Wrigley Selects MindShare as U.S. Media Planning and Buying Agency

CHICAGO, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company has selected MindShare, a part of the WPP network, as its sole agency of record for all media planning and buying in the United States.

The selection of MindShare comes after a decision to review and consolidate all U.S. media for Wrigley brands and the new confectionery brands recently acquired from Kraft. The goal of the review was to choose an agency that could deliver strategic media efficiency and effectiveness, along with best-in-class service, across Wrigley's new, larger confectionery footprint.

"After a thorough review, MindShare emerged as the best partner to assume responsibility for handling Wrigley's U.S. media planning and buying. We look forward to working with them to build our business through creative and efficient media solutions," stated Paul Chibe, Senior Marketing Director for Wrigley.

Also included in the review process was OMD, a unit of Omnicom Group, Inc. and Wrigley's previous media buying agency of record, and MediaCom, a WPP agency. "We would like to thank OMD for being our partner for many years, and Wrigley will continue to value our global relationship with OMD in key countries such as Canada, Australia, France and Poland," said Chibe. "The decision to enter a review process stemmed from a need to maximize the effectiveness of Wrigley's media efforts as we incorporate our new confectionery brands into our planning."

Globally for media planning and buying, Wrigley works with MediaCom and Mediaedge: cia, also agencies that are a part of the WPP network, along with OMD.

"We are looking forward to building a partnership with Wrigley and to providing optimal media planning and buying solutions," stated Scott Neslund, Managing Director of the Chicago office for MindShare.

MindShare Worldwide, a WPP company and part of its GroupM Media Company, is one of the world's largest media investment management companies. MindShare provides a full range of media services including strategic communications planning, media implementation, promotions, entertainment, emerging contacts, multicultural and data management.

The Wrigley Company is a recognized leader in the confectionery field and the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum, with global sales of more than $4.0 billion. The Company markets its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands -- Wrigley's Spearmint(R), Juicy Fruit(R), and Altoids(R) -- have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other brands include Doublemint(R), Life Savers(R), Big Red(R), Boomer(R), Pim Pom(R), Winterfresh(R), Extra(R), Freedent(R), Hubba Bubba(R), Orbit(R), Excel(R), Creme Savers(R), Eclipse(R), Airwaves(R), Alpine(R), Solano(R), Sugus(R), Cool Air(R), and P.K. (R).

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