O’Dwyer’s Profiles of Food & Beverage PR Firms · brand marketing PR, cause and event marketing...

MARCH 2007 • WWW.ODWYERPR.COM • ADVERTISING SECTION20

Food & Beverage PR FirmsO’Dwyer’sProfiles of

ALAN TAYLORCOMMUNICATIONS14 Penn PlazaNew York, NY 10122212/714-1280www.alantaylor.com

Tony Signore, CEO & ManagingPartner Brian Harris, Managing Partner Mark Beal, Managing Partner

As one of the world’s leadinglifestyle public relations agencies,Alan Taylor Communications(ATC) has nearly two decades ofexperience helping category lead-ing food and beverage brandsdevelop strategic public relations

programs designed to engagetheir target consumer, and cre-ate business impact for theirclient partners.

Partnering with such industryleaders as General Mills andDiageo, the agency has success-fully launched new products,reinvigorated iconic brands andsustained momentum in themarketplace for adult beveragefavorites.

In 2006, the agency leveragedintegrated marketing communi-cation campaigns for leadingbrands such as Baileys, CrownRoyal, Johnnie Walker, JoseCuervo, Guinness and Smirnoff,among others. Activity rangedfrom support of the CrownRoyal Barbershops and Baileys’

sponsorship of singer JohnLegend, to the creation of theSearch for the SmirnoffCocktail Consultant and theSafe Rides Home program.

In addition to program devel-opment and brand awareness,the agency is charged withweaving a social responsibilitymessage throughout all activi-ties, highlighting the impor-tance of making responsibledecisions when drinking. ManyATC programs executed onbehalf of Diageo in the U.S.have been implemented aroundthe world.

Established in 1984, theagency boasts more than 95executives with headquarters inNew York and offices inCharlotte, Los Angeles andLondon.

Alan Taylor Communicationsprovides a full array of servicesincluding strategic marketingcommunications counsel, spon-sorship activation, media rela-tions, special event planningand execution, as well asspokesperson procurement,management and media train-ing.

BALZAC COMMUNICATIONS1200 Jefferson StreetNapa, CA 94559707/255-7667Fax: 707/255-1119 www.balzac.com

Balzac Communications &Marketing is the largest market-ing communications firm in thewine industry. Over the past 14years, it has earned a reputationfor working with top qualityclients worldwide, providingvery cost-effective solutions,and developing long-term rela-tionships with key influencersacross the spectrum, from pro-ducers, regional associations,and media to the distributionnetwork, consumers and thegeneral public.

Our approach to marketingcommunications is simple andstraightforward. We identify thekey messages, identify the keyaudiences, and then deliver themessages in a format and via amedium that makes them easy tounderstand and easy to act on.

Balzac has an in-house designdepartment with extensive expe-rience producing wine labels,newsletters, magazines andmore. www.balzacdesign.com

Clients include: ConstellationWines US; Diageo Chateau &Estate Wines; The Court ofMaster Sommeliers; TheAcademy of WineCommunications; Union desGrands Crus de Bordeaux,France; Amorim America ;FEDERDOC Consorzio,Verona, Italy; Vinitaly /Veronafiere, Verona, Italy;County of Napa, Glassy-wingedSharpshooter Task Force;Solano County, Glassy-wingedSharpshooter Task Force;Lodi/Woodbridge WinegrapeCommission; Napa ValleyConference and Visitors Bureau;Napa Valley Opera House;Spring Mountain WineryDistrict; Vallergas Markets.

BLAZE225 Santa Monica Boulevard 3rd FlrSanta Monica, CA 90401310/395-5050Fax: 310/395-5001 [email protected]

Jeannine O’Malley, Managing DirKaren Gee-McAuley, Exec VP

Blaze is the PR firm that cre-ates and reclaims relevance forextraordinary destinations andculinary experiences anywherein the world.

For nearly two decades,BLAZE has produced winningpublic relations campaigns forrestaurants, culinary festivals,wine and spirit companies andthe food service industry.BLAZE also provides full pub-lic affairs capabilities throughparent company DAVIES.

We succeed for our clientsbecause we know how to iden-tify, reach and motivate theirtarget consumers through anintegrated approach that offersinsight based on research andgoes beyond basic media rela-tions.

From reviving aging, lack-luster brands to unveiling newdestination restaurants, BLAZEhas the expertise to put clientsin the spotlight.

Guinness Brewmaster Fergal Murray enjoys a pint of hisproduct outside the famed St. James Gate Brewery inDublin, as part of the Irish portfolio of brands public rela-tions strategy devised by Alan Taylor Communicationsfor Diageo, a long-standing client partner.

MARCH 2007 • WWW.ODWYERPR.COM • ADVERTISING SECTION 21

CARMICHAELLYNCH SPONG

110 North Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55403612/375-8500

Douglas K. Spong, APR, PresJulie Batliner, Senior Principal;Food, Beverage, Nutrition &Wellness ChairGrete Krohn, Senior Counselor

If you can no longer stomachthe same bland, tasteless ideas,perhaps it’s time for some freshthinking. Carmichael LynchSpong continues to be a leader inthe food, beverage, nutrition andwellness arena representingsome of the biggest brands inpackaged goods.

On the shelf this year, for JackLink’s Beef Jerky, CarmichaelLynch Spong brought the recog-nizable Sasquatch icon to life tocreate buzz and build brandawareness through public rela-tions and experiential marketingas part of an integrated commu-nications campaign. The effortresulted in media saturation inkey markets, a significant boostin brand awareness and helpedsecure Jack Link’s as the marketleader.

Moving from meat snacks tonutraceuticals, CarmichaelLynch Spong launched “The Big3 For Baby & Me” campaign —aimed at improving perinatalnutrition and generating con-sumer awareness of the overallimportance of DHA and itshealth benefits. The effort result-ed in greater media share-of-voice, awareness, trial and sales.

Dunkin’ Brands and SUPER-VALU joined our existing clientcornucopia this year as well.

Our food and beverage teamworks with food industry lead-ers, consumer groups, chefs,nutritionists, commodity groups,regulatory organizations andexperts in general on a regularbasis. Our relationships gobeyond media. We know theright people to target with theright program, product, cam-paign or cause. And they knowus.

Our approach is a simple one.We develop strategic programsthat focus on a measurableimpact for our clients. Successfulcommunications programs tieback to predetermined goals andobjectives that will fill the glassfull in terms of brand awareness,preference, loyalty and sales.

CARRYON5670 Wilshire Blvd., 23rd FloorLos Angeles, CA 90036323/848.4300www.carryonpr.com

JP Schuerman, ManagingDirector

CarryOn is a national integratedbranding firm with offices in LosAngeles, New York, Washington,DC and Louisville, KY. Our leadersare proven practitioners with 20+years experience who subscribe toCarryOn’s unique employee-cen-tric, results-driven approach.

In addition to representing IHOPrestaurants and Soy Joy energybars, CarryOn has a wealth of foodand beverage experience withbrands including Johnny Rockets,Got Milk, Baskin Robbins, MillerBrewing Company, General Mills,Heineken Premium Light, Sunkist,the City of Beverly Hills restau-rants and Nestlé, among others.

CONE855 Boylston StreetBoston, MA 02116www.coneinc.com

Jens Bang, President & CEOBill Fleishman, EVP, BrandMarketing GroupPeggy O’Shea Kochenbach, VP,Brand Marketing Group

Cone was founded on a love ofconsumer products, and for over 25years, we have worked with manyleading food and beverage brands tohelp them build distinct brand per-sonalities. We work with companiessuch as Nestle Waters, Lindt,General Mills, Starbucks NewEngland, among others. We prideourselves on taking a broad-basedmarketing approach to the work wedo. This enables us to create fully-integrated programs that build deep-er bonds with core targets and ulti-mately strengthen a brand. Areas ofexpertise include: product introduc-tions, product revitalizations, influ-encer programs, new media, gueril-la marketing, crisis managementand in-store events.

