddy of them all, Anheuser-Busch, which is selling its Bud Light brand in seven-ounce, holiday-themed shrink-wrap bottles. "This year we have introduced or tested more new products with a broad range of taste profiles and more new packages than at any time in our company's history," Randy Baker, Anheuser-Busch's chief financial officer, said. Miller Brewing is also getting …

The number of marketers running commercials at movie theaters, long a common practice in Europe, is growing in the U.S. New research shows that marketers spent $400 million on in-theater ads this year, an 18 percent increase over last year, and that a 15 percent spending growth is expected each year through 2008. One of the primary reasons for this jump is technological advances in digital projection, which make it easier to change ads or target ads to different audiences. Theater owners have also spent about $150 million in the last three years to install relatively simple digital projectors just …

Outdoor advertising finally has some statistics to support its effectiveness claims. New research shows that outdoor advertising is less cluttered than electronic media and that the average adult is exposed to an average of 40 outdoor messages per day, at least in Chicago. The figures were released by Nielsen Outdoor ratings service in Chicago and also revealed that, among all demographic groups, men 35-54 had the highest exposure to outdoor advertising, with an average of 54 exposures to outdoor advertising daily. Among women, 18- to 34-year-olds led all other female groups with 39 exposures. The research also showed that exposure …

Now that Cie Nicholson is the new CMO for Pepsi-Cola North America, the marketing world is anxiously waiting to see what she will do. Nicholson is something of a whiz kid: at 41, she has already enjoyed huge successes launching PepsiCo.'s Mountain Dew Code Red and building Sierra Mist into one of the 10 best-selling soda brands in the U.S. She also brought new life to the company's ready-to-drink tea products with premium flavors and an edgy marketing plan. Now she has a whopping $400 million budget and an assignment to revive the company's flagship soft-drink business, which has suffered …

Toyota is jumping on the branded integration bandwagon in a big way with Fox network's conspiracy thriller "24." In a new deal, the Japanese automaker's products will begin appearing in the upcoming fifth season of the show as well as in a mini-movie attached to the DVD release of the program's fourth season. In addition, a "making-of" special, which shows how the mini-movie was filmed, is airing on the Fox Movie Channel. The short film is intended to bridge the gap between season four and season five of the TV show. Toyota wanted to do more than just embed its …

Marketers looking to hire marketing services in India apparently need look no further than the big conglomerates for help. At least that's what global agencies like WPP Group, Omnicom, Interpublic, and Publicis are hoping will happen. The four have long owned ad agencies throughout India and currently control 96 percent of the nation's shops. Lately, though, they've been on a different kind of buying spree, snatching up below the line businesses specializing in disciplines including sales promotion, direct marketing, market research, and public relations. That's because India, with its 1 billion citizens, growing middle class, and exploding economy, has a …