Social Media

The challenges for a small/medium CPG company today, competing against the multibillion dollar conglomerates, are greater than ever before. With the skyrocketing cost of freight, manufacturing, raw materials, sales and marketing, the small/medium CPG company does not enjoy any of the economies of scale that the established multi nationals do. Competing in the low margin highly competitive beverage category, as we do at Celsius, only accentuates the challenge.

GNC Holdings latest national brand campaign, called "Beat Average," includes a mix of network prime, premium and targeted cable, out-of-home, newspaper, magazine and online media.

The National Retail Federation’s ongoing effort to highlight the industry’s value and career opportunities have been expanded with two new initiatives.

Phoenix – TV personality and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne is joining the omni-channel marketing campaign to promote PetSmart’s new “Pet Expressions” line of grooming services. Osbourne will serve as a “trend spotter” and also offer tips and advice on pet grooming.

The Pet Expressions campaign will include videos and postings on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Pepsi is teaming up with multi-platform recording artist Prince Royce artist in a year-long, multi-faceted deal that includes support of his U.S. summer tour and a national ad campaign.

Earlier this year, Pepsi and Prince Royce teamed up to surprise New York fans with a free performance the week leading up to Super Bowl XLVIII. In addition, Prince Royce appeared in a Pepsi intermission spot that aired during this year's 56th Annual Grammy Award show.

Television show host, actress and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne is spotting trends for PetSmart and its new line of creative grooming services, Pet Expressions and joining the specialty retailer’s omnichannel campaign.

The PetSmart salon touts its temporary, pet-safe chalking, stenciling and feathering services to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Rakuten Marketing experienced strong results for the first quarter of 2014 across all of its digital marketing channels.

The company especially highlighted the double-digit growth that advertisers realized through its affiliate, mobile and search marketing technology and services. Additionally, the company signed several new advertisers throughout the quarter that were either new to Rakuten Marketing, or have expanded their existing investments with the company to include additional marketing channels.

Usage of Facebook’s social media platform continued to expand during the first quarter with mobile advertising now accounting for 59% of the company’s revenue.

Facebook’s revenues grew 72% to $2.5 billion from $1.5 billion and earnings increased to 25 cents a share from 9 cents a share with operating margins expanding to 43% from 26%. The company also highlighted the fact that mobile advertising revenue now accounts for 59% of total revenue compared to 30% during the same period the prior year.

Mars Chocolate has rolled out the M-Ball, a peanut M&M's-shaped twist on the traditional soccer ball. The vibrant ball started making the rounds in the United States on April 15, and it comes at a time when soccer fandom is reaching an all-time high, the company said.

Kroger is inviting customers to celebrate Earth Day by looking to the sea — and to the future of seafood — through a video series designed to inform customers about the company's work to source sustainable seafood.

"We know that our customers value our commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood," said Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Kroger's director of sustainability. "We continue to work with fisheries and our supplier partners to ensure that Kroger's seafood is fresh, delicious and available for future generations."