CONTEXT MARKETING

100 Ebbtide, Building 3Sausalito, CA 94965415/289-7575www.contextmarketing.com

Bob Kenney, President

Not only are many of the coun-try’s food and beverage trendsborn in California, the state alsohas a way of amplifying theissues commanding the attentionof food marketers. As one of thelarger PR firms in California spe-cializing in food and beveragemarketing communications, we

are uniquely positioned to identi-fy these trends for our clients andhelp them to understand the manyissues influencing consumer pur-chase.

“Context” describes our way oflooking at marketing. Someone

“Carmichael Lynch Spong food and beverage teammembers interact with irreverent Sasquatch helpingconsumers Feed Their Wild Sides and taste the robustflavor of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.”

Cone’s launch for Aquapod included a mobile market-ing tour.

Continued on page 22

Profiles of Food & Beverage PR Firms

thinking contextually, whetherabout brands or issues, must takea broader approach to problemsolving, creatively engaging audi-ences in the places where theylook for information.Increasingly this is not just themedia but also the many formsword-of-mouth assumes in oursociety.

We believe our approachmakes us highly responsive to ourclients and also reflects realworld client needs, where brandbuilding and reputation manage-ment are flip sides of the samecoin and effective marketingcommunications requires con-stant attention to emerging issuesand the interests of diverse audi-ences and stakeholders.

COYNE PR14 Walsh DriveParsippany, NJ 07054973/316-1665www.coynepr.com

1540 BroadwaySuite 1602New York, NY 10036212/938-0166

Thomas F. Coyne, President & CEOTim Schramm, Vice President

Coyne Public Relations is oneof the nation’s leading inde-pendent public relations agen-cies with extensive experiencein the food and beverage cate-gory. The agency representssome of the world’s largest foodcompanies, including KraftFoods, General Mills, and theCampbell Soup Company, and

has spearheaded productlaunches, brand building cam-paigns, tradeshow support,events and sponsorships, con-test promotion, cause market-ing, influencer outreach, publicaffairs, government affairs andcrisis management.

As 2005 Creative Agency ofthe Year and PRWeek Agency ofthe Year Finalist three of thepast four years, Coyne PR com-bines sound strategic counselwith cutting edge creative ele-ments to achieve superior com-munications goals for its clients.

CRT/TANAKA320 West 13th StreetNew York, NY 10014212/229-0500Fax: 212/229-0523www.crt-tanaka.com

Ellen LaNicca, Executive VPMaria Kalligeros, Executive VP

CRT/tanaka is an award-win-ning public relations and mar-keting firm, known for creativesolutions and workplace cul-ture. The firm was formed in2005, when Carter RyleyThomas acquired New Yorkconsumer agency PatriceTanaka & Company, Inc. toform one of the top independentagencies in the country.Headquartered in Richmond,Va. and New York, with officesin Los Angeles and Norfolk,Va., CRT/tanaka specializes inthree practice areas –Consumer, Health andCorporate. The agency’s NewYork-based Consumer Practiceis known for its specialties inbrand marketing PR, cause andevent marketing and marketingto women. Current agencyclients in food & beverageinclude:

AeroGrow International,Ar+Cook, Atkins NutritionalsInc., All-Clad Metalcrafters,Cocktails by Jenn, De’Longhi,Emerilware, Performance FoodGroup, Rioja Wine and T-Fal.

Food and beverage brandsthat CRT/tanaka has representedinclude Godiva Chocolatier,Walnut Acres, Newman’s Own,Lipton Recipe Secrets, MailleMustard, Lea & Perrins,Consorzio Pecorino Romano,Hostess Snack Cakes, CoorsBrewing Co., StolichnayaRussian Vodka, KorbelChampagne, Noilly PratVermouth, Krispy KremeDoughnuts, Eskimo Pie and TheSwitch Beverage Company.

CURRENTLIFESTYLE

111 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 2605Chicago, IL 60601312/988-3505www.currentlifestylemarketing.com

Virginia Devlin, GeneralManagerMichael Wehman, Director, Food& Beverage

Current Lifestyle Marketinghelps clients create strategic mar-keting campaigns that seamlesslyintegrate with the ever-changingactivities, interests and opinionsof today’s consumers. The agencyis part of The Interpublic Groupof Companies’ ConstituencyManagement Group.

With seasoned food and nutri-tion marketers on staff, includinga trained chef, Current LifestyleMarketing represents a 5-starroster of clients, includingHidden Valley, KC Masterpiece,Uncle Ben’s, Kingsford, Glad,and Wine Market Council, a non-profit wine industry trade associ-ation.

Our work focuses on brandand commodity marketing, suchas new product launches, con-sumer education campaigns,cause-related partnerships, influ-encer outreach, grassroots mar-keting and social media program-ming.

DUBLIN & ASSOCIATES

3015 San PedroSan Antonio, TX 78212210/227-0221www.dublinandassociates.com

Jim Dublin, CEOMary Uhlig, President

Dublin & Associates is a full-service strategic communicationsfirm with extensive experienceserving food industry clients. Wehave worked with food and con-sumer companies including PioneerFlour Mills, Pace Foods (CampbellSoup Co.), the Coca-Cola BottlingCompany of the Southwest,NatureSweet Tomatoes, Luby’sCafeterias, Taco Cabana, andfood/entertainment promotionalfirms such as Hispano USA. Weprovide national and regional mediacoverage, special event planningand Hispanic market outreach. Wework closely with clients to developstrategic initiatives and publicitycampaigns that focus on client mar-keting goals and bottom line results.


Coyne PR’s recipe for success helped increase media cov-erage by 30 percent for the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest.

Armed with research showing that children consumed 23percent more vegetables when paired with a moderateamount of ranch dressing, Current Lifestyle Marketing cre-ated the “Love Your Veggies” national school grant pro-gram for Hidden Valley to support increased access to andconsumption of fresh vegetables at school.

Context MarketingContinued from page 21


EDELMAN200 East Randolph StreetChicago, IL 60601312/240-3000

Janet Cabot, Executive VicePresident and General ManagerFood & Nutrition Practice

Since its founding 54 years ago,Edelman has helped shape some ofthe world’s best-known food brands,including StarKist tuna andButterball turkey, whose iconicTurkey Talk-Line is now in its 27thyear. Edelman continues to helpcompanies build their brands andcommodity marketers deliver themessages. Its clients includeStarbucks, Kraft, Nestle and BushBrothers as well as DairyManagement Inc. (DMI), theAmerican Egg Board and theMushroom Council.

Edelman’s team of food and nutri-tion practitioners across the U.S.includes six registered dietitians, twofoodservice/ingredient specialistsand a culinary expert who ran herown cooking school. In addition,Sylvia Rowe, former president andCEO of the International FoodInformation Council (IFIC) and IFICFoundation, serves the firm as U.S.and global strategic consultant forfood issues and policy providingexpert counsel worldwide in theareas of nutrition policy, nutritionmarketing, functional foods, andproduct development and visioningas well as food safety, nutritionissues management and risk com-munication.

Edelman has been at the forefrontof today’s most-talked-about healthand nutrition topics – obesity, dietaryguidelines, marketing to kids andtrans fats. It regularly engagesthought leaders, reaches out to advo-cates and enlightens target con-sumers through education cam-paigns; grabs the media’s attentionthrough newsworthy events and cre-ative materials; and influences theinfluencers at industry conferencesas well as at special forums we con-ceive and stage.

FINEMAN PR330 Townsend St., Ste. 119San Francisco, CA 94107415/392-1000www.finemanpr.com

Michael Fineman, President

Fineman PR, founded in 1988,specializes in Brand PR and crisismanagement for food and beverageclients. Our strength is buildingstrong brand identity for our clients.

Clients include Foster Farms Poultryand Nunes Company/Foxy Foodsand a marquee wine client list of themost significant wineries inCalifornia, including Stag’s LeapWine Cellars, Hanzell Vineyards,Chateau Montelena, and Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and WineInstitute.

