• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, August 31, 2016

Barker successfully retained creative duties for SlimFast's $50 million account. MDC shops CP+B and Doner, as well as The Marketing Arm and Vayner Media, also participated in the review. Barker, the brand's creative agency of record since 2014, will continue to handle branding, marketing strategy, and creative across TV, print, and digital extensions, working with partner agency Chief Media for media buying and planning.

Barker's original SlimFast campaign, currently in market and entitled "It's Your Thing," has reversed 7 years of declining sales for the brand, which was purchased by private equity company Kainos in 2014. Walmart sales are currently up over 90%. New work will launch in late fall.

"Historically, fewer than 10% of incumbent agencies retain accounts," said John Barker, founder and chief idea officer of Barker. "We beat very long odds against some of the best agencies in the business because we understand this consumer and know how to connect and generate action. We appreciate SlimFast's confidence in our ongoing partnership."