Starbucks promotes flavours in Frappuccino push

LONDON - Starbucks is using a national sampling campaign, through below-the-line agency Communicator, to raise awareness of its Frappuccino range of flavoured iced drinks.

During the promotion, more than 500,000 samples are to be distributed from Frappuccino-branded vans, called the Frappuccino Machinos.

Field marketing teams will hand out samples from the vans, which have been designed to look like old-fashioned ice cream vans, as well as a buy-one-get-one-free voucher.

The promotion aims to introduce the 11 varieties the drink comes in and make consumers aware that it is not just an iced coffee or cappuccino drink as the name might suggest.

Paul Seligman, Communicator managing director, said: "Starbucks might be the country's best-known coffee brand but Frappuccino is also available in cream and fruit tea varieties. Sampling is an ideal medium because it builds awareness of the range and also encourages consumers to try something different."

Frappuccino flavours available are Raspberry Tea, Mango Citrus Tea, Strawberries and Cream, Vanilla Cream, Chocolate Cream and Caramel Cream, as well as coffee varieties like Coffee Caramel, Coffee Espresso, Mocha and Mocha Coconut.

Communicator was originally part of The Lighthouse Group, which was sold to Cordiant in early 2001. It was merged with sister agencies 141 and Arcom and the Communicator name was dropped.

Communicator was later relaunched and spun out of Cordiant, now part of WPP Group, which held on to 30% of the company.

It is headed by former 141 managing director Seligman and clients include Jack Daniels, First Drinks and Colgate Palmolive.

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