Jessica Wohl
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@AdAge senior editor. Allergic to racism & homophobia. Love family, friends, pasta, TV & travel. jwohl@adage.com
Articles by Jessica Wohl
Kennedy: Have a beloved garment that’s ripped or torn? Sewanee artist has a solution
Dispatchist News from around the globe in real time Client login News Sources Countries People Categories Organizations A few years ago, Sewanee, Tennessee, artist Jessica Wohl had an idea for an art exhibit.
Watch the two Jesus Super Bowl ads-‘He Gets Us’ campaign comes to the Big Game
The ‘Be Childlike’ and ‘Love Your Enemies’ ads continue effort to rebrand Jesus for a mass audience.
Little Caesars names Greg Hamilton as chief marketing officer
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Why Rick Astley is never gonna give up snacks or drums
Ad Lib features unscripted conversations with some of the biggest personalities in media and marketing, speaking off the cuff with Ad Age editors and reporters. The goal here is to do away with spin and jargon, and get to know some of the more influential and innovative people in this space — and understand the humans behind the titles.
How a microbe from Yellowstone could shake up the food industry
When Karuna Rawal got a call from a recruiter about a marketing gig at a startup using a microbe to make protein-packed, animal-free food, she was intrigued. The lifelong vegetarian joined the company, now called Nature's Fynd, as its chief marketing officer and first marketing hire. Now, she and her Chicago-based team are just starting to get the company's name out in the world while preparing to launch its first products next year.
How King Arthur Baking is preparing for the holidays after its pandemic rise
Bill Tine, VP of marketing at King Arthur Baking Company, joins Marketer's Brief to discuss how the company is trying to build on the rapid success it has seen in 2020, its 230th year in business.
Coronavirus response ads begin
An update on the latest marketing news surrounding the pandemic, including how coronavirus response ads from Guinness and Ford are being received. Ad Age’s E.J. Schultz, Jessica Wohl and Adrianne Pasquarelli discuss that, plus a surprisingly optimistic ad spending forecast. We also take a look at how restaurants and retailers are handling the coronavirus crisis. Be sure to check out AdAge.com for our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Halloween's COVID-19 candy outlook: Trick or treat?
Tim LeBel, Mars Wrigley’s chief Halloween officer, joins Marketer’s Brief to discuss how the big candy selling season is expected to look in 2020 as COVID-19 forces the industry to pivot.
RXBar CMO thinks beyond bars
Victor Lee joins Marketer's Brief to discuss the evolution of its no B.S. message and taking the brand further beyond the bars that put it on the map.
Ad Age Marketer's Brief
We discuss and dissect our ranking of the 10 companies and brands that marketed their way to the top in 2019.
Sonic Drive-In's brand overhaul
Sonic President Claudia San Pedro discusses the chain's updated look, new marketing featuring diners who aren't the Two Guys, and how its drive-in model has been a benefit during the pandemic.
Leading Frito-Lay's in-house agency
Chris Bellinger, VP of creative and digital, Frito-Lay North America, joins Marketer's Brief to discuss the snack maker's internal agency and his earlier time on the agency side—which included Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" and even a scary moment in a cage with a shark.
How General Mills is creating marketing change during COVID-19
Brad Hiranaga, chief brand officer of General Mills North America, discusses how the company is meeting new demand for packaged food and using marketing to support racial justice.
Jimmy John’s CMO dishes on the brand’s new storytelling approach
Jimmy John’s, known for its “Freaky Fast” delivery, is telling more of a brand story. Chief Marketing Officer Darin Dugan joins Marketer’s Brief to discuss the brand’s first Super Bowl campaign and how product introductions are spicing up the menu.
How Domino's is changing during COVID-19
Domino’s Pizza, like its smaller rivals, has grown substantially this year thanks in large part to people placing more orders during the coronavirus pandemic. In the second quarter, for example, Domino’s U.S. same-store sales jumped 16.1 percent. Kate Trumbull, VP of advertising and Hispanic marketing at Domino’s, discussed those topics and others during the Ad Age Next Food & Beverage Conference.
