Latest news with #M&M's
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
M&M's promotes cross-generational unity with new creative platform
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. M&M's revealed a new creative platform, 'It's More Fun Together,' that promotes a message of togetherness through humor and cross-generational bonding, according to a press release. New spots depict occasions, including a family movie night and a couple settling into a romantic evening that's disrupted by a visiting relative, where M&M's unite people. The brand's signature spokescandies crack jokes and add an element of surprise in the spots. The effort was developed for a global audience spanning over 100 markets, with an emphasis on the ampersand in M&M's name to hammer home the theme of unity. The marketer joins others in the industry in focusing on connection in divisive times. At a time when many CPG brands are reinventing themselves to better cater to Gen Z, M&M's is taking a cross-generational approach with 'It's More Fun Together.' The concept for the platform is rooted in survey data from YouGov and Statista that show a majority of Gen Z, millennials and boomers in the U.S. cite M&M's as their favorite candy, underpinning the Mars-owned confectionery brand's broad appeal. 'We know that to maintain this iconicity, we must — and we will — continue to keep fans at the heart of how the M&M's brand comes to life,' said Rankin Carroll, global chief creative officer of Mars Snacking, in a statement. 'Co-creation is the future of brand building, and 'It's More Fun Together' lays the foundation for us to do just that.' A fresh crop of ads accordingly depict people of varied ages and backgrounds bonding over M&M's. In one spot promoting M&M's Minis, a millennial couple eagerly waits to see if their toddler has gotten the hang of going to the bathroom alone, only to be surprised when the red M&M spokescandy walks out of the john and asks for a reward. Another ad, 'Jump Scare,' shows parents settling in to watch a horror movie with their twins, when the dad suddenly emits a high-pitched scream. The blue M&M warns the scares are only just getting started. Each video closes with M&M's products as the '&' in the logo flashes different colors. Other spots running as part of 'It's More Fun Together' are more product-oriented, highlighting the taste of offerings such as peanut- and milk chocolate-flavored M&M's. The campaign will run across digital, social, TV, out-of-home and other traditional ad channels and includes partnership and activations at the brand's experiential retail stores, per details shared with Marketing Dive. 'It's More Fun Together' was created by Team OMC and BBDO with paid media by EssenceMediacom and PR by Weber Shandwick. 'It's More Fun Together' arrives several years after M&M's was caught in a swirl of controversy after updating its spokescandies to be more inclusive, which drew criticism from right-wing commentators. Changes included introducing a purple spokescandy mascot themed around acceptance, who factors into 'It's More Fun Together.' M&M's leaning into messaging around unity could resonate at a moment when many consumers are divided. Other confectionery brands have taken a similar tack of late. Twix, another product under the Mars portfolio, ditched a long-standing focus on the left-right divide of its twinned chocolate bars earlier this year, pivoting to marketing that has people working together. The multimillion dollar campaign, 'Two is more than one,' is intended to address how sick young consumers are of polarization and capitalize on their interest in living life to the fullest. Mars ramping up its creative initiatives comes as it is potentially mulling other changes around its marketing. The company is planning to move its media account from WPP Media, formerly GroupM, to Publicis, Digiday reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Recommended Reading Twix ditches left-right divide for new brand position around unity
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Snacks like M&M's, Skittles, and Doritos ‘Not recommended for human consumption' in US?