The firm has also provided servic-es for Diamond of California,Fantastic Foods, Fresh ExpressFarms, Clif Bar, Odwalla, TheRepublic of Tea, California TreeFruit Agreement, World Wrapps andParisian and Colombo SourdoughBreads.

FLEISHMAN -HILLARD

200 North BroadwaySt. Louis, MO 63102314/982-1700

John Graham, ChairmanDave Senay, President & CEOJanet Greenlee/Rick Thaemert –U.S. Co-chairs; Ron Guirguis —Canada Co-chair; food and agribusi-ness practice

“Using a ‘think global, eat local’philosophy, FH combines in-depthknowledge … food and beveragemarketing, investor/members rela-tions, international trade issues, envi-ronmental concerns, freedom tooperate pressures and agriculturalpolicy in the U.S., Canada, andEurope – with an understanding oflocal cultures …”

Clients include: Gatorade,Dannon, Subway, Clover LeafSeafood, Bumble Bee Seafoods,Fisheries Council of Canada, FritoLay, Dow AgroSciences, Nutrientsfor Life Foundation, Viking, McCainFoods, Maple Leaf Foods, U.S.Potato Board, National MangoBoard, American Lamb Board,Mirassou Winery, Perdue Farms,and California Raisin MarketingBoard.

FRENCH / WEST /VAUGHAN

112 E. Hargett St.Raleigh, NC 27601919/832-6300www.fwv-us.com

Rick French, President/CEOLauren Taylor, Exec VP, PartnerDavid Gwyn, Exec VP, Partner

French/West/Vaughan (FWV) ishome to one of the nation’s largestFood and Beverage practice areas.As a national leader in launchinghead-turning, results-driven market-

ing campaigns, FWV combines theexpertise of its Raleigh, N.C. head-quarters and New York City office toinspire consumers and influencethem favorably toward the world’sleading companies and brands,including the Coca-Cola Company(Nestea and Gold Peak) and DiageoNorth America (Bulleit Bourbonbrand).

Client experience includes workfor Celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia,the North Carolina Beer and WineWholesalers Association, and previ-ous work for Brinkers International(Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurantchain), ConAgra, Nabisco Foodsand many others.

Product launches have includedNestea COOL, Diet Nestea, GoldPeak, Arbor Mist wines, BulleitBourbon, Dolphins & Friends snackcrackers, various OrvilleRedenbacher’s popcorns andPemmican Beef Jerky. FWVlaunched these products in key mar-kets across the U.S. with hospitalitycoordination, strategic planning andcomprehensive media outreach cam-paigns. The agency also executes“experimental” programs to stimu-late product trials and awareness.

GROUNDFLOORMEDIA

1400 Larimer Street, Suite 300Denver, CO 80202303/865-8110www.groundfloormedia.com

Laura Love, PresidentRamonna Tooley, Vice President

Award-winning GroundFloorMedia (GFM) is one of Colorado’stop 10 PR firms. Recently recog-nized by The Denver BusinessJournal as one of the 2006 “Fastest-Growing Small Private Companies”and among the 2006 “Best Places toWork”, GFM is no stranger to acco-lades. The firm’s award-winningexperience helps food and beverageclients, among others, build brandidentity, generate publicity for open-ings and new products. Food andbeverage clients include StarbucksCoffee Company, Coors Light,Qdoba, Molson, and Zima XXX. Afull-service PR agency, GFM offersstrategic and tactical PR planning,media and community relations, cri-sis communications and specialevents management.

HANNA LEE COMMUNICATIONS575 Madison Avenue, 8th floorNew York, NY 10022212/721-2090Fax: 212/[email protected]

Hanna Lee, President

Hanna Lee Communications,Inc., is a marketing communica-tions agency specialized in public


Eric Asimov, chief wine critic of The New York Times, andHanna Lee, President of Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.and founder of Unwind with Wine,™ at the club’s“Affordable Holiday Sparklers” wine tasting event inDecember 2006 at Jolly Hotel Madison Towers.

Continued on page 24



relations and event managementfor the food, wine and hospitalityindustries. “Our dedicated team ispassionate about what we do andabout our clients. We only pro-mote products and services thatwe believe in,” said Hanna Lee.“Our integrity is well-knownthroughout the industry and isrespected by the media.” The agency’s services includestrategic planning; national andlocal media outreach; long termbrand building; press trips, pressconferences and media training;trade and consumer show sup-port; and, sponsorship manage-

ment and co-marketing promo-tions.

Its clients include MionettoProsecco, where the agencyhelped create the Prosecco cate-gory in the U.S.; San DomenicoNY Restaurant; The FrenchCulinary Institute; NYC &Company, New York City’s offi-cial tourism organization; JollyHotel Madison Towers and itsRistorante Cinque Terre; AKITASake Promotion and ExportCouncil; the Maremma TourismBoard; and, the Grana PadanoCheese and San DanieleProsciutto Consortiums. Hanna Lee Communications,Inc., launched Unwind WithWine™, a new monthly winetasting and networking club. The

tastings go beyond wine toinclude lectures by renownedwine journalists like the New YorkTimes’ chief wine critic EricAsimov, authors such as MarkOldman and educators, includingW.R. Tish. The events are accom-panied by a multi-course tastingmenu prepared to match thewines and provide professionalnetworking opportunities, includ-ing the “60-Second ShamelessPlug.”

HUNTER PR41 Madison Avenue, 5th FloorNew York, NY 10010-2202www.hunterpr.com

Grace Leong, Managing Memberwww.hunterpr.com

Hunter Public Relations isamong the top-ranked firms special-izing in food, beverage and spiritsmarketing communications. The48-person, independently ownedand operated firm handles all facetsof strategic marketing PR includingcreative brainstorming and facilita-tion, media relations, special eventproduction, product introductions,anniversaries, nutrition and recipeinitiatives (led by a full-time, on-staff registered dietitian), contests,local market events, spokespersontours and crisis counseling.

Revitalizing mature brands, cre-ating buzz around new products andbuilding awareness among keyinfluencers groups (including theepicurean, medical and dieteticcommunity) are among the firm’sspecific areas of expertise.

Clients include some of thestrongest and most respected brandnames in food and beverages: KraftFoods, Wrigley’s, Arby’s, Pepsi,Campbell Soup Company,Kellogg’s, Welch’s, McIlhennyCompany, Signature Brands, E&JGallo Winery and Diageo.

JB CUMBERLAND

135 West 27th St., 10th flrNew York, NY 10001646/230-6940www.jbcumberlandpr.com

Joanna Cumberland, Pres & CEOMarie Cacciato, Sr. Exec, Culinary& Gourmet Group

Since 1985, JB CumberlandPublic Relations (JBC PR) has spe-cialized in launching, branding andpublicizing better-quality food, bev-erage and gourmet product compa-nies — from San Pellegrino,Twinings Lady Grey Tea and St.Dalfour Spreads to CMA (German

Foods Marketing Assoc.), All-CladCookware, Henckels Knives, andDeLonghi.

We popularize Bodum coffeeand tea varieties and products in US& internationally; publicize thenow-ubiquitous Orka SiliconeOven Mitt et al and are creating thetrend to epicurean foams [aka“Espumas”] for iSi. Our TV, radio,print and web coverage establishesThe Wine Enthusiast brand as theprimary source for everything wineand Sushi, such as our knife skillsseminars to support Brazilian cut-lery company Mundial.

JSH&A2 TransAm Plaza DriveSuite 450Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181630/932-4242www.jsha.com

Jonni Hegenderfer, Pres. & CEOJim Kokoris, EVP & Managing PrtnrLaura Diehl, SVP, Consumer Lifestyle

JSH&A is a new kind of publicrelations agency dedicated to under-standing today’s lifestyles and PRstrategies that speak to consumers ina relevant and clear voice. Experts atconnecting with consumers andmedia, JSH&A’s unique LIF™StylePR process creates innovative envi-ronments and techniques that deliv-er impact and generate news.

