Sidekick kick-starts new ad campaign

Halewood has launched its first ad campaign for Sidekick since it bought the shots brand from Bulmer's last summer. The £1m washroom and poster campaign, with the slogan It's Not Big, It's Not Clever, allows drinkers to interact via the website or through a "text challenge" ­ consumers who text in will be given a daft dare to perform. Halewood claimed to have revived Sidekick after its decline under Bulmer's, which it blamed on under-investment. Marketing controller Richard Clark said: "The shots sector is the most exciting and innovative drinks sector right now and Halewood is committed to dominating it. "The advertising, packaging and flavours we have given Sidekick is indicative of how well we understand the sector. This drink is set to become a firm favourite amongst 18 to 24-year-olds." Marston extends Al Murray sponsorship Marston's Pedigree has extended its sponsorship deal with award-winning comedian Al Murray, the Pub Landlord. The brewer sponsored Murray's national Giving It Both Barrels tour from October to December last year. The show, an affectionate satire of the classic British landlord, proved so popular that new dates were added from now until 26 March. Budvar to talk discreetly in Time Budweiser Budvar UK's first ever consumer ad campaign will target "discerning" drinkers through adverts in weekly news magazine Time. Single-page commercials will appear in the paper every month for one year from March. CEO John Harley said: "All we shall be doing is talking very discreetly about our beer to the kind of discerning people who read Time." Premium look for Bombay Sapphire gin Bombay Sapphire gin has been revamped and re-launched in new sizes, in a bid to improve the premium look of the brand. Bombay Sapphire will be available in 70cl and 1-litre bottles, with cosmetic changes including: new blue glass to give greater depth of colour; a subtle shape change; a new cap featuring a quality seal; the base of the bottle resembling a cut sapphire. Marketing manager Sharon Reid said: "We have invested in our packaging design to enhance [Bombay Sapphire's] quality associations and strengthen the brand's premium positioning." Jacob's Creek to sponsor final Friends Jacob's Creek is sponsoring the 10th and final series of US sitcom Friends, which started on Friday. Chris Seale, head of wine marketing at Pernod Ricard UK, said: "We have been sponsoring Friends for the last two years. The associationhas been extremely successful and had a really positiveimpact on the brand." The deal is part of a £4.5m marketing spend for the brand this year, and coincides with the appointment of Rachel Gristwood as brand manager forJacob's Creek. Wetherspoon's push for Halewood brands Red Square Reloaded, Vodka Lager and Pink Ice are being pushed in more than 600 JD Wetherspoon outlets this month as part of the "Ice Ice Baby" promotion. Table talkers and promotional material will help push the Halewood brands among core 18 to 24-year-olds. Group sales director Jon Jenkins said: "We will continue to go the extra mile to get the distribution that these unmatched drinks in their market deserve.