Briefs

Asda is to offer discounts of up to 65% on a range of sunglasses

and perfume brands including Davidoff and Kouros aftershave and

Christian Dior sunglasses. The move comes three weeks after Davidoff

lost a High Court case against import company A&G Import, which it

claimed had brought its perfumes into the UK without permission and at a

cut price. Davidoff has appealed the ruling to the European Court, but a

decision is not expected until the autumn.

Emap Radio is putting pounds 2m into the launch of a new internet

business, which will use new technology to build stronger consumer

relationships and offer targeted commercial opportunities. The name of

the new venture has not yet been revealed, but it will be run by Iain

Clasper, operations director of Emap On Air.

Lever Brothers, the market leader in the fabric conditioners category,

is to launch a new product, Comfort Easy Iron, based on technology that

enables an iron to glide more easily over washed fabrics. The product,

which is expected in stores in early July, will be supported by

advertising, sampling, point-of-sale material and PR, together with

in-store trial offers.

Talk Radio has asked Kara Noble to present its commentary of the royal

wedding on Saturday. Former DJ Noble was sacked from London radio

station Heart FM last month after selling a topless picture of the royal

bride-to-be to The Sun newspaper. ’We knew Kara would be at a loose end

on Saturday, and we thought it would make for lively commentary,’ said

Bill Ridley, director of programmes at Talk Radio.

Philips is to renew its sponsorship of UEFA European Championship soccer

next year and has extended the product categories covered by its deal to

include shaving and personal care products, and batteries. Euro 2000

will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from June 10 to July 2.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld claims in NutraSweet’s

latest ad campaign, which featured the line ’Remember your first taste

of NutraSweet’ and explained that aspartame (NutraSweet) is made from

two amino acids, similar to those found in nature. The ASA investigated

after a complaint that the ad implied that NutraSweet was present in

breast milk and that aspartame was a natural substance, when it is

actually man-made.

Unilever has redesigned its international ice-cream brand Carte d’Or.

The new look, through London consultancy Carter Wong and Partners,

includes the creation of a distinctive marque in the form of a ’gold

card’ as well as new transparent ice-cream tubs.

Lipovitan, the energy drink from Taisho Pharmaceutical Europe, is

launching a TV campaign this week. The four-week, pounds 1m burst shows

the results of drinking the product. It will run in the London region on

ITV, LWT, Channel 4, Channel 5, GMTV and Bloomberg.

Sure, Elida Faberge’s anti-perspirant brand, is launching a third-party

promotion with Sock Shop. The giveaway, by The Marketing Store

Worldwide, offers consumers who buy the new ’Microfibre’ underwear a

trial size aerosol from the Sure for Women range.

Gatwick Express has unveiled a new corporate identity, Aero, which is

designed to reflect the service’s association with both airlines and

airports. The new identity, the result of an pounds 80,000 investment,

will appear on uniforms, train interiors and exteriors, livery, signs

and in a new ad campaign.

BT has pledged pounds 1m to continue its sponsorship of the annual BT

Swimathon, organised by LEA Events and Marketing, for another two years.

The BT Swimathon, which raises money for the NSPCC, Children 1st and

other charities, attracted 40,000 swimmers at more than 525 pools across

the UK this year.

Carphone Warehouse has become the first independent mobile phone

retailer to sell satellite phones. The Motorola Series 9500, operating

on Iridium at a cost of pounds 2499.99, and the AST GMP2000, on Inmarsat

at a cost of pounds 2299.99, are in stock at its Harrods branch or to

order from other stores nationally.

Terry’s Suchard is to launch a brand extension of Terry’s All Gold, the

Terry’s All Gold Milk, Dark and White Collection. The assortment, with

packaging by Design Bridge, is positioned as a premium offering.

This article was first published on Marketing