Client Newswrap: big screens and little children

Brand owner

Greed is good for Pernod Ricard, which has selected 1980′s classic Wall Street as the first in its series of Jameson Irish Whiskey-sponsored film screenings that coincide with its new “Seriously playful” advertising campaign.

Mr Kipling cakes are not just exceedingly good; they’re too good for United Biscuits‘ offer. Premier chief executive Robert Schofield rejected a tentative offer for the cake brand, telling The Times: “I’m not in the business of selling things off dirt cheap.”

Coors Brewers has turned Christmas on its head. Rather the usual trick of removing the price label, the firm has created a price-marked Carling Hicone pack for the wholesale sector. The pack, which will be launched early in December, will be available for one month.

Mineral water firm Abbey Well is set to move over to the Coke side of life after Coca-Cola told The Grocer the acquisition would result in major growth opportunities for the brand.

The drinks are surely on InBev after the Office of Fair Trading cleared the Belgian firm’s acquisition of Anheuser Busch. The deal, worth £35bn, is the biggest all-cash acquisition in corporate history and created the new AB-InBev.

Retailer

A run on Poundland seems likely as the budget store trials 60 new grocery lines in a third of its stores, bringing its number of grocery SKUs to around 450.

Woolworths Group is reported to be in the early stage of talks to sell its retail business, but it named neither the potential buyer nor a sale price.

Business is child’s play for Mothercare, which has reported a 125% rise in half-year pre-tax profit to £13.7m and is looking for future growth in international markets.

Rather than steal that notebook from the office, why not head to Staples for last minute Christmas shopping. The office products retailer has launched a three-week advertising campaign to highlight how many of its products make good presents.

Ikea chief executive Anders Dahlvig is not feeling blue despite a slowdown in sales in the US and Europe. He told Time magazine its focus on smart, affordable design had it well positioned for tough times.

Not just any Christmas sale, a Marks & Spencer Christmas sale. The multiple held a one-day sale yesterday (20 November), cutting 20% from its in-store and online prices.

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