Aldi: Following news that it could be the most expensive Thanksgiving ever as food prices rise and supply gets squeezed, Aldi has a solution. The German grocer, which has been ramping up its presence in the U.S. in recent years, is marketing a traditional Turkey Day feast for under $30 including a Butterball bird, sides such as carrots and stuffing, and a pumpkin pie. As it seeks to grow its market share here, Aldi has been competing on the price front—the marketer claims its prices are 40% lower than the average competitor. The strategy could prove fruitful this holiday season as consumers become more price-conscious.
Losers
State Farm: In the latest example of how no celebrity endorsement is ever safe, the insurer is still recovering from last week’s Aaron Rodgers drama. The GreenBay QB has been under fire for his stance on vaccinations after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this month and was unable to play in the Packers game last weekend. Though State Farm has focused its recent ads on Terry Bradshaw rather than Rodgers, the marketer still said it respects Rodgers’ “right to have his own personal point of view” in not getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. Critics called the company a “bad neighbor” and noted a lack of trust in the brand as a result of the decision.
Register for Ad Age Next: CMO at AdAge.com/NextCMO.
Disney: It was a tough week for the entertainment giant, which reported disappointing quarterly results that included slower-than-expected growth for Disney+. The streamer is trying to recapture some of its momentum with today’s “Disney+ Day” which includes premieres and a special deal for new customers.
Big conglomerates: Thin is in when it comes to corporate strategy. Johnson & Johnson is the latest behemoth to split—it announced today plans to break into two public companies, one for drugs and medical devices, and the other for consumer products. It follows a move by General Electric Co. to split into three. Even companies that are not breaking up are shedding brands: General Mills is reportedly looking at whether to offload Hamburger Helper and Progresso Soup and Coca-Cola has significantly pared down; it now sells about 200 brands compared with about 400 several months ago.
Tweet of the week