Marketing Gimmicks

Swanson Accused of Using Local Chef to Fight the Culture War

Christopher Lee isn’t the only local chef doing Swanson Broth ads — parent company Campbell recently tapped Lea Forant of Café Forant to pose with her wife, Carolyn, and their young son Eli. According to Ad Age, that didn’t sit well with conservative media watchdog group American Family Association, which asked readers of its Website to e-mail Campbell to ask it to stop “supporting the gay agenda” and then call Swanson to demand that it “remain neutral in the culture war.” Swanson’s response: “Inclusion and diversity play an important role in our business, and that fact is reflected in our marketing plan. For more than a century, people from all walks for life have enjoyed Campbell’s products, and we will continue to try to communicate in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them.” To us, that policy sounds mm-mm good.

Campbell’s Offers No Concessions to AFA [Ad Age]

Swanson Accused of Using Local Chef to Fight the Culture War