Omnicom Media named lead agency for H J Heinz

The new relationship will be effective from July 1.

Omnicom Media Group, the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc, has been named the lead media agency for H J Heinz. The media agency has won the media planning and buying for the brand for all international markets which comprises approximately 70 per cent of the estimated Heinz media spend. North American media planning and buying will be handled by Interpublic's UM.

The win follows a six-month review aimed at consolidating the Heinz media business, which was earlier shared by 20 agencies worldwide, to better leverage the brand's media investment across its global markets.

"No one understands the importance of delivering quality and consistency - every day, with every product, in every country, and in an increasingly challenging and competitive marketplace -- better than a company that leads its category in more than 50 countries," says Daryl Simm, chairman and CEO of Omnicom Media Group. "Knowing we've met their standard is the ultimate affirmation of our work, our resources and our people," Simm adds.

The H J Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known for its brands in six continents. Heinz products are distributed in more than 200 countries around the world. In addition to its flagship ketchup brand, it distributes sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz's total sales) under the Heinz umbrella, as well as Ore-Ida potato products, Weight Watchers, Smart Ones, T.G.I. Friday's snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition.

Omnicom Media Group includes the full service media networks OMD and PHD; the Annalect marketing technology unit; and a number of speciality media communications companies.