When companies merge, they are always equals, but one brand always gets dumped. That’s exactly what has happened with Amoco, which finally got dumped by BP. In the U.S. gasoline market, Amoco stood for something different, a FAST approach to fuel. Amoco, with its torch and red white and blue,MORE HERE
Our BrandlandUSA reader “JM” tells us that Colonial Bread is on deathwatch, and it may be in danger of disappearing due to its ownership by Sara Lee (NYSE: SLC). Writes our dear reader: Colonial, one of the South’s well known bread names, is now owned by Sara Lee. Since Ms.MORE HERE
ATLANTA – The Coke bottle will go. After 12 years, more than 1,000 home run celebrations and countless family ballpark memories, the 42-foot-tall Coca-Cola Contour bottle standing high above left field will be retired from Coca-Cola Sky Field at Turner Field on July 2. A new one will replace it,MORE HERE
FRESNO, Calif.- After 105 years in business, renowned department store chain Gottschalks Inc. (Pink Sheets: GOTT.PK) began liquidation today. The going out of business sale will include all 58 Gottschalks locations in California (38), Washington (7), Alaska (5), Oregon (5), Nevada (1) and Idaho (2). Founded in 1904, Gottschalks becameMORE HERE
Kraft Foods and ConAgra Foods, like most mega-consumer products companies these days, have limited use for “niche” brands. These are brands with limited by loyal following, especially when tastes change over the years. So it is sad to report that, despite years of survival as the “red-headed stepchild” of theseMORE HERE
We read a great post on General Motors, and their brand and intellectual property portfolio. The Truth about Cars website interviewed Paul Earle of Chicago-based River West Brands, a company that revives defunct brand names to get his take. Earle’s answer is not killing off brands, but trying to manageMORE HERE
GRAFTON – On Route 17 in York County, Virginia remains one of the great remaining Western Auto stores. Don’t you just love the flags on the front? Six of them! The chain was a national giant in auto parts and appliances. The chain opened in 1909 in Kansas City, MissouriMORE HERE
I recently became aware that a longtime heritage brand, Colgate Shave Cream, manufactured by a heritage company has been discontinued. This leaves them with only the Mennen aftershave lines Afta and Skin Bracer. Colgate-Palmolive continues to produce tubes of Palmolive shave cream in several foreign markets.The traditional aerosol shave creams (notMORE HERE
DUBLIN – The Irish-based owners of Wedgwood, Waterford, Royal Doulton and Rosenthal have put the company into receivership, the British word for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It’s a real tragedy, as both companies have long histories. The 1986 merger of the two into Waterford Wedgwood PLC, with ticker WTFU, was aMORE HERE
LONDON – Woolworths Group PLC, one of the last remaining pieces of America’s F.W. Woolworth Company, might have a saviour for its brand. While the company, which is in bankruptcy administration, would be shut down, there are apparently groups interested in the company’s intellectual property, including the brand. In addition,MORE HERE