Whether launching the Hershey’sKisses Centennial with the U.S.Postal Service “Love” stamp, show-casing the McDonald’s Arch Cardon the fashion runway with R&Bsinger Kelis, launching CacaoReserve by Hershey’s at theMetropolitan Museum of Art, orconducting bourbon tastings for 400Jim Beam Small Batch enthusiasts,JSH&A delivers breakthrough pub-licity and bottomline results.

JS2 COMMS.661 N. Harper Ave., Suite 208Los Angeles, CA 90048323/866-0880Fax: 323/866-0882

41 East 11th Street, 11th FloorNew York, NY 10003212/905-6260Fax: 212/905-6264www.js2comm.com

Jill Sandin, PresidentAlissa Pinck, GM/VP, New YorkRebecca Hutchinson, VPAmanda White, SAE

Founded by Jeff Smith andJill Sandin in 2001, JS2Communications is a bi-coastalpublic relations agency dedicated

JB Cumberland PR worked with “Regis and Kelly Live”in June to position client Mundial as the show’s knifeof choice.

Hanna Lee Comms.Continued from page 23

JSH&A helped launch the 100th anniversary ofHershey’s Kisses Brand Chocolates with the unveilingof the 2007 With Love and Kisses stamp in Hershey,Pa. A yearlong celebration is planned.


to providing clients with strategicsolutions, candid counsel and tan-gible results. Comprised of adynamic group of seasoned pro-fessionals, the JS2 team is pas-sionate about its relationshipswith niche-defining brands andits partnerships with the teamsthat build them.

JS2’s F&B expertise is ground-ed in integral partnerships withsome of the most acclaimed chefsand restaurants in the country,including Bradley Ogden and hiseponymous, James Beard-awardwinning restaurant at CaesarsPalace in Las Vegas; Michelinthree-star chef Guy Savoy’srestaurant and the legendaryRao’s restaurant at the same loca-tion; Neal Fraser and his Graceand bld restaurants, Ben Ford andFord’s Filling Station, andSalvatore Marino’s Il Grano inLos Angeles; and Robert Gadsbyand Noé Restaurant & Bar in LosAngeles and Houston, and 676 atthe Omni Chicago Hotel. A long-standing client relationship withinternational specialty coffee andtea retailer The Coffee Bean &Tea Leaf, and Tony Roma’s roundout the agency’s F&B retailexpertise. Renowned artisan bak-ery, La Brea Bakery, LeblonCachaça and Hadaka Sushi arenewcomers to JS2’s client rosterand notable, long-term pastclients include: Starbucks, JambaJuice, Maggiano’s CaliforniaPizza Kitchen, Baja Fresh, LevyRestaurants, Il Fornaio, WholeFoods, Einstein Bros. Bagels,Stolichnaya, McAllan Scotch,Remi Martin, and more.

KOHNSTAMMCOMMUNICATIONS400 N. Robert Street, 14th FloorSt. Paul, MN 55101www.kohnstamm.com

Josh Kohnstamm, PresidentTrish Scorpio, Account Director,Food & Beverage

Kohnstamm Communicationsis an independent PR agency withextensive national food and bev-erage client experience, particu-larly in fast-growth and organicand natural channels. AccountDirector Trish Scorpio is former-ly the PR contact for theAmerican Dietetic Association,fostering exceptional relation-ships with food writers, editorsand producers. Kohnstamm wasone of a few small agencies toreceive the “Client Seal ofApproval” rating from the

Holmes Report, a rating based onclient surveys and interviews.

Notable food and beverageclient experience includes:Naked Juice, Honest Tea,SunOpta, Fantastic Foods, Reed’sGinger Brew, Republic of Tea,GeniSoy, General Mills, Malt-O-Meal, Green Mill Restaurants,and Dancing Deer BakingCompany.

LEE & ASSOCIATES145 S. Fairfax Ave., #301Los Angeles, CA 90036323/938-3300www.leeassociates.com

Howard Pearlstein, Principal

Lee & Assocs. offers strategicplanning, program evaluation,media relations, product launches,consumer education, recipe devel-opment, special events, crisismanagement and corporate PRservices to its food & beverageclient roster.

Founded in 1950, the agency isproud of its Western ResearchKitchens division, which featureshome economists, nutritionists,dietitians, chefs and medical doc-tors. The firm has representedPepsiCo, Del Monte, AmericanHome Foods and Suntory Int’l, aswell as brand names like JohnMorrell, Florida’s Natural FruitSnacks, Morehouse Mustard andMrs. Cubbison’s Foods (stuffingand croutons— a client for over50 years). Additional clientsinclude trade associations andmarketing boards, from Californiaapples, eggs, figs, prunes, seafoodand tomatoes to Hawaiian papaya,Oregon potatoes and the NewZealand Trade Commission.

LEVICK STRATEGICCOMMS.

1900 M Street NWWashington, DC 20036

Richard Levick, President & CEOGene Grabowski, Senior VPSteve Ellis, Senior VPMichael Robison, Senior VPLarry Smith, Senior VPGreg Wilson, Senior VP

Levick Strategic Comms.,founded in 1998, is an inde-pendent privately held commu-nication firm with expertise inhigh stakes communication andfood industry issues. Honoredas Crisis Agency of the Year byThe Holmes Report in 2005,Levick is a leading practitioner

in the field of food safety and inaddressing attacks from NGOsand activist groups such asPeople for the EthicalTreatment of Animals.

The firm’s food practice isheaded by Senior VicePresident Gene Grabowski, for-mer Vice President ofCommunications andMarketing for the GroceryManufacturers of America. Heis among the country’s mostaccomplished professionals inhandling food-related issuesincluding marketing and brand-ing, food safety and food andconsumer-product recalls.

Levick has guided a numberof food trade associations andfood companies through suc-cessful publicity efforts andcontentious litigation. Clients haveincluded: Agriprocessors, Inc.,Campbell Soup Company, Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods,Michigan Apple Committee,NewStar Fresh Foods, RiverRanch Fresh Foods, Greenies PetTreats, Stew Leonards GroceryStores, Washington AppleCommission, United FreshProduce Association, U.S. AppleAssociation and U.S. PotatoCouncil and the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture.

Kohnstamm Communications orchestrated “NationalBundt Day” for client Nordic Ware by working withMartha Stewart, who hosted an entire Martha StewartLiving show on the iconic cake pan. Sales at Wal-Martquintupled estimates.


Executive Chef Steve Kasmar (left) Director of LosAngeles Trade Tech’s Culinary School and Ron Parque(2nd from left) President of Mrs. Cubbison’s Foods, posewith semi-finalists in the school’s Ninth Annual Mrs.Cubbison’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Cook-Off, created andsupervised by Lee & Associates.



LEWIS & NEALE35 East 21 St.New York, NY 10010212/420-8808Fax: 212/[email protected]

Anita Fial, PresidentRuth Lowenberg, Senior VP

Lewis & Neale is the preemi-nent full-service communicationsagency devoted exclusively tothe marketing of food. The firmhas built a solid reputation bysuccessfully enhancing theimage of its clients’ products,changing consumer attitudes,building demand and launchingand repositioning products.Clients depend on the agencyfor strategies and creatives thatconsistently deliver outstandingresults.

To support the company’ssingular interest, the staff con-sists of experienced food pro-fessionals, such as marketingand publicity experts, food writ-ers, home economists and a die-titian. In-house facilities areequally specialized and includetest kitchens, a photography stu-dio and a comprehensive food-focused library. Programs aretargeted to consumers (mass andsegmented, age and gender spe-cific, ethnic and regional nich-es), the foodservice industry,food manufacturers, retailers,health professionals and educa-tors.

List of clients: Avocadosfrom Mexico (APEAM), TheCatfish Institute, Chilean FreshFruit Association, EuropeanUnion Product Campaign,

Florida Tomato Committee,Fresh Supersweet Corn Council,KA-ME Boxed Noodle & RiceMeals, Prosciutto di Parma,Sesmark Crackers, U.S.Highbush Blueberry Council.

