Tag Archives: food promotion

Musical Magic (M&Ms)

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Artist – Various artists
Release Year – 1996
Record Label – Michele Compact Discs
Format – CD compilation
Promoting – M&Ms chocolate sweets/chocolate candy
Theme – Classical music

This might be one of the only promotional releases that I picked up in 2018 that wasn’t part of a haul, as I have been spending the year buying items to fill out my musical knowledge more than scratch my promotional item itch. As soon as I slid this CD out from a very shaky bookcase in my local charity shop I fell in love with the wonderful 90s aesthetic of the M&M characters and design of this ultimately rather mediocre release. These days we are treated to gaudy looking CGI characters with silly New York style accents but there is something oh so sweet about these little mascots that are seen here on the front of this release.

M&M’s, like many items of confectionery in the UK could be classed as being aimed towards more children, or have a playful nature about them. So why in 1996 Mars (the brand owner) decided to give away a 16 track compilation of classical hits with the sweets I am unsure. Performing a loose search on YouTube of “M&Ms 1996” to retrieve examples of commercials or promotions that were happening at the time returns nothing of the sort; actually it was in this period that Mars began to use CGI voiced characters with those stereotypical New York accents – with no sign of class or pomp in sight. A few cautionary Google searches brings up no results either to explain the thinking behind this kind of promotion.

Normally with many of these releases it makes sense, the music found on the CD works with the demographic or style of the product/brand being promoted. Classical music compilations would normally show up on classy products such as whisky, alcohol or upmarket department stores – not colourful shelled chocolates.

Utterly mind boggling, if anyone has any insight as to why or how this CD came to exist please let me know.

Tracklist

  1. Volograd Symphony Orchestra – Sleeping Beauty Waltz
  2. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – The Toreadors, from Carmen
  3. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Swan Theme, from Swan Lake
  4. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave)
  5. American Philharmonia Orchestra – The Swan, from Carnival of the Animals
  6. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – In The Hall of the Mountain King, from Peer Gynt
  7. Sofia Symphony Orchestra – Radetsky March
  8. American Philarmonia Orchestra – The Aquarium, from Carnival of the Animals
  9. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Light Cavalry Overture
  10. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship, from Scheherazade
  11. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
  12. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Dance of the Reed Flutes, from The Nutcracker
  13. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – William Tell Overture (finale)
  14. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – March to the Scaffold, from Symphonie Fantastique
  15. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  16. Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra – 1812 Overture (finale)

Gallery

McColl’s Halloween 2018 Product Guide

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This is a PDF copy of the McColl’s product guide that was distributed before Halloween 2018.

Below is a break-down of the products that are being advertised:

Page 1 – Halloween Meal Deal £5

  • BirdsEye Field Fresh Mixed Vegetables 340g
  • Aunt Bessie’s Crispy Homestyle Chips 900g
  • BirdsEye 2 Crispy Chicken In Tempura Batter 2pk
  • Walls Vinnetta Vanilla 650ml

Page 2 – Halloween Goods

  • Mr Kipling 8 Fiendish Fancies 8pk – £1
  • Mr Kipling 6 Terrifying Toffee Whirls 6pk – £1
  • McVitie’s Hobnobs 4 Terrifying Toffee Apple Flapjacks 4pk – £1
  • Haribo Scaremix 140g – £1
  • Haribo Tangfastricks 140g – £1
  • Skittles Darkside 10 Fun Size 180g – £1
  • Swizzles Monster Mix 33% Extra Free Monster Value pack 310g – £2
  • Cadbury Heroes Family Bag 278g – £2
  • Fanta Zero Sugar Fruit Twist 12x150ml – £3
  • Fanta Zero Sugar Orange 12x1505ml – £3
  • Small Pumpkins – £1.50
  • Medium Pumpkins – £3

Page 3 – Chilled & Frozen

  • UFit Strawberry Protein Drink 310ml – £1.50
  • UFit Chocolate Protein Drink 310ml – £1.50
  • Wall’s Chicken & Bacon Slice 180g – 2 for £3
  • Wall’s Chicken Tikka Slice 180g – 2 for £3
  • Wall’s Peppered Steak Slice 180g – 2 for £3
  • Dairylea Lunchables Stackers Ham ‘N’ Cheese 83.4g – £1.20
  • Dairylea Lunchables Stackers Chicken ‘N’ Cheese 76.8g – £1.20
  • Peperami Original 22.5g
  • Peperami Hot 22.5g
  • Peperami Firestick 22.5g
  • Peperami Classic Beef 22.5g
  • Cathedral City Mature Cheddar 200g – £2.29
  • Cathedral City Extra Mature Cheddar 200g – £2.89
  • Flora Light 500g – £1.20
  • Flora Original 500g – £1.20
  • Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Speciale 330g – 2 for £5
  • Dr. Oatker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella 335g – 2 for £5
  • BirdsEye Chicken Curry with Rice 400g – £1.50
  • BirdsEye Beef Lasagne 400g – £1.75
  • Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie
  • Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough
  • Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food

Page 4 – Safeway Products

  • Safeway Seasonal Baby Leaf Salad 100g – £1.29
  • Safeway Salad Tomatoes 6pk – £1
  • Safeway Royal Gala Apples 6pk – £1.89
  • Safeway Large Oranges – £1.99
  • Safeway Carrots 500g – £0.79
  • Safeway Broccoli 335g – £0.79
  • Safeway Closed Cup Mushrooms 300g – £1.09
  • Safeway Cucumber – £0.69

Page 5 – Safeway Products Contd.

