Like Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, fellow All-Star Ken Griffey Jr. will be doing some heavy hitting for Pepsi-Cola.
With Sosa wrapped up several weeks ago, Pepsi has signed Griffey to a multiyear contract with an appearance in one national TV commercial. Ditto Sosa, who will be in a spot on ABC’s March 26 telecast of the Academy Awards.
As part of their Pepsi deals, both will be involved in Pepsi’s “Takin’ it to the Fields” youth baseball and softball programs, as well as appearing in in-store promotional materials this summer.
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Griffey–a confirmed Pepsi drinker–has had a relationship with the soft-drink firm, having worked for a bottler in the Seattle area, his last baseball address until he recently became a Cincinnati Red. He also was in a commercial for Pepsi’s All Sport drink in 1995.
What Pepsi is paying Sosa and Griffey hardly matches what the two are making on the playing field–Griffey recently signed a nine-year baseball contract for $116.5 million, or nearly $13 million a year, and Sosa is in the third year of a four-year, $40 million pact signed with the Cubs in 1997.
Will “things go better” (sorry, Coke) with Sosa and Griffey on the same corporate roster? Stay tuned.
Cub eyes Buffalo Grove: Cub Foods, which recently acquired four Eagle supermarket Chicago-area locations, is negotiating for another store–the Buffalo Grove unit–of that chain. Sources say a deal may be wrapped up shortly for the 50,000-plus square-foot Eagle Food Center store at 350 N. McHenry Rd. in that northwest suburb. Milan, Ill.-based Eagle, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said it has secured interim financing, and that it plans to close its only three stores in Indiana, along with 16 others in Illinois and Iowa, leaving it with 64. Cub previously acquired Eagles in Algonquin, Bolingbrook, Geneva and Plainfield, increasing its number here to 21.
FCB out of Penneys: FCB Chicago withdrew from a J.C. Penney Co. competition for the creative portion of a $250 million ad account, leaving BBDO, McCann-Erickson and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, all New York, plus DDB Worldwide, as contenders. The business at stake was handled by Temerlin McClain in Irving, Texas, a sister unit of FCB under True North Communications. FCB cited a “fundamental difference of opinion” on corporate strategy for its pullout. DDB Dallas already works on a small part of Penneys, but other offices of the agency are involved.Penneys expects to make a decision by April 1.
Park Hyatt for Segal: Rick Segal, recently VP-director of operations for Sheraton’s Luxury Collection, including the St. Regis Hotel in New York, where he once was managing director, was named general manager of the 203-room Park Hyatt Hotel opening in May at Michigan and Chicago Avenues. Separately, Ron Sampson, executive VP-director, corporate development, at Burrell Communications, stepped down after 43 years in the advertising business, including 14 with Burrell. Also, Sally Webb became an account executive with TV Guide Interactive Program Guide; she formerly worked at Ladies’ Home Journal and Southern Accents.
MVP.com move: MVP.com, the sports apparel Web site at 600 W. Fulton, in late May will relocate to 42,000 square feet on the sixth floor and part of the fifth at 111 E. Wacker. The new space was once occupied by the defunct EJL Chicago agency. MVP.com has 100 employees, headed by CEO John Costello. A recent key hire was Mary Slayton as VP-chief marketing officer. Recently director of U.S. strategic planning at Nike, she previously had worked for McKinsey & Co. and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings Friday to Malcolm H. Shepherd, 73; L.E. Jackson, 71; Joel Glantz, 52; patrolman Michael G. McLaughlin, 45; Fred Broitman, 65 (Sunman Direct); and Denise Malloy, 35 (manager of the new Grillroom steakhouse in the Loop). On Saturday to Kristin DiCenso, 28; and Mark A. Dominiak, 39. On Sunday to Julie Caddick, 30; adman Yale Gordon, 51; Marilyn Aman, 57; David Burns, 77 (founder, Burns Sports Celebrity Service); and Circuit Court Judge Frank Dolan, 53.
Michael Soenen, FTD.com president, speaks at Monday’s Sheraton Chicago-Chicago Magazine Association luncheon. For info, call (312) 322-9244.