Leading Animal Health Company Merial Awards Its Large Animal Business to SHS

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Merial, a world-leading animal health company, has selected Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS) as its agency of record. SHS will be handling all advertising, public relations and online efforts for the company's U.S. large animal business.

"SHS brought creativity to the challenges we issued," said Mark Morrison, vice president, Merial Large Animal Health U.S. "Strategically, they were on target with their approach to the marketing and communications needs of our business. The plans for the execution of those strategies was truly breakthrough. SHS demonstrated the power of going beyond the borders of what's always been done. Our goal was to choose an agency partner that can provide innovative ways to drive demand for Merial's world-class portfolio. SHS proved they were up to the challenge."

The addition of Merial's large animal business bolsters SHS's growing list of animal and food-related clients including companies such as Cargill, Dairy Farmers of America, Midwest Dairy Association and Meyer Natural Foods.

"We're honored to have earned Merial's business," said Lynell Stucky, managing partner, Sullivan Higdon & Sink. "Merial has a rich history of blockbuster innovations. Their new product pipeline is full of game-changers. And that's the mandate Merial gave to us. Change the game. This is an exciting time to enter into a partnership with Merial."

The program of work will be handled by Sullivan Higdon & Sink's Kansas City office.

About Merial

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,700 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2009 sales were $2.6 billion. Merial is the Animal Health subsidiary of sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com.

About SHS

SHS creates integrated brand experiences for clients who refuse to follow the flock. With offices in Kansas City, Washington, D.C., and Wichita, the agency is proud of a client roster that includes American Century Investments, Borden Cheese from Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., CareFusion, Cargill, Midwest Dairy Association, Merial Animal Health, Pizza Hut and Pratt & Whitney. Follow SHS at www.twitter.com/wehatesheep or www.wehatesheep.com.

SOURCE Sullivan Higdon & Sink