M BOOTH & ASSOCS.300 Park Ave. SouthNew York, NY 10010212/481-7000www.mbooth.com

Margaret Booth, PresidentRichard Goldblatt, SVP, DirectorJennifer Teitler, SVP, Director

A leader in food/beverage mar-keting and boasting a pantry fullof leading national brands, MBooth & Associates baked up astorm this year for its foodclients.

From mac ‘n cheese, mashedpotatoes and seasonings, tochunky monkey ice cream, mar-garines and salad dressing, MBooth is delivering appetizingresults across the board. MBooth helped launch new Wish-Bone Salad Spritzers Vinaigrettedressings, spray-on dressings thathelp you perfectly dress yoursalad. Focusing on the product’sportion control benefits, M Boothfirst got the new spray dressinginto the hands of influencers andkey media and then brought it tolife with the first-ever SummerSalad Fashion Show, entitled“Puttin’ on the Spritz.” The showfeatured models clad in couturemade of real fruits and veggies.The campaign was credited withhelping Wishbone exceed salesgoals and expand the categorybeyond existing users.

M Booth introduced a new

Mediterranean Blend for I Can’tBelieve It’s Not Butter via anintegrated online contest to giveaway an actual MediterraneanIsland. Promoted online, on packand via media outreach featuringthe brand’s long standingspokesperson, Fabio, the cam-paign reinforced the brand’shealthy lifestyle. Food issues andcloning were the focus of a newcampaign for Ben & Jerry’s, an MBooth client for four years. Toraise awareness of the issues sur-rounding cloning and urgeAmericans to make their voicesheard to the FDA, Ben & Jerry’sjoined forces with the ConsumerFederation of America and theNational Farmers Union to stagea demonstration of 100 cow-cos-tumed marchers on Capitol Hill.For Country Crock, M Boothbuilt on its relationship with theU.S.O. to deliver thousands ofpounds of comfort food to themilitary and its families at a spe-cial holiday celebration. On thefood policy front, M Booth isworking on behalf of the KelloggFoundation’s Food & SocietyInitiative to engage key stake-holders in a broader dialogueabout food and its connection tohealth, community, and the envi-ronment.

Past food industry clientsinclude Take Control, Arm &Hammer, Cheez-It, ViennaFingers, Snickers, Tribal Tonicsand the Snack Food Association.

MALONEY & FOX

89 Fifth Avenue, 4th floorNew York, NY 10003212/223.2000www.maloneyfox.com

Brian Maloney, Margie Fox, partnersHal Bienstock, New [email protected]

In the three years since creat-ing its Food & Beverage divi-sion, Maloney & Fox (M&F) hasgrown the practice to include aroster of premium brands, allhungry for the kind of smart,brand-building programs forwhich the agency is known. Bythe end of 2006, the ten-year-oldintegrated marketing firm boast-ed a F&B client list that hasincluded Ile de France gourmetcheese, Drambuie, Peroni Beer,and Robert Rothschild Farm,totaling close to $543K in annu-al billings – an increase of near-ly 50% over the prior year.

One of the 22-person firm’smany success stories of 2006

was the extension of the integrat-ed PR and marketing campaign— “Signature Spirit” — devel-oped for Drambuie to re-launchthe classic Scottish brand to anew generation of drinkers andkey media. The highlight of thecampaign, which contributeddirectly to reversing the 30-yeardownward sales trend for thebrand, was the creation of “TheDrambuie Dens,” experientialpop-up lounges held in NewYork, L.A, Chicago and Torontoon multiple nights in each city.The campaign has been recog-nized with four industry awards,including a Gold MercuryAward, a Silver CreativityAward, a Platinum MarComCreative Award and a SabreAward for Excellence.

M&F was instrumental in theU.S. introduction of PeroniNastro Azzurro, the premiumItalian beer. To help build thebrand’s association with thefashion community, M&F helpedbroker and maximize Peroni’ssponsorship of IMG FashionWeek, including creating andimplementing high-profile sam-pling soirees, a special brandedexhibition and branded loungefor visitors.

For Robert Rothschild Farm,which signed on in late 2005,M&F spearheaded a partnershipwith entertaining guru DavidTutera. Tactics included a radiomedia tour with Tutera focusingon holiday entertaining tips; aneditorial event at Tutera’s newManhattan studio with attendeesfrom the top women’s and gener-al interest consumer publica-tions; and leveraging Tutera’sVIP and celebrity network toinclude RRF in gift bags for sev-eral high-profile events.

M&F continued its successfulpartnership with Ile de Francegourmet cheese and the prod-uct’s alliance with cookbookauthor Kathy Gunst. M&Fdeveloped and implemented anintegrated PR and marketingcampaign that focuses on mak-ing the imported cheeses lessintimidating and more versatileto various demographic groups.Components included participat-ing in gourmet food shows inWashington, DC and Atlanta, aswell as co-sponsoring“Rendezvous with FrenchCinema,” the prestigious annualFrench film series hosted by theFilm Society of Lincoln Center.2006 ended on a fruitful notewith M&F being awarded anotherhigh-profile spirits launch.

M Booth & Associates helped launch new Wish-BoneSalad Spritzers, spray-on dressings that help you per-fectly dress your salad, with a first of its kind summersalad fashion show.


MARINA MAHERCOMMUNICATIONS

830 Third AvenueNew York, NY 10022212/485-6800www.mahercomm.com

Marina Maher, PresidentNancy Lowman LaBadie, EVPDeLisa Harmon, Group SeniorVP, Consumer Brands

Marina Maher Communications’(MMC) Food and BeveragePractice has decades of brand-building experience in food, nutri-tion and beverage categories.Current clients include GeorgeWeston Bakeries on Brands such asThomas’, Arnold Bread and otherbakery products. A recentaccount win is SLIMQUICKTM

from the Well NX Corporation inToronto. SLIMQUICKTM is anadvanced fat burner designed forwomen. MMC’s experience alsoincludes Weight Watchers line oflicensed food products, Elio’sPizza, Ronzoni, Godiva Ice Cream,Diet Coke, Champagne Mumm,Carefree Sugarless Gum, HealthyWoman Soy MenopauseSupplement, Cholesterol Successand Energy Fuel.

MMC offers clients its highlyregarded marketing-to-womenexpertise and its innate ability toestablish emotional connectionsbetween consumers and brands.The Food & Beverage Practice isalso supported by MMC’s MediaConnections to engage consumers.Led by experts in traditional andsocial media, special events andlifestyle trends, MediaConnections is focused on thesmartest routes of managingBrand dialogue with clients’ tar-gets.

A unique value to clients isMMC’s new proprietary system,F&B Trendcaster, designed to ana-lyze trends and determine which arebest to leverage for PR or marketingneeds. Trendcaster brings fresh,innovative thinking and opportuni-ties for clients to grow their business

MARX LAYNE & CO.31420 Northwestern Highway #100Farmington Hills, MI 48334248/[email protected] www.marxlayne.com

Michael A. Layne, Partner

Specializing in public and cor-porate communications, MarxLayne has been providing mar-keting and PR services to restau-

rants, supermarkets and foodservice organizations since theearly 1980s.

Services offered to food serv-ice clients include media rela-tions, product publicity, crisis andissue management, internal com-munications, special events plan-ning, direct mail, graphic design,web-content development,brochure and newsletter produc-tion.

Clients include McDonald’sRestaurants of SoutheasternMichigan, Seldom Blues, theGrand City Grille, and theMichigan Restaurant Association.

MORGAN & MYERS

2909 Hennepin Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MN 55408612/825-0050www.morganmyers.com

Lou Ann Loeb, President,Director-Food, Health & NutritionBeth Witherspoon, R.D., MPH

Morgan&Myers is passion-ate about food. We’re a mar-keting communications agencythat builds brands, relation-ships and reputations in thefood marketplace from pastureto plate. Our expertise includes strate-gic planning, brand marketing,new product launches, mediarelations, cooking/baking con-tests, grassroots and nationalconsumer events, health andnutrition education and influ-encer communications, Webdevelopment, interactive tools.Our in-house test kitchen isused for food prototype devel-opment, recipe development,testing and nutrition analysis.

