Budweiser kicks off hunt for second UK agency

Anheuser-Busch has kicked off a search for a second UK agency to

handle its pounds 15 million UK Budweiser account alongside BMP DDB.

The company has contacted agencies to discuss work for the main

Budweiser brand. The successful agency may also do some work for other

brands, including Budweiser Light and Michelob Beer, which is with

Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters. The review is being conducted through the

AAR.

James Lousada, the UK marketing director for Budweiser at

Anheuser-Busch, confirmed that he had started talks with other agencies.

’We want to develop the ability to be flexible and put briefs into

different agencies as we see fit,’ he said.

’We are attempting to match the template used for Budweiser in the US by

widening the number of agencies that we use in the UK. We want to put

briefs into an agency that can be turned around quickly.’

Lousada added: ’We have enjoyed a successful relationship with BMP DDB

and fully intend to continue this relationship in the future. Agency

credentials have already been sought and there is no further news at

this time.’

Lousada also said that the recent trend for Budweiser’s UK advertising

to be created in the US was an exception and not likely to continue.

Goodby Silverstein & Partners in the US created a series of ads which

continue to run in the UK starring Louie the Lizard wreaking revenge on

a family of frogs that share his pond and habitually croak ’Bud’ ’wei’

’ser’.

The company is said to be increasing its UK marketing budget from pounds

29 million to pounds 33 million in 2000 following the success of the

series.

DDB Chicago’s ’whassup?’ campaign for Budweiser won the grand prix at

the Cannes International Advertising Festival last week.

This article was first published on Campaign