Target, Walmart, Southeastern Grocers, Italbank International, Yum! Brands , Mastercard, Citi, Pernod Ricard USA, Terminix… and more brands targeting the U.S. consumer right now. Check our prior Sales Leads columns.
Target
Target Corporation announced its plan to invest approximately US$4 billion annually during the next several years to continue scaling capabilities across its retail platform. Building on years of sales growth and a record 2020 financial performance, Target will increase the total fresh and frozen food pickup assortment. Additionally, adult beverage pickup will be offered in 800 more stores in the next few months .Technology improvements will also offer Drive Up guests a more personalized experience in the Target app. Throughout the pandemic, guests have turned to Target for its multi-category assortment of owned and exclusive brands, national brand favorites and brand partnerships. The retailer will continue to bring brand partnerships to life in stores and online with the opening of approximately 100 Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shops in 2021, with plans to add hundreds more over time. Target has also introduced a new Apple shopping destination online and in 17 stores. More locations are scheduled to roll out this fall. Following 30 store openings in 2020, Target plans to accelerate the pace and open 30-40 new stores. In urban centers such as New York City, Los Angeles and Portland, Target will open more small-format stores to reach new guests. In dense suburban areas, Target has identified sites for new mid-size stores to serve new guests that fill retail gaps. Across college campuses, including the University of Georgia and University of Michigan, Target will open new small-format stores to introduce its unique shopping experience to new, college-aged guests to form lifelong relationships. Target expects to accelerate its store remodel program this year and complete approximately 150 in time for the holiday season, with plans to remodel more than 200 stores a year beginning in 2022. The company is testing a new type of facility in Minneapolis called a sortation center and expects to open five more in 2021.The company is also making investments in its supply chain.Walmart
Walmart is said to be looking for a new agency to handle its´ US$600 million U.S. media business. The U.S.-based retail giant hasn’t called for an official review, though. WPP´s Haworth has been the incumbent since winning the business four years ago. Haworth (49% owned by WPP) took over for then-incumbent Mediavest, part of Publicis Groupe, Mediapost reports. Haworth’s is in charge of media planning and buying, strategy for brand integrations and strategic partnerships in the marketing, media and entertainment arenas.Southeastern Grocers
Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, continues its commitment to enhance the company’s supplier network to include a broader range of inclusive business partners which reflect the diverse communities in its Southeast footprint of stores. The grocer will work to identify and increase sourcing from suppliers that are at least 51% owned, operated and managed by people who are: disadvantaged, disabled, LGBTQ+, military veterans, minorities and/or women and sell grocery, general merchandise and/or beauty and personal care products.In partnership with ECRM and RangeMe, a virtual sourcing conference will take place this spring to enhance partnerships with existing minority suppliers and connect with new, diverse businesses to expand store offerings tailored to its unique customers and communities. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with SEG buyers and category managers to share their company background, product information and marketing plans.Additionally, the grocer, together with its generous customers and the SEG Gives Foundation, raised more than $170,000 during Black History Month to help support nonprofits that serve minority sectors throughout the Southeast in the fight for racial equity and social justice.Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the leading artificial intelligence-based consumer insights and marketing performance analytics business of Kvantum, Inc. By acquiring the Kvantum business, Yum! and its KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill brands enhance their ability to apply powerful consumer insights and data analytics to drive calendar and marketing spend optimization. The acquired Kvantum business combines machine learning and econometric modeling into its Marketing Performance Analytics Platform in a seamless manner.Yum! Brands’ global technology strategy, in partnership with the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill divisions, is focused on providing a best-in-class digital journey across mobile, online, delivery and restaurant operations. The Company continues to accelerate its digital commerce strategy through data and advanced analytics, and innovative emerging technologies to elevate the customer and employee experience, strengthen restaurant unit economics and unlock new sources of global growth.Yum! Brands plans to combine Kvantum’s artificial intelligence and machine learning approach to understanding human behavior with the unique skillsets of the anthropologists and sociologists at Collider Lab, a culture-based consumer insights and marketing strategy consultancy Yum! acquired in 2015.The Kvantum business unit, as part of Yum! Brands, will continue to offer their consultancy services to external clients outside of the restaurant industry.Yum! Brands’ acquisition of the Kvantum business is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2021, subject to standard closing conditions.Italbank International
Veritran, a global company that facilitates digital transformation through its Enterprise Low-Code Platform, announced its first client in U.S territory: Italbank International, an American bank for Latin Americans. Following its mission of facilitating access to accounts in dollars and/or euros for Latinos, Italbank chooses Veritran as its strategic partner to launch its first mobile application: “A Digital Wallet.” With this application, the bank will allow its clients to access their accounts with ease from a mobile device.The application is available for bank customers in Google Play and Apple App Store. Through this new channel, Italbank International customers will be able to make payments using QR codes and in express format (by email or cell phone). The digital wallet is multi-currency and allows users to check balances and movements in both Euros and U.S. Dollars, according to their associated accounts.
At this exclusive virtual event on March 24, 2021, Brand Decision Makers and Marketing Service Suppliers will share and accelerate knowledge on key topics including multicultural marketing, e-commerce marketing and marketing technologies. To find out about virtual networking solutions at PortadaLive involving a myriad of brand decision makers, please contact Sales Director David Karp at [email protected].Mastercard / Citi
Mobility Capital Finance [“MoCaFi”], a financial technology, mobile-first banking platform, committed to bringing financially underserved communities in the United States into the digital economy, has raised a US$12 million Series A Round, led by Tom and Wende Hutton and investments from the Citi Impact Fund, Mastercard, 1Flourish Capital, Commerce Ventures, and several family offices. Previous investors also participated in the Series A Round. MoCaFi — based in Harlem (NY) and Newark (NJ) – has a business model that addresses limited economic mobility and lack of financial equity in Black and Hispanic communities across the United States. These efforts, bolstered by their current participation in the Mastercard Start Path program, has enabled MoCaFi to scale its mobile banking platform to include both Demand Deposit Accounts as well as disbursement accounts for disaster-related and other payments. MoCaFi collaborates closely with Equifax and TransUnion to empower customers to improve their overall financial literacy and augment their credit file with the addition of rent payments and other recurring bills that are processed on the MoCaFi platform.Last December, MoCaFi partnered with The City and County of Honolulu to assist almost 4,000 households that suffered economic hardship from the pandemic. Pernod Ricard USA
Ogilvy has been selected by Pernod Ricard USA, premium spirits & wine leader, to serve as the lead creative agency for Olmeca Altos Tequila, Tequila Avión, and Del Maguey. The agency designation comes as Pernod Ricard USA consolidates its global agency roster to create a more cohesive ecosystem and greater efficiencies in support of the company’s marketing transformation journey. Ogilvy will coordinate a brand and integrated communications strategy for each of the tequila and mezcal brands with a focus on translating timeless brand stories into timely creative ideas that will drive sustained growth for each of the Pernod Ricard USA brands. Responsibilities will primarily include brand strategy, advertising and personalized content development.Terminix
Terminix, a leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States, has named Interpublic Group of Cos.’ The Martin Agency and Mediahub as its creative and media agencies respectively, following a review that was launched by Terminix Chief Marketing Officer Alex Ho. The appointment ends Terminix’s relationship with incumbent Kansas City-based independent agency Barkley, which handled creative and offline media businesses since last January. The Martin Agency will handle creative duties including for TV, performance marketing and digital, while Mediahub will oversee all accompanying media responsibilities. Terminix spends US$35 million annually on measured media in the U.S.
