A sweet move
After exiting juice company Nudie in July last year, the company's former CEO James Ajaka has resurfaced as CEO of Pinnacle Bakery & Integrated Ingredients.
Pinnacle, a manufacturer of bakery products as well as sweet dry and wet ingredients, invests more than $2.5 million per year in research and new product development.
Ajaka had been at the helm of Nudie for six years and was one of its first employees, being part of the startup team in 2003. He also featured in the 2013 issue of the AdNews Annual.
Nudie was sold to Monde Nissin in February 2014 with an eye to taking the brand international.
Dick Smith weighs in on Dick Smith Electronics
Dick Smith has weighed in on the electronics company he founded in 1968 going into voluntary administration yesterday. Smith told The Australian he is incredibly disappointed by the outcome of the latest acquisition by Anchorage, noting it could do so much damage to the business.
“It seems to me to be absolute greed; these companies seem to want perpetual growth,” he said.
Prezzee offers refunds on Dick Smith gift cards
In more Dick Smith news, gift card reseller Prezzee, is offering a refund on all Dick Smith gift cards sold via its app before the news of its voluntary administration was announced yesterday.
Snapchat opens up API
Snapchat is following social media suit with the decision to implement an open application programming interface (API) that will allow partners to buy ads with more precision and frequency, according to Digiday.
The development will mean marketers have the ability to reach the messaging platform’s 30 million monthly active users and will allow for many types of ads including those with calls to action for consumers, such as installing apps.
Until now, Snapchat has been working directly with brands and agencies to execute campaigns, but this latest technology will mean almost anyone can utilise the platform for their own advertising.
Facebook was previously the first social media platform to open the API to a select few marketing partners including Kenshoo and Hootsuite, followed by Facebook-owned Instagram and Twitter.
Optus partners with Melbourne Stars after Dick debacle
Cricket team, The Melbourne Stars, has signed Optus as its principal partner and as its official mobile media partner for the remainder of the current Big Bash League season, and for a further two years.
The move comes as its former principal partner, Dick Smith, announced it was going into voluntary administration.
Fitbit launches Apple watch rival
Fitbit has launched the Blaze smart fitness watch. The watch features the wearables company’s first coloured touch screen and is set to rival Apple’s smartwatch.
Technically, Blaze isn’t the first watch from Fitbit but it is the first that features a “sleek, unisex design” that is meant for everyday use. It features more integration with smartphones than the company’s other brands.
The watch does not feature apps, rather working as a fitness tracker, tracking daily steps, sleep, calories burned, and 15 different types of exercise.
Publishers form united front with MPA campaign
This February, the country’s biggest publishers will unite with a first-of-its-kind campaign to promote magazines and drive newsagency sales. First hinted at by AdNews back in June, the campaign will be backed by Bauer Media, Pacific and NewsLifeMedia, three national newsagent exclusive promotions will launch over a period of three months to drive newsagency sales for three of the country’s best loved magazine categories: weeklies, homes and food.
Seven launches MKR trailer
Seven has released a sneak peek look at the new season of My Kitchen Rules.
The hit reality cooking show will be back on screen on Monday 1 February.
FarmVille developer Zynga strikes programmatic deal
Mobile marketers will be able to use programmatic buying to access Zynga's premium guaranteed and reserved inventory.
The social game developer of popular game FarmVille has struck a deal with online advertising marketplace Rubicon Project, which is part-owned by News Corp.
Zynga's premium guaranteed inventory, previously available via manual sales channels, will be open to buyers in Rubicon Project's Guaranteed Orders marketplace.
Automated guaranteed allows buyers to access premium reserved publisher inventory in addition to sponsorships, rising stars, in-game and native placements.
Last year, Rubicon acquired two of the three ‘programmatic guaranteed’ players in the market - Shiny Ads and iSockets.
GM invests in ride-hailing service Lyft
General Motors, the parent company of Holden, has invested US$500 million in Uber's main US rival Lyft, the first foray by a major carmaker into the ride-hailing market.
GM will offer Lyft drivers short-term rent at various cities in the US, with a long-term plan to create a network of self-driving cars that users can book on smartphones.
The investment provides Lyft with an important ally and the capital to compete with rival Uber. It is also a sign of the impact ride-hailing companies are having on the automobile industry.
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