Client experience includesthe California RaisinMarketing Board, ForemostFarms, General Mills Bakeries& Foodservice, The HersheyCompany, Kraft Foods,KitchenAid small appliances,McDonald’s North America,Silver Spring Foods, IowaSoybean Association, and TheSoyfoods Council.

Founded in 1982, M&M’sapproach includes sound sci-ence-based policy and foodchain issue monitoring, such asfood quality, security, obesity,trans fats, COOL, farm policyand plant biotechnology. We’remembers of the AmericanDietetic Association,Consumer Trends Forum andInternational Association ofCulinary Professionals.

M&P FOOD COMMUNICATIONS

33 N. Dearborn, Suite 909 Chicago, IL 60602312/201-9101Fax: 312/201-9161www.mpfood.com

Brenda McDowell, Principal

PR & marketing for food andnutrition, beverage, consumer prod-ucts, commodity groups and servic-es. Employees: 12. Founded: 1987.

Specializing in food and nutritioncommunications, M&P has had itspulse on the food community for 20years.

M&P builds awareness for clientprograms and products among keyinfluencer groups through a varietyof activities, including specialevents, new product introductions,recipe contests, seminars and meet-ing exhibits, media relations anddeskside visits.

JOLLYTIME Pop Corn, NationalCattlemen’s Beef Association, TheQuaker Oats Company, SenecaFoods Corporation, WiltonEnterprises, Inc.

MWW GROUPOne Meadowlands PlazaEast Rutherford, NJ 07073201/507-9500www.mww.com

Michael W. Kempner, Pres. & CEOAlissa Blate, EVP, Director ofConsumer MarketingCheryll Forsatz, Group VicePresident

MWW Group is expert at usingconsumer marketing and public rela-tions to create excitement and cachetfor food and beverage brands. Ourdepth of experience spans new prod-uct marketing, branding, reposition-ing and publicity for clients rangingfrom global restaurant brands andfranchises to upscale eateries andleading packaged goods brands. Ourexperience includes: Gardenburger,Sara Lee, Ball Park Franks, JimmyDean, Gallo Salame, The PalmRestaurants, McDonald’s,FreshDirect, The Restaurants andNewport and more.

M. YOUNG COMMS.7 West 18 Street, 3rd FloorNew York NY 10011212/620-7027www.myoungcom.com

Melanie Young, President

M. Young Comms., est. 1989,

provides media communications,industry relations and special eventproduction services for wine, spir-its, beer, food, hospitality, publish-ing and luxury goods and services.The firm has strong contactsthroughout the US among food andbeverage media, chefs, sommeliers,retailers and wine importers anddistributors. Signature events devel-oped and produced by M YoungComms. have included: The JamesBeard Awards, New YorkRestaurant Week and Taste ofTimes Square. Product launcheshave included: Anheuser-Busch,Roberto Cavalli Vodka, Frida KahloTequila, Ron Santa Teresa 1796 andWaterford Crystal ConnoisseurGold Collection. Current clients(at press time): Rums of PuertoRico, Wines from Spain, BonAppetit Magazine, ConsorzioBrunello di Montalcino, ConsorzioDOC Prosecco, Airforce Nutrisoda,POUR Wine & Spirits Boutiqueand SHARE “A Second Helping ofLife”.

NUTRITION &CULINARY

CONSULANTS589 8th Ave., Suite 4New York, NY 10018-3092212/329-6270www.culinarynutritionists.com

Kyle Shadix, MS, RD, Group Dir.Mark Cotter, President

Nutrition and CulinaryConsultants (NCC) is the only WPPadvertising and marketing commu-nications company solely devotedto bridging the gap between nutri-tion science and the culinary arts.

Under the leadership of TheFood Group, NCC provides strate-gic science-based guidance andshowcases the services and educa-tional background of registereddietitians, trained chefs and otherspecialists. NCC provides skilled,credible food and nutrition servicesto the food, beverage and wellnessindustries

Their evidence-based food andnutrition science methodology isone that utilizes a framework of thebest available external scientificevidence from the most current andtrustworthy research available.

Created for companies who wantto develop and launch a new prod-uct or redefine an existing one,NCC ‘s expertise is in the creationand implementation of new menuitems, prepared foods, snacks, andbeverages to better serve the nutri-tional and well-being needs ofAmericans.




PADILLA SPEERBEARDSLEY

1101 W. River Pkwy.Minneapolis, MN 55415612/455-1700www.psbpr.com

Tom Jollie, Senior VP,Consumer ProductsMary Jo Exley / Liz Hanlin,Directors, Food

Padilla Speer Beardsley is anindependent, multi-specialty com-munications firm with offices inMinneapolis and New York. Withexpertise in the food industry, thefirm has created programs that rangefrom launching new products, to re-energizing existing brands, to creat-ing promotional partnerships, to han-dling product recalls.

The firm has helped CaribouCoffee, Cheerios, Cub Foods, GE,Gold Medal Flour, Golden ValleyMicrowave Foods, Land O’Lakes,Lloyd’s Barbeque Company, Malt-O-Meal, PepsiCo, Pillsbury,Progresso, SUPERVALU, Total andTrix.

PAINE PR19000 MacArthur Blvd., 8th FloorIrvine, CA 92612949/809-67001-866-PAINEPR (724-6377)www.painepr.comNew York – Boston – Los Angeles– Orange County

Daryl McCullough, PresidentJustin McCarthy, VP, Bus. Dev.

PainePR has 20 years of expe-

rience within the food & bever-age categories, specializing infunctional foods and nutrition, aswell as foods and beverages tar-geting major sectors from youthto baby-boomers. In 2006, theagency was chosen as agency ofrecord for the Johnny Rocketsnational burger chain, and PizzaHut’s Wing Street - for nationallaunch of this new wings restau-rant/delivery chain concept. Theagency launched Enova brandcooking oil in the U.S. for ArcherDaniels Midland and the KaoCorporation, and represents theMetamucil and Fibersure brandsfor Procter & Gamble.

In the public education andsocial market sector, PainePR isAOR for the Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District NutritionNetwork, and supports theCalifornia Department of HealthServices Cancer Prevention andNutrition Section’s CaliforniaNutrition Network and California5 a Day campaign.

The firm has a proprietary net-work of national and major-mar-ket registered dietitians and chefscovering the U.S. and more than30 markets. The resource groupserves as local market influ-encers and spokespeople for theagency and its clients. Within thefood and beverage category,PainePR specializes in productlaunches and ongoing brandbuilding programs and issuesmanagement, including function-al foods, youth / adult obesity,organic/GMO and nutritionalsupplements.PainePR has worked with TacoBell, Pizza Hut, California PizzaKitchen, National Natural Foods

Association, Minute MaidLemonade, Kashi Company(Kellogg’s), and several domesticand import brands for MillerBrewing Company includingFoster’s, Molson and MGD.PainePR, a subsidiary of theCossette Communication Group,was named “Creative Agency ofthe Year” two of the last fouryears, “Best Agency to WorkFor” (Holmes Report) and wasrecently rated #1 in client serviceexcellence by the Harris/ImpulseResearch Client Survey.

PHELPS GROUP901 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90401 310/752-4400 www.thephelpsgroup.com

Judy Lynes, VP, Public Relations

The Phelps Group LOVESfood. The agency is the secondlargest independent multi-spe-cialty marketing firm in LosAngeles and is ranked as a topagency in both public relationsand advertising by the LosAngeles Business Journal. Basedin Santa Monica, The PhelpsGroup works with a variety ofclients on both the regional andnational level. Expertise includesmedia and community relations,product launches and crisis com-munications. Great work has beendone for Whole Foods Market,Naked Juice, Cedarlane NaturalFoods/Dr. Sears Zone FrozenFoods, Culinary EntertainmentGroup, Coromega, Earthrise andFood Network Live.

