Airline body urges African governments to act on opening market access
‘Strategies don’t move people. Now it is time to make the difficult decisions and execute them,’ senior executive stresses.
BRAND COLLABORATIONS
Barbie brand celebrates birthday with a real-life ‘Barbie-cue’ sauce
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024
Fun collaboration with food-manufacturer sees launch of the limited-edition Heinz Classic Barbiecue Sauce in selected markets.
As part of the 65th birthday celebrations of the legendary Barbie doll toy brand, parent company Mattel is in a brand collaboration with the Heinz food company to create a tongue-in-cheek product called Barbiecue sauce (‘Barbie-cue’, rather than ‘barbecue’…get it?).
The limited-edition pink vegan mayo with BBQ sauce, officially called Heinz Classic Barbiecue Sauce, went on sale this month in the UK and Spain.
Photo: Mattel + Heinz
According to a joint press release from Mattel and Heinz, Heinz last year teased its fans about whether this dream condiment concoction should be made a reality. This was during the so-called ‘Barbiecore craze’ that swept many countries in the wake of the blockbuster Barbie movie.
Realising there was “huge public demand” for such a sauce, Mattel and Heinz created it “because Barbie dreams really do come true”.
Forbes business magazine explains that the Barbiecore trend involves much more than just a splash of pink and a sprinkle of glitter. “The foundation of the trend includes the meshing together of soft and sweet pastels with touches of bright and bold neons tied together with eye-catching metallic accents.”
Perfect addition to the spring or summer menu
In their press release, Mattel and Heinz say: “Whether drizzled over a crisp salad or to brighten up your burger, this smoky ‘sauce of the season’, with beetroot extract to achieve that signature pink colour, is the perfect addition to your spring/summer menu and one you don’t want to miss out on.”
The “spring/summer menu” refers to the upcoming Northern Hemisphere summer.
Adds Mattel spokesperson Ruth Henriquez: “This partnership with Heinz opens up another avenue for Barbie fans to bring home the world of Barbie.
“Last summer, we worked quickly with Heinz to bring to life the prospect of a Heinz Classic Barbiecue Sauce in digital form, so it’s now so exciting to be able to put the physical product into our kitchen cupboards.
“This collaboration embodies the spirit of innovation and fun that both Mattel and Heinz are known for, and we can’t wait for fans to enjoy this delicious and unique product”.
Uganda Tourism Board partners with major European ice hockey league
UTB says its ambition is to turn the visibility into interest, bookings and more visitors choosing to explore Uganda.
Researchers explain why 10-second micro ads outperform longer spots
Short ads shown on TV increased website visits within five minutes of airing by 10-40% compared with longer advertisements.
Competition continues to grow in the Moroccan supermarket sector
Supeco’s rapid expansion shows how the discount model is becoming a bigger part of grocery retail in the North African country.
Study identifies harmful paradox behind well-meaning green efforts
Consumers reward visible eco-friendly additions such as reusable bottles, but give little credit to businesses that reduce or remove products.
President Mahama commissions expanded evaporated milk facility in Ghana
Nestlé believes Ghana will continue to play a leading role in the future of Central and West Africa.
Momentum beginning to build for 2027 ACCS gathering in Addis Ababa
Ethiopia’s marketers gather to celebrate hosting next year’s conference – but with an eye on the hard work ahead.
PwC report examines the future of African entertainment and media
Tech is creating more ways for audiences to connect, but lasting value will come from understanding the people behind those connections.
Unilever investment expands its Vaseline production capacity in Africa
The new production line at the historic Maydon Wharf facility in Durban will address growing international demand.
World MICE Awards in Jamaica honour best African and global achievers
Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and South Africa all feature in the African meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions awards.
AI won’t replace market research. But it will expose weak strategy
Much of the broader conversation around AI in market research assumes conditions that do not consistently exist across many African markets, writes Soyinka Witness.