JWT Buys L.A. Shopper-Marketing Firm Lunchbox

http://adage.com/article/agency-news/jwt-buys-l-a-shopper-marketing-firm-lunchbox/228809/

JWT North America has inked a deal to acquire Lunchbox L.P., a 70-person shopper-marketing agency based in Los Angeles. The companies share two key clients: Unilever and Kimberly-Clark.

Lunchbox says its expertise is in retail strategy and building shopper-marketing solutions -- online, on mobile devices and via in-store video and point-of-purchase displays. The firm has also produced branded music performances online and in-store for retailers, and claims to have worked with a long list of well-known artists, including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, the Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga, Adele, Rihanna, The Ting Tings, Lil Wayne, Drake and David Cook.

One of its better-known executions is the Walmart Soundcheck platform, which features original concert footage and interviews and partners with a variety of Unilever brands. It can be accessed through Walmart.com as well as in-store.

Lunchbox was founded in 2005 by Adam Roe, an interesting character who boasts on his LinkedIn page that in addition to his branding and advertising experience he is a former competitive skateboarder, Japanese monster movie star and a licensed clinical hypnotherapist. Though Lunchbox is based in L.A., it also has offices in San Francisco, Chicago and Bentonville, Ark.