Trahan, Burden wins Greek olive oil account

A prominent Baltimore-based advertising firm has won a $2.5 million- to $3 million-a-year contract from the Greek government and its olive oil industry to promote olive oil in the United States and Canada.

Trahan, Burden & Charles, which until recently marketed the Spanish Pompeian olive oil, was selected by the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board in Athens over four New York and Chicago agencies that competed for the two-year contract. The Athens board represents 24 olive oil producers.

The contract calls for Trahan not only to promote all olive oil produced in Greece, but individual brands as well. Company officials said yesterday that the ad campaign would feature a "Euro look" with graphic symbols and sparse copy, and would focus on the beauty of the Greek countryside.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to build on our food and package goods expertise," said Robert Matz, president of the agency, which markets a number of other food brands, including several McCormick products like Old Bay Seasoning.

Trahan is a 150-person advertising and public relations agency with $100 million in annual billings.

Pub Date: 12/04/96