Zimmerman Lands a TKO to Win George Foreman(R) Household Appliance Business

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Powerhouse contender Zimmerman Advertising knocked nine other agencies out of the ring to win the George Foreman® household appliance account. The nation's 14th-largest agency (according to Adweek) will act as full-service AOR, expanding the George Foreman® brand to a line of other healthy cooking products whilst continuing the sales velocity of the core product, the George Foreman® Grill.

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"We considered some of the best agencies across the country in the course of this process," says Evanghela Hidalgo, President and General Manager of the Americas Division for Applica Consumer Products, Inc. "Zimmerman is the perfect fit for us because they have the proven experience to help drive sales, and they also share our entrepreneurial spirit and business-driven culture."

Zimmerman won the pitch over Ogilvy, Mullen, JWT, Y&R and DDB, among others, and initial work is planned to debut in the first quarter 2010.

"Applica has a very aggressive vision for the George Foreman® brand," says Zev Auerbach, Creative Partner at Zimmerman, "but vision without action doesn't mean anything. That's what we have been tapped to do for George Foreman® - total brand activation. Despite all of the success the George Foreman® brand has already achieved in the category, we believe their greatest asset remains its untapped potential."

The George Foreman® brand is the leader and innovator in the contact grill category, and Applica is reinvigorating and re-launching the product line. The brand is at a level of success that it is in a position to expand.

"I have professionally been a fan of the George Foreman® brand from the beginning; I have personally been a fan of the product for just as long," says Jordan Zimmerman, Founder and CEO of the eponymous shop. "The leadership of the George Foreman® brand in the contact grill category, its dominant market share of over 60 percent, and Applica's relationship with all the major retailers fit right in with our view that no matter how big you are, there is the potential to grow bigger and bigger."

About the George Foreman® Division of Applica

The mission of the George Foreman® division is to help today's families meet their goals of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles overall. As the groundbreakers of the indoor grilling category -- and with over ten years as industry leaders -- the George Foreman® division understands better than anyone the innovative technology its customers want in order to cook the healthy, delicious food. Nearly 100 million grills have been sold since the George Foreman® grill originally debuted in 1995. To find out more about the entire product line, visit GeorgeForemanCooking.com.

About Zimmerman Advertising

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Zimmerman Advertising, an Omnicom Group(TM) company, is the country's leading national retail brand builder, and the 14th largest advertising agency in the United States according to Adweek, with more than 1,100 full-time associates and offices throughout the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. For information on the agency, visit http://www.zadv.com. To learn more about Jordan Zimmerman, his business philosophies and opinions, visit his blogspot: www.yousleepwhenyoudie.com

About Omnicom Group

Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

SOURCE Zimmerman Advertising