ANA's Bob Liodice on this year's Masters of Marketing
The Association of National Advertisers' biggest conference is being held remotely due to COVID-19. ANA CEO Bob Liodice joins Marketer's Brief to discuss how the event is being run this year and the appetite he sees for future in-person events.
Ad Age Marketer's Brief
Allyson Witherspoon joins Marketer’s Brief to chat about the road to her new position as VP of marketing communications and media at Nissan North America, including her move from the agency side to the client side, and how she got the most out of two international postings.
Fast food chicken sandwich wars led to 2021 advertising highlights
Back in 2019, Popeyes’ introduction of a fried chicken sandwich sparked a frenzy. The new item heated up the chain’s competition with dominant chicken purveyor Chick-fil-A and others. Two years later, the world may have changed quite a bit, but the battle continues as hot as ever. The old standards and the new entrants largely follow a similar format: fry a piece of white meat chicken, add pickles and sauce, put it all on an Instagram-worthy bun, and sell it for $3.99 or perhaps a bit more.
McDonalds moves to eliminate virgin plastics from its Happy Meals
McDonald's Corp. is putting more environmentally-friendly toys in its famous Happy Meals, a move meant to appeal to parents and kids seeking greener alternatives that could have a ripple effect across the broader restaurant industry. The effort, officially announced Sept.
McDonald’s making Happy Meals environmentally friendly
McDonald’s is putting more environmentally friendly toys in its famous Happy Meals, a move meant to appeal to parents and kids seeking greener alternatives that could have a ripple effect across the broader restaurant industry.
McDonald's hires PetCo's chief marketer Tariq Hassan
McDonald’s has hired Petco CMO Tariq Hassan as its chief marketing and digital customer experience officer for McDonald’s U.S., filling the role held by Morgan Flatley, who is one of three executives promoted within the restaurant giant’s marketing and international market leadership ranks. Paul Pomroy, the CEO of McDonald’s U.K. and Ireland division, takes over as corporate senior VP of International Operated Markets, a position that opened up with the recent promotion of Manu Steijaert.
Ben’s Original’s first campaign highlights inclusion—and its rice
Ben’s Original, the brand created to replace Uncle Ben’s, is out with an inclusive campaign backed by major media spending nearly a year after the name change was announced amid a global racial reckoning.
How Kraft Heinz is renovating Oscar Mayer and other older brands
Kraft Heinz has a product lineup with the type of brand recognition other marketers envy. The problem is, while the food company was busy overhauling itself, many of those well-known brands such as Oscar Mayer weren’t getting too much attention.
McDonald’s next celebrity collaborator is Saweetie
McDonald’s is teaming up with hip-hop artist Saweetie on its next celebrity meal, quickly following on the success of its BTS Meal, with another specialty lineup to help the chain “tap in” to pop culture and keep its sales streak going. Saweetie’s meal is the first “famous order” in a string of meals picked by musicians that comes from a woman. It follows meals selected and promoted by Travis Scott, J Balvin and BTS released in the last 10 months.
McDonald’s launches MyMcDonald's Rewards marketing
McDonald’s campaign for its MyMcDonald’s Rewards program kicks off today with commercials and a unique Twitter marketing tool that rely on people’s longstanding loyalty to the fast-food giant. The breadth of the push shows how much emphasis McDonald’s is putting on its effort to forge deeper personal connections with its fans.
McDonald’s rewards program MyMcDonald’s debuts with free fries for all
McDonald’s is officially introducing its MyMcDonald’s rewards program with lots of free fries as it tries to deepen its relationship with millions of customers. Loyalty programs are a treasure trove of first-person data for marketers that are becoming increasingly important as brands prepare for a cookie-less future, even one that's been delayed for a bit. And nothing entices people to register for loyalty or rewards programs quite like free items.
