MEDIA & ADVERTISING

Coke Hands Fruitopia Ad Account to Leo Burnett: The company replaced Los Angeles-based Chiat/Day Inc., which had handled Fruitopia from its New York office. Industry observers expected Chiat/Day to lose the account because of conflicts arising from its merger with TBWA, a unit of New York-based advertising giant Omnicom. A separate unit of Omnicom, BBDO, handles advertising for Coca-Cola Co.’s chief rival, PepsiCo Inc. Coke said it wasn’t concerned about potential conflicts but switched the account because Omnicom executives indicated they were uncomfortable with the situation. Chicago-based Leo Burnett simultaneously gave up the 7-Up advertising account. Billings for Fruitopia and 7-Up have been estimated at $30 million. Coke confirmed an intention to reassign the Cherry Coke account from Chiat/Day’s Venice office, but it declined to say which agencies are under consideration. Industry sources said they don’t expect the Cherry Coke business to be moved until new Chiat/Day ads for it come out.