Saudi-based soft drinks giant Aujan Industries has called a review of its media buying and planning account.
An undisclosed number of media agencies are participating in the review process, which is part of Aujan’s routine of examining its media business every three years.
Ahmed Shaboury, head of brands at Aujan, said the pitch includes all of the company’s brands – Rani, Vimto and Barbican – and covers the Arab world and Iran. Shaboury also stated that in the three years since the previous review, Aujan’s media budget had more than doubled.
“Our contract with the incumbent, Media Insight, expires in three months, hence the timing of the pitch exercise falls in line with our annual planning cycle for 2011,” said Shaboury.
Earlier this year Media Insight merged with MediaCom in the Middle East and North Africa, with Media Insight and its clients folding into MediaCom’s operations across the region. MediaCom is fully owned by Grey Worldwide in the region, whilst Media Insight is a 50/50 joint venture between Memac Ogilvy and JWT and does not have a presence outside of the MENA region. The new venture is 40 per cent owned by Grey, with Memac Ogilvy and JWT holding a 30 per cent share each. Both agencies are part of WPP.
Aujan’s creative advertising accounts, which are handled by Dubai-based independent agency Face To Face, are not up for review.