Ad Age Marketer's Brief
We discuss and dissect our ranking of the 10 companies and brands that marketed their way to the top in 2019.
ANA's Bob Liodice on this year's Masters of Marketing
The Association of National Advertisers' biggest conference is being held remotely due to COVID-19. ANA CEO Bob Liodice joins Marketer's Brief to discuss how the event is being run this year and the appetite he sees for future in-person events.
Jimmy John’s CMO dishes on the brand’s new storytelling approach
Jimmy John’s, known for its “Freaky Fast” delivery, is telling more of a brand story. Chief Marketing Officer Darin Dugan joins Marketer’s Brief to discuss the brand’s first Super Bowl campaign and how product introductions are spicing up the menu.
Sonic Drive-In's brand overhaul
Sonic President Claudia San Pedro discusses the chain's updated look, new marketing featuring diners who aren't the Two Guys, and how its drive-in model has been a benefit during the pandemic.
Leading Frito-Lay's in-house agency
Chris Bellinger, VP of creative and digital, Frito-Lay North America, joins Marketer's Brief to discuss the snack maker's internal agency and his earlier time on the agency side—which included Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" and even a scary moment in a cage with a shark.
Coronavirus response ads begin
An update on the latest marketing news surrounding the pandemic, including how coronavirus response ads from Guinness and Ford are being received. Ad Age’s E.J. Schultz, Jessica Wohl and Adrianne Pasquarelli discuss that, plus a surprisingly optimistic ad spending forecast. We also take a look at how restaurants and retailers are handling the coronavirus crisis. Be sure to check out AdAge.com for our continuing coronavirus coverage.
How Domino's is changing during COVID-19
Domino’s Pizza, like its smaller rivals, has grown substantially this year thanks in large part to people placing more orders during the coronavirus pandemic. In the second quarter, for example, Domino’s U.S. same-store sales jumped 16.1 percent. Kate Trumbull, VP of advertising and Hispanic marketing at Domino’s, discussed those topics and others during the Ad Age Next Food & Beverage Conference.
RXBar CMO thinks beyond bars
Victor Lee joins Marketer's Brief to discuss the evolution of its no B.S. message and taking the brand further beyond the bars that put it on the map.
Halloween's COVID-19 candy outlook: Trick or treat?
Tim LeBel, Mars Wrigley’s chief Halloween officer, joins Marketer’s Brief to discuss how the big candy selling season is expected to look in 2020 as COVID-19 forces the industry to pivot.
Auto marketing insights
Allyson Witherspoon joins Marketer’s Brief to chat about the road to her new position as VP of marketing communications and media at Nissan North America, including her move from the agency side to the client side, and how she got the most out of two international postings.
How General Mills is creating marketing change during COVID-19
Brad Hiranaga, chief brand officer of General Mills North America, discusses how the company is meeting new demand for packaged food and using marketing to support racial justice.
How King Arthur Baking is preparing for the holidays after its pandemic rise
Bill Tine, VP of marketing at King Arthur Baking Company, joins Marketer's Brief to discuss how the company is trying to build on the rapid success it has seen in 2020, its 230th year in business.
Grubhub thanks restaurants in new ad
Grubhub is delivering a love letter to restaurants in a campaign showcasing what diners have embraced and elements they’ve missed during the coronavirus pandemic as they’ve ordered from home.
Americans more likely to sample food in groceries now than pre-COVID
In-store food and drink sampling—a key marketing tactic that disappeared during the pandemic—is getting back to normal, an encouraging sign for brands that rely on it to get new products in the hands of consumers. According to a new Ad Age-Harris Poll, 65% of respondents said they would partake in in-store sampling once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Kraft launches 'Space Jam' mac and cheese, Space Jammies PJs
Space Jam now has an official mac and cheese, with Kraft becoming the latest brand to seize on what could be among the biggest movie marketing events of the summer. The brand today unvieled boxes of the basketball- and bunny-shaped versions of the kid-friendly pasta, as well as Space Jammies pajamas to wear while eating the comfort food on the couch. “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” the follow-up film to the 1996 Michael Jordan movie “Space Jam,” hits theaters July 16.
