The week in marketing

A TV ad by anti-aviation campaigners Plane Stupid, in which polar bears fall from the skies, will be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority by UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom. Meanwhile, climate-change sceptic Lord Monckton of Brenchley is reported to have called the ad 'a fraudulent piece of scaremongering'.

- Pudding line's £2m ad

Matthew Walker, which claims to be the world's oldest Christmas pudding maker, has launched its first TV campaign. The £2m drive, by agency Mother, focuses on the brand's signature product, The Pudding. It aims to celebrate Matthew Walker and Christmas' 110-year relationship and carries the strapline 'Matthew Walker, best friends with Christmas since 1899'. The ad shows Walker making the dessert with Father Christmas as they reminisce on the good times they have shared.

- Barclays chief leaves

Libby Chambers has left her position as Barclays global, retail and commercial banking and Barclaycard chief marketing officer with immediate effect. It is not known whether she has another position to go to.

Her departure follows the creation of a global retail banking division at Barclays, to be led by former Barclaycard chief executive Antony Jenkins.

- C02 ratings revealed

British Airways, Vodafone and Tesco are among the best-performing UK brands for reporting and reducing CO2 emissions. The findings are according to a study published today (Wednesday) by Brand Emissions, which ranks the UK's companies on the basis of their carbon emissions. The research was conducted by ENDS Carbon in partnership with Marketing.

Read the full report at brandemissions.com

- Morrisons' fizz deals

Morrisons is slashing its prices on bottles of premium Champagne as it aims to generate footfall in the run-up to Christmas. The promotion launches this week, with customers limited to three bottles each.

- Atheist billboard ad

The atheist group behind January's London bus campaign, which carried the tagline 'There's probably no god', last week unveiled a billboard campaign to coincide with the UN's Universal Children's Day. The ads have gone up in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast to accompany the launch of a fundraising campaign to lobby for the phasing-out of state-funded 'faith schools'. Journalist Ariane Sherine, who kick-started the atheist bus campaign, said she believed children should have the freedom to grow up and decide for themselves what they believe.

- Mercedes' new line

Mercedes-Benz is to develop a fresh brand strap-line, which will be aimed at unifying its global communications and better expressing its positioning as a premium brand. Until recently, all global ads for the marque have used the tagline 'Die zukunft des automobils', which translates to 'The future of the car'.

- Hovis to use UK wheat

Hovis has announced it will use 100% British wheat across its entire portfolio from January. Brand owner Premier Foods said the change will make Hovis 'thoroughly British'.

- Woolies may return

Woolworths could reappear on the high street under a plan by its owner, Shop Direct, to establish a chain of up to 200 stores. The home shopping retailer closed this year, leaving 800 empty premises, but Shop Direct bought the brand name and relaunched it online.

Editor's comment, page 29

- Pub plots social media

The Town and City Pub Company, which manages 150 pubs across the UK including the Yates's chain, has appointed Maynard Malone to overhaul its digital presence and online communications. The agency's initial task involves developing a social media approach to corporate and local pub websites, as well as managing eCRM activities. The group aims to garner content from a range of sources including employees, pub managers and customers.

- Sony aims to drive 3D

Sony has unveiled plans to boost its 3D product range next year, with the launch of TV, Blu-ray and gaming products using the technology. It has set a target revenue from 3D-related products of more than Yen1tn (£6.8bn) by 2013.

A fresh perspective, page 18

- Hell takes on Red Bull

Energy drink Hell is pushing into the UK market with an experiential campaign aimed at taking on Red Bull. Hell will employ street teams across five cities and six locations in a five-week burst of activity. The drink will have a retail price of less than £1 a can.

- Sara Lee hires agency

Unilever-owned Sara Lee has appointed Pulse Group to handle its personal-care brand Sanex. The agency will be responsible for experiential activity, targeted communications and in-store promotions to recruit new users and reinforce the brand's positioning as a must-have for maintaining healthy skin.

- Victoria's Secret unveiled

Victoria's Secret, the US lingerie brand, is to launch in the UK.

Martin Waters, executive vice-president of Limited Brands International, which owns Victoria's Secret, said that the company had identified the UK as a strategic place for expansion.

He added that there were plans to open a flagship store once a suitable retail location had been found.

Waters also unveiled plans to launch a European website for Victoria's Secret, which would offer next-day delivery and the option to pay in euros.

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This article was first published on Marketing