SPAM, the oft maligned Hormel canned meat product that helped Americans survive the Depression and fed the allied troops during World War II is cultivating a new generation of fans and consumers thanks to a new spokesman and a long-standing relationship with its ad agency.

SPAM remains a staple among US consumers and is now available in 44 countries, with US sales up nearly 7 percent year-over-year in the last 12 months. A lot of that consistent growth is a direct result of the on-going, unique relationship with BBDO, which has serviced every Hormel brand since 1930, from Dinty Moore stew to Jennie-O turkey. That unusual longevity has garnered Ad Age’s top honors in their first agency-client-marriage contest.Continue reading...

Al Jazeera buys Current TV from Al Gore, prompting Time Warner Cable to drop channel.

Hormel Foods branches out as it buys Skippy peanut butter brand from Unilever.

Toyota declares a rebirth.

5-Hour Energy sees ad claims rebutted (again).

AB InBev plans to launch stronger U.S. version of Budweiser this year.

Amazon wins dismissal of App Store false-ad claim by Apple.

Apple "bet" energizes AT&T.

China recovery confidence spurs Hong Kong luxury sales.Continue reading...

Hostess liquidation sees opportunists stock up on Twinkies as future of its brands hangs in balance and unions cling to hope of a buyer.

BP seen as takeover target now, as valuation slides.

GM opens $1.3 billion China plant for Baojun budget brand.

Ben & Jerry's turns fans' Instagram pictures into ads.

CCTV ad haul for Chinese television bodes well for economy.

Cisco to buy networking-hardware company Meraki for $1.2 billion.

Citigroup to cut more jobs.

Dish Network is frustrated in dream of breaking into wireless.Continue reading...

Apple and Samsung wait for jury to plow through complex case as Apple tries to thwart efforts by Google and its Motorola Mobility to ban iPhone and iPad imports into U.S.

Lance Armstrong says he'll stop fighting U.S. doping authority, faces loss of Tour de France titles.

Best Buy carries out drama with founder over control of company.

Boeing strains to make Dreamliner program profitable.

Bristol-Myers Squibb drops Hepatitis C drug after patient death.

Chrysler mulls boosting Ram truck production to meet rising demand.

Cox Communications debuts multi-platform football-based campaign.

Current TV to turn over half the screen to Twitter during convention coverage.

Daimler mulls building compact Mercedes cars with Renault-Nissan, report says. Continue reading...

Apple and Samsung trade jabs as their high-stakes patent trial begins in San Francisco.

Avon opens talks to settle bribery charges.

BMW warns about tougher market conditions.

Bud Light Premium helps AB InBev sell less beer for more.

Coach suffers from competition from Michael Kors and other handbag purveyors.

Ford brand loyalty validated by new ranking.

Gap fall kids campaign continues bright color theme.

Google buys Wildfire social marketing firm.

Heineken invites creatives to redefine draught beer experience.Continue reading...

When it comes to advertising, The Academy Awards can't compete with the Super Bowl. However, a slew of brands paid more than a million dollars per spot for some serious exposure during last night's ceremony. Some wasted their money. Some didn't. A couple really stood out.

American Express and Hershey's went the Good Samaritan route, linking their brands to charitable works. Specifically, AmEx promoted its Takepart.com site while Hershey's raised awareness for its Milton Hershey School. The latter was impactful, employing the line "Every Hershey's product you've enjoy supports the Milton Hershey School."Continue reading...

Sometimes a big brand's family of products can be so overwhelming that consumers forget they're all made by the same company. That's why Hormel's new ad campaign is pitching "its whole Hormel-branded portfolio" – to educate consumers about the brand's various offerings and encourage them to buy more than just a few favorite products.

"We call it 'pulling the blanket off the brand,'" says Brian Kroening, executive creative director of Hormel's ad agency. He says the campaign is intended to show consumers "that there were more parts to the brand than they had in their homes."Continue reading...

Dunkin' Donuts aims to increase competition with energy drink brands. [Boston Herald]

Dodge looks for manly men with a beard-growing contest. [BrandFreak]

The Nook is finally available in Barnes & Noble stores. [PC Mag]

Hormel's "Life Better Served" campaign shows brand depth. [Brandweek]

With North American sales down, Coca-Cola hopes to raise appeal overseas. [DailyFinance]

Facebook's Doppelganger Week is a huge success. [Time]Continue reading...