Chief Marketer Staff

• BK Invents “Roq” Band for Chicken Fries Launch

  Burger King Corp. this week launches BK Chicken Fries with a tongue-in-cheek “sponsorship” of a fictitious band. Chicken Fries are the size and shape of French fries, made of battered white breast meat; the conical carton fits in a car’s cupholder, with …

• People Readies Wal-Mart Tour

  People Magazine this week launches an expanded version of its People Live Tour that brings entertainment memorabilia to Wal-Mart parking lots. The tour, now in its fourth year, will hit 30 Wal-Mart Supercenters over 15 weeks, starting July 28. …

• Agencies

  JCPenney Supporting Sweeps with Wristband Sales

  JCPenney will sell NFL team wristbands in its stores to support the second annual Take a Player to School in-store sweepstakes, which the retailer is running in conjunction with the league. Net profits and the NFL’s royalties from the $2.99 …

• Bank of America Gets Hall of Fame Deal

  Bank of America has signed a three-year deal with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, giving the bank exclusive rights to produce Hall of Fame vignettes. The deal begins at the start of the 2006 Major League Baseball season. The two …

• Chiquita Taps Viviani for Fresh Express Integration

  Chiquita Brands International named Tanios Viviani president of Fresh Express following its June 28 acquisition of the branded-produce company. Viviani had been VP of Chiquita Fresh Cut Fruit since joining Chiquita last year. He replaces Fresh Express …

• News Briefs

  HERSHEY: has partnered with American Idol winner Carrie Underwood who will sing some of the company’s classic jingles in upcoming TV ads. Listen up for such oldies as “Sometimes you feel like a nut…sometimes you don’t” and others. DUNKIN’ DONUTS: has …

• Zone Reports $127 Million in Second Quarter

  Zone Inc., a direct marketing reseller of technology products, reported its net sales increased 2.9% to $127.6 million in second quarter that ended June 30, compared to $124 million in sales in the second quarter last year.

• Celebrate Reports $69 Million in Annual Sales

  Celebrate Express Inc., a party products catalog and online marketer, yesterday reported sales increased 33% to $69.1 million for the fiscal year that ended May 31, compared to $51.9 million last year.

• Targeted Pop-up Advertising Service Started

  Premium Network Inc. has introduced an automated pop-up advertising placement service for targeting by selected keywords and Web sites entered by Internet users.

• DMA Names Catalog and Multichannel Marketing Council

  The Direct Marketing Association’s Catalog Council has been renamed as the DMA Catalog and Multichannel Marketing Council.