Wegman's has relaunched two of its private-label jarred sauces under "Grandma's" and "Grandpa's" names. "Wegmans' Italian Classics Grandma's Pomodoro" is the new name of what previously was called "Wegmans' Italian Classics Pomodoro." Likewise, Grandpa's Sauce is the name of what formerly was called "Italian Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce." The name was born when Dan Mezzoprete, Wegmans' Italian food category merchant, casually mentioned that the sausage variety reminded him of a sauce his grandfather made. "I just love the hearty flavor," Mezzoprete wrote in a blog posted at wegmans.com. "It has a nice sausage taste with a …

Jägermeister is hiring its first U.S.-market advertising agency in 25 or more years. Mast-Jägermeister in Germany and the Sidney Frank Importing Company in New Rochelle, NY, which distributes the liqueur in the U.S., tapped Los Angeles-based independent Mistress, which also handles ESPN, part of Walt Disney; Hot Wheels, sold by Mattel; and Red Bull. The effort breaks next year. The promotions for Jägermeister have been centered on "brand ambassadors" called Jägerettes and Jäger Dudes. Mistress will serve as agency of record for Jägermeister. Sidney Frank Importing will continue to work with an agency named Hi-Res/Syzygy for digital advertising. Other initiatives …

Rite Aid increased sales and narrowed losses in second quarter 2012 as its Wellness+ loyalty card program continued to grow and its new Wellness store format saw continued expansion. The company reported sales of $6.3 billion, a 1.8% increase over second quarter 2011's $6.2 billion. Losses were $92.3 million, compared with $197 million in the same period last year. Next week, the chain plans to introduce Wellness+ Diabetes, collaboration with WebMD and the first Wellness+ program extension. The program will provide members with free lifestyle management tools and other resources. The Wellness store format has seen significant growth as well …

Brands marketing in the UK are increasingly turning to long-copy ads to gain better traction with consumers, say industry experts. British Airways, Volkswagen, and London 2012 are using text-heavy ads in the press and outdoors. According to Mark Goodwin, creative director at advertising agency M&C Saatchi, the format is no longer considered old-fashioned because of its ability to engage. "There's been a reluctance to use long-copy over the years, as the perception from both clients and agencies has been that it's an old-fashioned technique," says Goodwin. "Brands want to try something different to engage consumers, especially young people. Long-copy feels …

Ford, more than any of the Detroit makers, is dominating the domestic revival, writes Paul Eisenstein of The Detroit Bureau. The number two U.S. manufacturer captured four of the 15 popular lifestyle segment awards, more than any other brand in the IntelliChoice and AutoPacific Motorists Choice Awards. Its Lincoln brand adds a fifth and sixth trophy, its Navigator capturing the lead among premium-brand "people movers," while the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was chosen the most Eco Friendly luxury model. Ford's Fusion Hybrid took a win as most eco-friendly, according to the 72,000 vehicle buyers surveyed for the sixth annual Motorist Choice …

Gas Station TV (GSTV), the nation's largest away-from-home television network at fuel pumps, has formed an exclusive, long-term agreement with Wayne, a General Electric business and global innovator of fuel dispensers and technologies. Wayne will make a substantial investment in GSTV in order to deploy inOvationTV, the companies' new co-developed media platform, at gas stations nationwide. The new platform will broadcast GSTV's exclusive content experience. Programming includes ESPN, business and personal finance news from Bloomberg TV, local weather from AccuWeather and GSTV's original social media television show, "Your Neighborhood."

Bnet columnist Jim Edwards points out Americans will not be bothered to do anything that requires them to, like, read. That means they won't see movies where they have to read sub-titles because that would require us to read, and that's not what you bought that movie ticket for. Thus lots of great foreign movies MUST be remade to be American, with American stars we know and love, and a god-awful script and phoned-in acting. Take the new full-length movie trailer for the American version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." Edwards (Eds note: who hails from Liverpool) notes …

Ads in the sky, ads in public restrooms, on peoples' skin, ads viewable form space, ads on the sea floor (one assumes). But should there be ads plastered on tragic events? Seems not everyone is misty-eyed over seeing Budweiser's horses genuflecting at lower Manhattan. Columnist Adam Swann wonders, with the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, if tragedies are the right place for brand building. "Advertising as commemoration has polarized people online, most believing it is still about promoting the company more than honoring victims," he writes. "With this viewpoint in mind, as the world becomes more frequently politically and environmentally unstable, …

Ford bean counters see September as a strong month for U.S. auto sales, with higher sales of profitable full-size pickups. Bob Shanks, controller for Ford Motor Co., told investors Wednesday at the Citi Global Industrials Conference that seasonally adjusted sales for September, to be released Oct. 3, are projected to be close to 13 million, which would be higher than the 12.1 million in August. He adds that he does not think the Japanese automakers will pile on incentives and disrupt the marketplace when their inventories are full again. Ford is aiming to get back to investment-grade status, possibly this …

British Airways has launched its biggest brand advertising campaign in more than a decade, with ads on peak-time TV, in newspapers and online. BA Chief Executive Keith Williams said: "The campaign represents the opening of a new chapter." The ads will focus on BA's heritage and emphasize the motto on BA crew uniforms: "To Fly, To Serve." The opening 90-second ad, which features BA cabin crew and pilots, debuted on Facebook and moves to TV in the UK.