HighlightsTexas Senate Bill 25 proposes mandatory warning labels on processed food products like M&M's, Skittles, and Doritos, stating they are 'not recommended for human consumption' if they contain certain controversial additives. The proposed legislation, supported by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to enhance food transparency and protect public health by informing consumers about potentially harmful ingredients. Major corporations, including PepsiCo, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Conagra Brands, and Walmart, have expressed opposition to the bill, arguing that it could create confusion among consumers and is based on foreign standards rather than U.S. regulations. A new legislative move in Texas has ignited nationwide debate as the state's GOP-majority legislature advances a bill requiring warning labels on various processed food products, including popular snacks such as M&M's, Skittles, and Doritos. The proposed labels would declare these items as 'not recommended for human consumption' if they contain additives restricted or banned in countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, or the European Union, as per a report by the New York Post. Bill Targets Controversial Food Additives Titled Senate Bill 25 , the measure mandates that beginning in 2027, any food or beverage product sold in Texas containing synthetic dyes, bleached flour, or other controversial ingredients must carry a clearly visible warning label. The label would read: 'WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.' The legislation is part of a broader initiative supported by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made food transparency a cornerstone of his 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign. 'We are committed to protecting public health by ensuring families know what's in their food,' Kennedy stated earlier, as mentioned in a report by the New York Post. Governor's Office Reviewing the Legislation With the legislative session having concluded on Monday, Governor Greg Abbott now has 20 days to sign or veto the measure. A spokesperson from the Governor's office said that Abbott is carefully examining the implications of the bill. 'Governor Abbott will continue to work with the legislature to ensure Texans have access to healthy foods to care for themselves and their families,' said press secretary Andrew Mahaleris. If enacted, the bill would require warning labels to be printed at a font size no smaller than the smallest existing FDA-mandated text on packaging. It also calls for the label to be prominently displayed with sufficient contrast for visibility. Food Industry Pushes Back The proposed labeling rule has met resistance from major corporations. In a joint letter dated May 19, industry leaders including PepsiCo, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Conagra Brands, and Walmart urged Texas lawmakers to reconsider the bill, citing its sweeping scope and potential confusion for consumers. 'The food labeling provision in this bill casts an incredibly wide net — triggering warning labels on everyday grocery items based on foreign standards, not on regulations from Texas authorities or the U.S. FDA,' the letter argued. Walmart, which was among the signatories, issued a statement saying it is closely tracking legislative developments and deferred further comment to the Texas Retailers Association, which also contributed input during bill discussions. A consultant representing the retail association noted, 'Texas retailers and our members including Walmart worked hard on this bill, made some changes, and we'll see how it develops over the next 20 days.' Consumer Groups Warn of Confusion and Costs Industry experts and advocacy groups warn the proposed law could bring unintended consequences. John Hewitt, senior vice president of the Consumer Brands Association, has called for Governor Abbott to veto the measure. 'The ingredients used in the U.S. food supply are safe and have been rigorously evaluated,' Hewitt said. 'This legislation could result in inaccurate warning language, legal risks, and unnecessary alarm among consumers.' As the state awaits Abbott's decision, the future of household snack names like Skittles, M&M's, and Doritos in Texas grocery aisles remains uncertain. If passed, Texas would become the first U.S. state to mandate such foreign-comparison warning labels on processed foods. FAQs What is Senate Bill 25 in Texas? It's a proposed law that mandates warning labels on foods containing additives banned or restricted in the UK, EU, Canada, or Australia, targeting products like M&M's, Doritos, and Skittles. What would the warning label say? The label would read: 'WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.'
The Hill
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Bill Clinton reveals why Secret Service gave him an M&M's box
Former President Clinton says the Secret Service helped him mark a fitness milestone when he was at the White House with a candy-coated memento that he's held onto. 'I went running every morning for years,' the ex-commander in chief said in an interview with USA Today published Monday, while promoting the political thriller he co-authored with James Patterson, 'The First Gentleman.' 'I still have the M&M's box that I was given by the head of my security detail on my 100th run when I was president,' Clinton said. 'I loved it,' he told the newspaper. 'Once M&M's get 20 years old, you don't eat them anymore,' Patterson quipped. Retired Secret Service agent Nick Trotta recalled in a 2012 interview how Clinton's security detail developed a system that would give them a heads-up when the 42nd president was ready to go for a jog. 'One of the valets would leak President Clinton's attire — running clothes or suit — to the nearest agent. That's how we knew he wanted to run,' Trotta said. While Clinton said he's cherished the box of M&M's since exiting the White House in 2001, the milk chocolate candies are unlikely to conform to his dietary lifestyle in recent years. Seventy-eight-year-old Clinton has credited a vegan diet with preserving his health. '[It] changed my life,' he said in 2016.
