PHILIPINES -- In protests last Wednesday in Manila, organizers called for boycotts of McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Caltex, Marlboro, Citibank, Colgate, Starbucks and Monsanto brands.
CAIRO, Egypt (AdAge.com) -- Marketers of some of the world's biggest brands -- including Procter & Gamble Co., Pepsi-Cola Co., Coca-Cola Co., H.J. Heinz Co., Xerox and McDonald's Corp. -- are going on the offensive to combat war-related boycotts of American products in hot spots around the globe.
In markets from Egypt and Argentina to Europe, U.S. companies are plotting strategy, usually focusing on how to emphasize their ties to local communities and economies.
Sensitivity is, of course, particularly high in the Middle East. Mostafa El Halwagy, a board member of Heinz Egypt, said fliers have been circulated in Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, urging a boycott of a long list of U.S. companies. He said Heinz has not yet felt the impact, but that "we have seen our name and other familiar names on the leaflets."