McDonald's to more than double ad spending with diverse-owned firms
McDonald’s is promising to more than double its U.S. investment in diverse-owned media companies, production shops and content creators by 2024. Over the next four years, it will increase its U.S. advertising spending with platforms owned by Black, Hispanic, Asian American, female and LGBTQ people from 4% to 10%. Additionally, the world’s largest restaurant company will be forming multi-year partnerships with diverse-owned media entities.
McDonald's sued by Byron Allen for $10 billion in race discrimination lawsuit
McDonald’s is being sued by media mogul Byron Allen’s company over racial discrimination.
Planters gets a makeover
Planters is the latest brand to get a bit of an update, unveiling a more modern style and a minor makeover of Mr. Peanut. Don’t worry, he’s not going back to being a Baby Nut. The Planters refresh comes as Chicago-based Kraft Heinz prepares to sell the 115-year-old nut brand to Hormel Foods. The $3.35 billion deal announced in February is expected to close by the end of June.
Kellogg's exec Monica McGurk on pandemic dining habits and online shopping
Kellogg Co. saw a sharp uptick in demand for products from cereals to snacks at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. And it is using what it has learned about dining habits, online shopping and even people’s pastimes to inform marketing practices and innovation.
Domino's brings back one of advertising's stranger mascots: the 1980s-era Noid
The Noid is back. And it's gotten a makeover. Ann Arbor-based Domino's Pizza has brought back its red-suited, long-eared villain from the late 80s in a campaign that hypes its new driverless pizza delivery. In a nostalgia-meets-the-future approach, the Noid is returning to TV ads. And that's not the end of it. The creature will also be featured in the "Crash Bandicoot: On the Run" mobile game.
McDonald’s debuting new BTS McNuggets celebrity meal
McDonald’s has teamed up with BTS, one of the world’s biggest musical acts, for its next celebrity-inspired meal. The band, which got its start in South Korea and is now a popular K-pop supergroup worldwide, is the latest musical act to have meals on the McDonald’s menu, following meals promoted by Travis Scott and J Balvin in 2020. McDonald’s teaming up with BTS shows the breadth and reach of both the world’s largest restaurant company and one of the biggest pop groups worldwide.
5 marketing lessons from McDonald's, Popeyes', Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich wars
It feels as though every restaurant is busy hawking a fried chicken sandwich. From TV ads and billboards to TikTok campaigns and Twitter giveaways, a variety of marketing approaches are in play. No one predicted the massive success of Popeyes' sandwich in 2019. Now, several chains are eager to win a piece of the market, with McDonald's finally entering the game in February. Chick-fil-A continues to lead with the sandwich it introduced 57 years ago.
Kraft Mayo new ad campaign from Wieden+Kennedy NY
Kraft Mayo leans into the premise that not everyone loves mayonnaise in its first new advertising since 2017. The brand’s first work from Wieden+Kennedy New York, called “The Mayo of Mayonnaise,” uses quick videos to showcase mayo, and admits that it’s not a condiment beloved by all. “Some people don’t like velvety smooth Kraft Mayo,” the voiceover says in one spot as the white spread is being slathered on a piece of bread. “That’s OK, let them live their dry, mayo-less lives.
Center for Science in the Public Interest wants review of Kraft Heinz Mac & Cheese ads
In a March 24 letter addressed to CARU Director Dona Fraser, CSPI highlights some of the ads it finds fault with. The watchdog acknowledges that Kraft is already planning to discontinue the campaigns in question yet writes that it still wants the ad review unit to review the food marketer’s ad practices. Guidelines issued by CARU include: "Advertising of food products should encourage responsible use of the product with a view toward healthy development of the child.
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