Danone extends Saatchi tie-up to water business

GUANGZHOU: Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou has won the Danone Robust China mineral water and dairy products branding assignment, following a pitch against Bates, TBWA and two local shops.

It was earlier reported that Bates had won the water portion of the business, however, the mix-up is being blamed on senior management changes at Danone Robust. Robust, a local Chinese company specialising in mineral water, has been acquired by Danone.

Saatchis Guangzhou chief executive officer, Pully Chau, said: "We have been given the task of coming up with the total branding concept for Danone Robust. In effect, we have become an extension of the client's marketing arm."

Chau said that the combined media expenditure of the Robust briefs plus the Dell, Goldlion and Happy Valley Entertainment wins was about HK$250 million, (about US$32 million).