The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Bill Clinton reveals gift he got on his 100th White House run
In an interview with USA TODAY, the former president shared the signature Clinton White House details that made it into the book. Bill Clinton reveals what White House security gifted him on his 100th run Though there's murder at the heart of this thriller novel, a key theme important to the former president is this: "The president and her husband are people." "People (in the White House) struggle to maintain some measure of normalcy, however they define it," Clinton says. "Even though you have to be ambitious to be elected president and disciplined to execute the job, you're still a person. We all react differently to different things that happen. So we try to capture that." Before he's dealing with the trial of the century, the fictional first gentleman just wants to go on his morning run without anyone bothering him. Instead, they have to assign him a Secret Service running partner. Clinton himself was a morning runner during his eight years as president. On his 100th run, he said his security detail gave him a box of M&M's. "I went running every morning for years. I still have the M&M's box that I was given by the head of my security detail on my 100th run when I was president," Clinton says. "I loved it." "Once M&M's get 20 years old, you don't eat them anymore," Patterson joked. Clinton's running habit was reportedly a headache for the Secret Service, according his former agent Dan Emmett. In his memoir, Emmett writes that Clinton insisted on running outside of the White House for both the mental escape and to connect with the public. "Secret Service agents are generally fit, but we had to come up with a group of agents who were capable of running with the president. You couldn't just run and look at the ground. We needed people with reserve energy to be able to fight if need be," Emmett said in U.S. News & World Report in 2012. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Bill Clinton shares gift he got (and still has) after his 100th run
Bill Clinton shares gift he got (and still has) after his 100th run Show Caption Hide Caption Bill Clinton and James Patterson talk new political thriller book Bill Clinton and James Patterson release "The First Gentleman," using Clinton's White House experience to shape their third political thriller. Like any author, former President Bill Clinton is putting a little bit of himself in his latest novel. Clinton and bestselling author James Patterson have a new crime thriller out, their third together. "The First Gentleman" follows a president's husband on trial and two journalists determined to find the truth. The first gentleman and former Patriots player being accused of murder also threatens to upend the carefully crafted economic "Grand Bargain" his commander-in-chief wife is nearly ready to announce. It's a twisty thriller with plenty of inside jobs, political sabotage and many, many deaths. In an interview with USA TODAY, the former president shared the signature Clinton White House details that made it into the book. Bill Clinton reveals what White House security gifted him on his 100th run Though there's murder at the heart of this thriller novel, a key theme important to the former president is this: "The president and her husband are people." "People (in the White House) struggle to maintain some measure of normalcy, however they define it," Clinton says. "Even though you have to be ambitious to be elected president and disciplined to execute the job, you're still a person. We all react differently to different things that happen. So we try to capture that." Before he's dealing with the trial of the century, the fictional first gentleman just wants to go on his morning run without anyone bothering him. Instead, they have to assign him a Secret Service running partner. Clinton himself was a morning runner during his eight years as president. On his 100th run, he said his security detail gave him a box of M&M's. "I went running every morning for years. I still have the M&M's box that I was given by the head of my security detail on my 100th run when I was president," Clinton says. "I loved it." "Once M&M's get 20 years old, you don't eat them anymore," Patterson joked. Clinton's running habit was reportedly a headache for the Secret Service, according his former agent Dan Emmett. In his memoir, Emmett writes that Clinton insisted on running outside of the White House for both the mental escape and to connect with the public. "Secret Service agents are generally fit, but we had to come up with a group of agents who were capable of running with the president. You couldn't just run and look at the ground. We needed people with reserve energy to be able to fight if need be," Emmett said in U.S. News & World Report in 2012. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
