Kraft Foods pulls accounts from JWT

NORTHFIELD, Ill., April 16 (UPI) -- Kraft Foods Inc. said Monday it moved about $200 million in business from longtime Chicago ad agency JWT, once known as J. Walter Thompson.

The largest U.S. food and beverage company moved creative advertising duties for its $40 million Oscar Mayer Lunchables packaged meals account to Interpublic Group's DraftFCB in Chicago, Adweek reported.

Other assignments -- including the rest of the Oscar Mayer meats brand, Grey Poupon mustard, Kraft Singles cheese and Ritz and Triscuit crackers -- are up for review.

A Kraft spokeswoman said the company was looking for "game-changing ideas for some of our premier brands."

Advertising Age reported the review was an example of the "huge pressure" Kraft was under to demonstrate change to Wall Street since separating from Altria Group Inc. in February.

JWT will continue handling global creative duties for Philadelphia brand cream cheese and North American duties for Wheat Thins crackers, Adweek said.

JWT also handles international creative duties for Jacob Suchard coffee, Vegemite sandwich spread, Kenco instant coffee, Royal dry-mix desserts and Miracle Whip salad dressing and sandwich spread.