The consumer PR account for cigarette rolling-paper brand Rizla is up for grabs, with an agency hire pending within a fortnight.
Imperial Tobacco, the firm behind the brand, has ended its relationship with incumbent Cake by ‘mutual consent’, according to a joint statement.
Imperial Tobacco marketing manager Terry Rogers said he was ‘undertaking a review that has involved speaking to a number of agencies’, following a decision that ‘the time was right to move on’.
Rizla is Cake’s longest-standing client, with agency CEO Mike Mathieson having handled consumer PR for the brand, which also has its own clothing range, since 1996.
Rogers, who is co-ordinating the pitch alongside brand manager Gary Keogh, said a first round of pitches had been completed and a hire was expected shortly.
It is understood annual fees for the account are around £120,000.
Industry speculation suggests the agency favourite to land the account is Exposure Promotions.
An Exposure spokeswoman confirmed the agency had pitched but declined to comment further.
