PHWT misses out on Cadbury world invite as four are shortlisted
Four Midlands-based agencies will pitch for the Cadbury World account after it ended its seven-year association with Palmer Hargreaves Wallis Tomlinson.
The incumbent was not invited to re-pitch for the above-the-line account this month, but it is believed that Rees Bradley Hepburn, WAA, and Unsuitable, may be involved after unsuccessfully pitching for the business in 2005.
Speaking to The Drum, Cadbury World’s sales and marketing manager, Colin Samways, said: “I can confirm that the advertising account has been reviewed. Four agencies will pitch and the incumbent will not be one of them. We will make our decision, based on the pitches, before the end of this month.”
Explaining why Cadbury World has ended its association with PHWT, Samways said: “It’s been a long and relatively successful seven years with them, but we decided we needed to freshen things up.
“The business has taken a little step back in the last year, not entirely down to the performance of PHWT, but this seemed an opportune moment to re-pitch and relaunch.”
PHWT’s blow comes as industry speculation mounts that it could also be set to lose the Calor account, with the gas firm believed to be talking to other agencies.
The outlook might not be all bad for PHWT though. The Midlands-based agency is believed to have acquired more work with Ford after producing a viral ad for the car giant last year.
At the time of going to press no one from the agency was available for comment.