LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Leading U.S. independent gasoline and convenience store retailer Thorntons Inc. has selected Sanders/Wingo as its agency of record. The agency will handle regional branding and multi-discipline campaigns for the company, including cross-promotion of the retailer's internal brands, such as coffee, fountain drinks and fresh foods.
The relationship officially begins July 1, 2011, the company said.
"A name like Thornton's carries such a great amount of brand trust and loyalty, and we're honored to be beginning this relationship," said Leslie Wingo, [image-nocss] senior vice president and group account director at Sanders/Wingo.
Wingo noted the importance of that loyalty as the retailer continues to expand efforts into different media, such as digital and social.
"Sanders/Wingo competed enthusiastically to win our business," said John Zikias, executive vice president of Thorntons. "We appreciate the team's strategic thinking and creative approach to the assignment, especially as we look toward expansion of digital efforts."
Austin, Texas-based Sanders/Wingo is an independent advertising agency that has
represented regional and national brands including Peter Piper Pizza, Petro, Fuddruckers, the U.S. Postal Service, State Farm, General Motors and AT&T.
Earlier this month, Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey's General Stores Inc. announced that it has contracted with Barkley as the first advertising agency of record for the Casey's brand. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
Thorntons is one of the leading independent gasoline and convenience chain retailers in the United States, currently operating throughout the Midwest under the brand name Thorntons. With more than $1.4 billion in revenue, Thorntons is one of largest privately held corporations in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It operates 165 gasoline and convenience stores, car washes and travel plazas in five states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. Thorntons distributes its petroleum products through its wholly owned Thornton Transportation Co. and operates a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.
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