PIERSON GRANT6301 NW 5th WayFort Lauderdale, FL 33309954/776-1999www.piersongrant.com

Maria Pierson, CEOJane Grant, President

Pierson Grant PR, founded in1995, is a full-service PRagency serving a range ofnational and regional clientswith strategic and tactical PRplanning, media and communi-ty relations, crisis communica-tions and special events man-agement.

Restaurant and related clientsinclude: Dairy Queen, DardenRestaurants, Bubba GumpShrimp Co., Benihana, JambaJuice Florida, Shula’s on theBeach and more.

The firm’s fresh thinking

helps clients build brand identi-ty, generates publicity for open-ings and food and beverageintroductions, and brings cre-ativity to special events, cause-related marketing and commu-nity relations.

RICHMOND PR1411 Fourth Ave, Suite 610Seattle, WA 98101206/682-6979www.richmondpr.com

Lorne S. Richmond, PresidentHamilton McCulloh, Senior VP

Richmond Public Relations, aWorldCom Public RelationsGoup Partner and an award-win-ning food and travel public rela-tions firm, has coordinatednumerous restaurant openings,developed corporate strategiesand branding campaigns, han-dled crisis management, andfood-related launches for com-panies including: Nabisco,Snackwells, Odwalla Juice Co.,Noah’s Bagels, Jamba Juice,Lettuce Entertain YouEnterprises, Da Vinci Gourmet,Woodinville Wine Country,Tully’s Coffee, Krispy KremeDoughnuts.

In addition, RPR has coordi-nated numerous nationwidefood events such as the Hawaii“Chef’s of Aloha Tour,”Sheraton’s World Wide GlobalFood Summit in New York andthe Dinner of the Decade featur-ing celebrity chefs WolfgangPuck, Jean Louis Palladin andMichele Richard, and more than20 James Beard Dinner’s inNew York City.

Current food and beverageclients include: CascadiaRestaurant, Chipotle, Cosi,Joeys, John Howie Restaurantsincluding Seastar Restaurant &Raw Bar and SPORT, BarkingFrog, Spitfire Grill, TomDouglas Restaurants includingDahlia Lounge, Etta’s Seafood,Lola, and Palace Kitchen, TapHouse Grill, Third Floor FishCafé, and Tourism Walla Walla.

ROGERS GROUP

1875 Century Park East, Ste. 300Los Angeles, CA 90067310/552-6922www.rogerspr.com

Ron Rogers, CEOManuel Camargo, Executive VPBrenda Lynch, Senior VP

Founded in 1978, The Rogers

Marie Osmond turns a Blizzard upside down during DairyQueen’s Miracle Treat Day to benefit Children’s MiracleNetwork. Pierson Grant performed PR duties for the event.



Group is the largest independentpublic relations/public affairsfirm headquartered in LA, pro-viding strategic communications,public relations and public affairscounsel to private and public sec-tor clients.

Combining its acclaimed mommarketing expertise with deepexperience in the food and pack-aged goods industry, the firm haslaunched cereals, breakfast foodsand snacks as well as workedwith franchisee stores and gro-cery store chains. The RogersGroup also has worked in thewine/spirits category.

Specializing in new productlaunches, sampling, celebrity/ath-lete endorsements, nutritionistoutreach and lifestyle media rela-tions, the agency creates strategiccommunications campaigns thatdeliver results.

ROSICA STRATEGIC PR

95 Route 17 South, Suite 109Paramus, NJ 07652201/843-5600www.rosica.com

Chris Rosica, CEO

For more than 27 yearsRosica Strategic PublicRelations has successfullyestablished national brands andgenerated media coverage forits food and beverage clients.

The agency’s affinity with thefood and beverage industrycomes from company CEOChristopher Rosica’s back-ground and training as both achef and food safety expert.The breadth of work includesnational and local market PRcampaigns for food, beverage,restaurant, nutrition, and gour-met clients.

Rosica put the fame inFamous Amos Chocolate ChipCookies and continues to workwith the founder Wally Amosand the company. Rosica alsoworks on campaigns forWatkins, a 139-year-old compa-ny known for its award winningflavorings and spices. Recentprojects for Watkins include thelaunch of their organic spicesand the introduction of theirgold medal spices and extractsat major retailers across thecountry. Rosica also representsthe Nice-Pak CommercialDivision of PDI, makers of san-itizing and disinfecting wipesfor the food service and hospi-tality industry, as well as thenutritionists and athletic per-formance experts Pomology fortheir recent campaign to edu-cate consumers about the anti-inflammatory and antioxidantsbenefits of pomegranate supple-ments. The agency has repre-sented several restaurant clientsin the New York metro area andpast food clients includeKeebler, Egglands’ Best Eggs,MarieBelle Fine Chocolatesand A&H Kosher Provisions.

Rosica’s services includemedia relations, product andcorporate branding, strategicplanning, special events, corpo-rate social responsibility,spokesperson training, mediatours and product launches.

RUDER FINN301 East 57th StreetNew York, NY 10022212/593-6400www.ruderfinn.com

Bob Seltzer, Leader, MarketingPractice

Good health today is as muchabout food and beverages andwhat we eat as it is about thedrugs we might take to solveproblems. Media targets todayaren’t just the food pages, butthe health, lifestyle newsreporting in consumer and tradepublications, broadcast and ofcourse, the internet as well.

Ruder Finn positions its food

and beverage expertise at theheart of our Health andWellness specialty, allowing usto tap not just traditional foodPR knowledge, but the abilityto deliver health benefit mes-sages to consumers and medicalprofessionals.

Among food companies wehave supported are Kellogg(100th anniversary, CornFlakes, announcement regard-ing replacement of Trans FattyAcids), Twinings Tea (300thanniversary), Sweet’n Low(celebration of their 500 bil-lionth packet and corporatesupport) and Gerber (corporateand product).

Our recent beverage experi-ence has included Snapple(launch of each of the SuperPremium Teas: Red, White andGreen), several brands ofFoster’s Wine Estates

(Rosemount Estates, BeringerVineyards “How to Get to NapaValley” mobile marketing cam-paign and Stone Cellars byBeringer), Pernod Ricard andmusic programs for Seagram’sBrands.

Our restaurant experienceincludes regional support forboth Subway and Baskin-Robbins and Holiday Inn’sBistro 57 Restaurants.

In addition to supporting tra-ditional food and beveragecompanies, Ruder Finn pro-motes culinary programs fordestinations, hotels, resorts andairlines, which have includedBarbados, Jamaica, Alberta,Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts,Embassy Suites Hotels,Homewood Suites by Hilton, EL AL Airlines, Air France andSouth African Airways.

PR news is tooimportant to get

once a day.

That’s why we created

odwyerpr.com

The #1 site for PR news,

according to Google.

“To launch Snapple’s new White Tea, “the lightest teaon earth”, Ruder Finn arranged for personal heliumballoons to be the key to a Bryant Park Samplingevent that allowed passers-by and media to ride up100 feet in a personal balloon to get a unique view ofthe city below.”


SCHNEIDER ASSOCIATES

Member of Worldcom; Northeast PR ptnrship2 Oliver Street, Boston, MA 02110617/536-3300Fax: 617/536-3180; [email protected]

Joan Schneider, Pres. & Creative Dir.Julie Hall & Phil Pennellatore, VPs.

Schneider Associates is a full-service PR firm with experience inconsumer, retail, B2B, and publicaffairs. We specialize in LaunchPublic RelationsSM — a proprietarymethod of launching new productsto build and sustain product aware-ness. Additional agency servicesinclude guerrilla marketing, ideationsessions, media tours, special events,crisis communications, andspokesperson training.

Types of PR handled: consumerproducts, launch public relations,food & beverage, retail, publicaffairs, corporate communications,real estate, financial and professionalservices.

