Solution Provider News: April 2015

IRI, Kline to Provide Expanded OTC Coverage

Chicago-based shopper insights provider IRI and pharmaceutical market research firm Kline & Co., Parsippany, New Jersey, have partnered to provide the consumer healthcare industry a higher level of data accuracy, the companies said. IRI will contribute its granular point-of-sale market data and related insights while Kline will provide its 360-degree view of the complex OTC drug market, including its expertise in the area of Rx-to-OTC switches. “This exclusive alliance will help provide our clients an unprecedented level of actionable insights,” Bob Sanders, IRI’s executive vice president and healthcare practice leader, said in a statement.

CoOptions Launches Social Shopper Platform

Shopper marketing agency CoOptions, Apex, North Carolina, has partnered with social media tech firm Sverve, New York, to launch the CoOptions Social Shopper Activation platform. The agency says the partnership will allow brands, retailers and agencies to instantly activate social shopper solutions that power and amplify in-store promotions, displays and traffic to both in-store and online campaigns while providing transparent views of campaign progress and real-time analytics. CoOptions has connected more than 1,000 CPG brands for cross-promotions and cooperative shopper marketing campaigns, including Kraft, P&G, Nestle, Unilever, ConAgra and many others.

InContext Teams with Walton College of Business

InContext Solutions, a Chicago-based provider of virtual retail simulations, has partnered with the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Students interested in the merchandising and marketing of products in a retail store environment will have access to InContext Solutions’ Web-based virtual simulation and insights platform, ShopperMX, in the university’s new retail innovation lab, set to open later this spring.

Compass Adds WhiteWave to Client List

Denver-based WhiteWave Foods Co. has hired Annapolis, Maryland-based Compass Marketing as its agency of record. With the addition of WhiteWave, Compass now represents a portfolio of brands that includes P&G, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, McCormick, Mars, Colgate and Kellogg. WhiteWave is a consumer packaged food and beverage company that manufactures, markets, distributes and sells brands such as Land O’Lakes, Silk, Horizon Organic and Earthbound Farm throughout North America and Europe.

Deoleo Selects Integer Group

Deoleo North America, Houston, has chosen The Integer Group, Dallas, as its agency of record to lead brand planning and activation, shopper marketing strategy and media planning for three of its olive oil brands. With its global headquarters in Madrid, Deoleo is the world’s leading seller of bottled olive oil and has a roster of 15 brands including Bertolli, a household name in American supermarkets, and Carbonell, market leader in Spain and Mexico. Integer’s Dallas and Mexico City offices will service the business.

Personnel Appointments

Decision Insight, Kansas City, Missouri

Doug Robertson has joined the agency as its new vice president of client solutions. He has previously worked for Frito-Lay, Bayer, Safeway, Supervalu, PetSmart and IRi.

Dee Paper, Chester, Pennsylvania

Steve Harrell has replaced Jay Dee as president of the folding carton design, printing and manufacturing company. Dee, who has been active in senior management for more than 40 years, will remain as a member of the board of directors and in a sales and customer relations role.

Delivery Agent, San Francisco

James Peters has been named president and COO of the e-commerce tech firm. He has previously held key leadership roles at Office Depot, Staples and Ross Stores.

Displaydata, Atlanta

Martin Smethurst has joined the provider of electronic shelf labels as senior vice president of global sales and marketing.

Frank Mayer and Associates, Grafton, Wisconsin

Scott Swan has joined the P-O-P firm as an account executive based in Atlanta.

The Integer Group, Denver

David Battrick has been appointed group director of the agency’s digitail department, and Balind Sieber has been named director of digital creative.

MDI Worldwide, Farmington Hills, Michigan

Lori Gallo has joined the P-O-P company as the key account sales manager for the Northeast, based in Connecticut.

Menasha Packaging, Neenah, Wisconsin

Dennis Bonn, Menasha’s vice president of marketing, has been voted to the board of Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI).

POPAI, Chicago

The in-store marketing association named BK Allen interim president to succeed John Anderson.

Saatchi & Saatchi X, Springdale, Arkansas

The agency announced the appointment of Brett Stover as strategy and insights officer, executive vice president.

PureRED Integrated Marketing, Stone Mountain, Georgia

After more than 18 years at Safeway, former president of marketing Michael Minasi was recently named the agency’s new CEO. Minasi helped build one of the strongest marketing organizations in retail grocery, keeping his team’s focus on developing the capabilities needed to differentiate the brand and support sales growth and innovation.

PureRED is a mid-sized agency with a key focus on retail. It has partnered with Safeway for 20 years and also works with Supervalu, Roundy’s/Mariano’s, Kings, Tops, AWG, Dollar General, Lowe’s,
Bed Bath and Beyond and many others. Minasi will split time between San Francisco and the company’s headquarters in Georgia.

Please send information regarding personnel appointments to: Linc Wonham, Shopper Marketing, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr, Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60631 or email: [email protected]