  • Safeway Red Leicester 250g – Any 2 for £3.50
  • Safeway British Chicken Mini Breast Fillets 300g – £3
  • Safeway Breaded Ham 5 Slices 120g – Any 2 for £3.50
  • Safeway Free Range Eggs 6 pack – £1.09
  • Safeway Beef Lasagne 400g – Any 2 for £4.50
  • Safeway Spaghetti Bolognese 400g – Any 2 for £4.50
  • Safeway Sweet & Sour Chicken & Egg Fried Rice 450g – Any 2 for £5
  • Kettle Lightly Salted Crisps – 2 for £1.20
  • Kettle Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – 2 for £1.20

Page 6 – Great Value Products

  • Patak’s Mango Chutney 340g – Any 2 for £2
  • Patak’s Tikka Masala Sauce 450g – Any 2 for £2
  • Patak’s Korma Sauce 450g – Any 2 for £2
  • Patak’s 8 Plain Pappadums 72g – Any 2 for £2
  • Tilda Pure Basmati Rice 250g – Any 2 for £2
  • Tilda Pilau Rice 250g – Any 2 for £2
  • Tilda Brown Basmati Rice 250g – Any 2 for £2
  • Nestlé Kit Kat Bites 104g – £1
  • Nestlé Aero Delightful Peppermint Bubles 102g – £1
  • Warburtons 2 Giant Crumpets 2pk – £0.75
  • McVities Digestives Chocfilled Thins Milk Chocolate 130g – £1
  • Fanta Zero Sugar Fruit Twist 12x150ml – £3
  • Fanta Zero Sugar Orange 12x1505ml – £3

Page 7 – Great Value Products Contd

  • Batchelor’s Pasta ‘n’ Sauce Cheese, Leek & Ham 110g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Pasta ‘n’ Sauce Chicken & Mushroom 110g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Pasta ‘n’ Sauce Cheese & Broccoli 110g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Super Noodles Chicken 100g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Super Noodles BBQ Beef 100g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Super Noodles Bacon 100g – Any 2 for £1.50
  • Batchelor’s Super Noodles Cup Chicken 75g – £1
  • Batchelor’s Super Noodles Cup Curry 75g – £1
  • Pot Rice Vegetable Curry 75g – £1
  • Pot Rice Chicken Teriyaki 75g – £1
  • Walkers MAX Strong Hot Chicken Wings 150g – £1
  • Walkers MAX Strong Jalapeño & Cheese 150g – £1
  • McVitie’s Digestives Nibbles Milk Chocolate 120g – £1
  • McVitie’s Digestives Nibbles Caramel 120g – £1
  • Quaker Oat So Simple Golden Syrup 10x30g – £2
  • Quaker Oat So Simple Original 12x27g – £2
  • Flash Ultra Power 500ml – £1.50
  • Flash with Bleach 400ml – £1.50
  • Flash Wipe & Go Lemon 40pk – £1
  • Febreze Air 300ml – £2
  • Fairy Original Lemon 433ml – £1.50
  • Fairy Original 433ml – £1.50
  • McVities Digestives Chocfilled Thins Milk Chocolate 130g – £1
  • McVities Digestives Chocfilled Thins Double Choc 130g – £1

Page 8 – Great Value Beers, Wines & Spirits

  • Gordon’s London Gin and Schweppes Tonic 250ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Gordon’s Pink Gin and Schweppes Tonic 250ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • J. P. Chenet Colombard Chardonnay Wine 187ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Stella Artois 660ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • San Miguel 660ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Beck’s 660ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime 500ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Bulmers Red Berries and Lime 500ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Crabbie’s Original 500ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Blossom Hill 187ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold & Cola 250ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Smirnoff & Cola 250ml – Any 4 for £7 / Any 2 for £4
  • Hardy’s Bankside Chardonnay Wine 75cl – £5
  • Hardy’s Bankside Shiraz Wine 75cl – £5
  • Echo Falls Zesty Tropical Fruit Flavours White Wine 75cl – £5.50
  • Echo Falls Soft Red Berries & Plums Red Wine 75cl – £5.50
  • I ❤ Pinot Grigio 75cl – £6
  • I ❤ Rosé 75cl – £6
  • I ❤ Shiraz 75cl – £6
  • I ❤ Prosecco 75cl – £8
  • Claymore Blended Whisky 70cl – £15
  • Russian Standard Русский Стандарт 70cl – £15.99
  • Gordon’s Pink Gin 70cl – £16
  • Mount Gay Barbados Rum 70cl – £18.49
  • Stella Artois 10x440ml – £11
  • Carling Original Lager 10x440ml – £9
  • Foster’s 10x440ml – £9
  • Strongbow Dark Fruit 10x440ml – £11

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