Clients: Baskin-Robbins,Hannaford Bros. Co., High StreetEquity Advisors, Bertucci’s brickoven ristorante, Cabot, Cabot &Forbes, National Development, NewEngland Confectionery Co.(NECCO), Reckitt Benckiser/d-CON, Walker RestorationConsultants, Connecticut School ofBroadcasting

The firm, which was founded in1980, has 28 employees.

TEUWEN ONE IMAGE145 West 28th Street, #10RNew York, NY 10001212/242-0622www.teuwen.com

Stephanie Teuwen, President

Teuwen One Image was foundedin 1995 as a full-service, multi-lin-gual PR agency specializing in food,beverage, and travel/hospitalityaccounts. With a strong focus onmedia relations and event produc-tion, Teuwen One Image’s servicesalso include brand marketing, prod-uct and brand launches, promotions,and photography.

In 2006, Teuwen One Image:• Managed the Loire Valley Wine

Bureau, an institution created by thefirm in 2002, and developed creativecampaigns that yielded over 1,300print articles and 230 million mediaimpressions.

• Built brand awareness forO&CO., purveyors of fineMediterranean olive oils and special-

ty goods, through comprehensivemedia relations campaign.

• Launched Berkshire Bark, a newchocolate brand based in GreatBarrington, MA and Be Friends, alifestyle wine brandPublicized the World Tea Expo, thenation’s largest tea trade show in LasVegas

• Repositioned and publicized theJapanese Food & Restaurant in NewYork

TORME LAURICELLA847 Sansome StreetSan Francisco, CA 94111415/956-1791www.torme.com

Margaret Torme, CEODeborah Lauricella, President

Torme Lauricella Public Relationsis a boutique, San Francisco-based,women-owned, marketing and pub-lic relations firm. Since 1983, wehave served clients in a broad rangeof industries, typically, leading com-panies who market products andservices nationally.

We are lifestyle experts, leverag-ing the consumer trends and issuesthat affect California and the Westtoday, and the rest of the countrytomorrow. Our credentials areunusually strong across a range oflifestyle products and services. Ourpast and present food and beverageclients include C&H Sugar, C&WFrozen Foods, California MilkAdvisory Board, Cornnuts, GlenEllen Winery, Groth Winery &Vineyard, Iceberg LettuceCommission, Nancy’s SpecialtyFoods, New Zealand Apple & PearMarketing Board, S&W Fine Foods,and the Walnut Marketing Board.

We aim to creatively expressbrand personality in a way thatenables public relations to directlyand measurably support marketingobjectives. We value our client rela-tionships and believe they flourishmost when our focus is on quality ofservice above all else. Consequently,we set our performance standardshigh and we take them very serious-ly.

TREVELINO/ KELLERKing Plow Arts Center949 W. Marietta Street, X-106Atlanta, Georgia 30318404/214-0722www.trevelinokeller.com

Trevelino/Keller is such theenthusiast for all things food andbeverage, it’s making its own winein 2007. Employees weigh in on a


Schneider Associates helps the New EnglandConfectionary Company (NECCO) launch its new 2007Sweethearts Conversation Hearts sayings with thehelp of the Massachusetts Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals. Pictured are SchneiderAssociates team members (L to R) Joan Schneider,Jessica Lappen, Charlotte Cavaretta, Marc Berliner,Lindsey Yeaton, Kate van Geldern, Caitlin Melnick andSarah Hines.


Trevelino/Keller’s Food and Beverage team takes itspractice seriously, producing its own wine and host-ing competitive wine tastings on Wednesdays as partof its ongoing food and beverage education.

grape of choice, then the winemak-ing process begins and the winecamgoes live as they watchTrevelino/Keller Reserve growfrom vine to wine.

Beyond winemaking and weeklyelixir tastings at the firm’s officeloft, the agency serves up conceptstrategy, concept to market launch-es, industry relations (restaurant,beverage and franchise), local mar-ket openings, local store marketingand community relations.

Trevelino/Keller representsRaving Brands, Planet Smoothie,Shane’s Rib Shack, PJ’s Coffee,Doc Green’s, Boneheads andFlying Biscuit. Historical experi-ence includes Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, Avado Brands,Chick-fil-A and Allied Domeq.

WEBER SHANDWICK

676 North St. Clair, Suite 1000 Chicago, IL 60611312/988-2300www.webershandwick.com

Cathy Calhoun & Gail Heimann,Co-Presidents, Consumer MktingJanet Helm, MS, RD, Director ofFood and Nutrition

Weber Shandwick is immersed inthe food business from farm to fork,

with clients representing everypart of the food pyramid.Whether launching a new prod-uct, repositioning a brand, orhelping an established brandstrengthen its connection withconsumers, Weber Shandwickoffers extensive experience andexpertise in nutrition communica-tions, consumer education,alliance building, grassroots mar-keting, special events, healthinfluencer outreach, crisis coun-seling, issues management andWeb relations.

Staffed with senior counselors,including registered dietitians andnutrition policy experts, WeberShandwick also has a proprietaryRD Network of more than 100media-trained dietitians through-out the country who are deployedas spokespersons for the agency’sclients.

Weber Shandwick works withmany of the world’s leading foodand beverage companies, brandsand associations, includingCampbell Soup Company, KraftFoods, KFC, Milk ProcessorsEducation Program, NationalPork Board, Olive Oil fromSpain, Oscar Mayer and Unilever.The agency conducts strategicintegrated communications forcategory marketing campaignssuch as the National Milk

Mustache “got milk?” Campaignand “Pork. The Other WhiteMeat,” as well as for brandedproducts and programs, such asthe launches of KFC’s new logo,Kraft’s South Beach Diet line,Nabisco’s 100 Calorie Packs lineand Campbell’s Reduced Sodiumsoups.

WHEATLEY &TIMMONS

737 North Michigan Ave., 22nd FlrChicago, IL 60611312/755-6200www.wheatleytimmons.com

Robert Wheatley, CEORich Timmons, PresidentAlyssa Burns, Vice President &Director of Client Services

We specialize in building suc-cessful food and beveragebrands. Sargento Foods, QuakerLIFE cereal and Instant OatmealCrunch brands look to us for cre-ative new product launch cam-paigns and strategic guidance.Barton Brands looks for ground-breaking innovation in singlemalt scotch and small batchbourbon brand communicationsand promotions. Our agencyuniquely integrates brand strate-gy consulting services with top-level strategic public relationsand marketing communicationsexpertise. We created theTrailblazer™ planning moduleto specifically help clients devel-op meaningful, engaging propo-sitions for their brands and busi-nesses.

We energize client businesseswith Trailblazer™ brand strate-gies that can help category lead-

ers and followers compete moreeffectively.

Through key insights aboutconsumer passions and behav-iors we help clients forge authen-tic, trustworthy relationshipswith their most passionate users.

We translate that strategiccompass into intrusive brand sto-ries communicated through edi-torial media, online outreach,events and brand sponsoredexperiences. Find out more about how tobecome a brand Trailblazer atwww.wheatleytimmons.com.

WORDHAMPTONPUBLIC RELATIONS512 Three Mile Harbor RoadEast Hampton, NY 11937631/329-0050

Steve Haweeli, PresidentNicole Starr-Castillo, ExecutiveVice President

The mission of WordHamptonPublic Relations is to build repu-tations. Through strategic think-ing, deep media relationshipsand a commitment to quality, webuild awareness and visibilityfor our clients by getting – andkeeping – their names in thepress. Our clients value editorialendorsement to drive continuedinterest in, and business for,them. We are one of New York’stop hospitality PR firms andorganizers of Long IslandRestaurant Week and HamptonsRestaurant Week. Established in1992, our 61 food and beverageclients include new and estab-lished restaurants, caterers, ales,vineyards and retailers.


Wheatley & Timmons launches new Quaker LifeChocolate Oat Crunch with top magazine editors in NewYork City during an informative background presentationby renowned chocolate trend expert, Jordan Lebel, Ph.D.


O’Dwyer’s Profiles of Food & Beverage PR Firms · brand marketing PR, cause and event marketing...

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