Comic Dive

Comic Dive takes a more lighthearted look at some of the industry's biggest news and is produced with illustrator John Hazard.

  • "Tip for Heinz" key visual.
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    Courtesy of The Kraft Heinz Company
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    Kraft Heinz enlists diners to urge restaurants to offer its ketchup

    “Tip for Heinz” encourages consumers to leave an extra dollar at restaurants that don't carry the brand and have their gratuity reimbursed.

    By • Updated Nov. 16, 2022
  • Chipotle hosts daily video chat during to deepend connections during pandemic
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    John Hazard/Marketing Dive
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    Comic Dive: Virtual Realities

    As people practice social distancing, brands including Chipotle and Busch are finding unique ways to deliver experiences remotely.

    By John Hazard • March 27, 2020
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    Permission granted by John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: CMO Shift Change

    Marketing leaders are shuffling around in the QSR space, with some executives taking new roles at sister restaurants as competition heats up.

    By John Hazard • March 13, 2020
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    John Hazard/Marketing Dive
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    Comic Dive: Bye Bye, Brandless

    As marketers grapple with digital transformation, the DTC darling's downfall highlights the challenges of building private label brands.

    By John Hazard • Feb. 28, 2020
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    John Hazard/Marketing Dive
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    Comic Dive: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

    As Google joins the list of companies that will no longer support third-party cookies, the marketing industry looks for a way forward that balances privacy and personalization.

    By John Hazard • Feb. 14, 2020
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Super Bowl Product Blitz

    Food and beverage marketers PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Kellogg are using the game's big stage to launch new products.

    By John Hazard • Jan. 31, 2020
  • Comic Dive's CMO Circus column for 2020
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: CMO Circus

    As consumer expectations rise, chief marketers are forced to juggle a growing number of tasks in 2020 like pitching leadership on winning more resources.

    By John Hazard • Jan. 17, 2020
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: New Year's Revolutions

    Will marketers "future-fit" themselves in 2020 by bulking up, slimming down or taking a more unique approach?

    By John Hazard • Jan. 3, 2020
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Brand the Halls

    It's beginning to look a lot like branded merchandise season as major QSRs and CPGs get in on the holiday spirit.

    By John Hazard • Dec. 13, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Holiday Hustle

    With a shorter window between Thanksgiving and Christmas, marketers are racing to make up for lost time during the critical shopping season.

    By John Hazard • Nov. 27, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Chicken Sandwich Kerfuffle

    Recent missteps by Chick-fil-A, which is closed on Sundays, have given Popeyes easy marketing fodder around the return of its chicken sandwich.

    By John Hazard • Nov. 15, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Halloween Hangover

    Halloween isn't just for candy brands, as Budweiser, Burger King and Jägermeister get in on the fun. Now, marketers everywhere must pivot and ready their holiday campaigns.

    By John Hazard • Nov. 1, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Wendy's Rolls The Dice

    As brands look to embed themselves in culture, Wendy's branded role-playing game might be a bridge too far.

    By John Hazard • Oct. 18, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: It's In The Game

    Major brands including Coke, Bud Light and Red Bull are rushing into esports marketing — before over saturation spells game over. 

    By John Hazard • Oct. 4, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Papa Shaq's Pizza

    Following a major controversy, Papa John's has called on new board member Shaquille O'Neal to rescue its brand. Will the move be a slam dunk?

    By John Hazard • Sept. 20, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Brands Open the Football Playbook

    As the football season kicks off, major players like Pepsi and Bud Light are trying various tactics to engage sports fans.

    By John Hazard • Sept. 6, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: CMO Tribunal

    Amid a flurry of high-profile departures in recent months — particularly among women executives — some brands are axing the chief marketer role altogether.

    By John Hazard • Aug. 23, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: The Brands Have Landed

    Bud Light and Arby's are storming Area 51, but will any of the millions interested in the Facebook event actually show up?

    By John Hazard • Aug. 9, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Reality of in-housing sets in for brands

    While major companies flaunt their in-house marketing teams, many struggle with attracting talent and energizing creatives.

    By John Hazard • July 26, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Justice? Do It

    Despite online outrage, Nike continues to take cues from Colin Kaepernick — a risk that hasn't impacted sales.

    By John Hazard • July 12, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Stranger Days

    Game of What? The marketing world is turned upside down as brands like Coke and Burger King rush to tie in with Netflix's hit show "Stranger Things."

    By John Hazard • June 28, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Haters Gonna Hate

    Brands like IHOP and Vita Coco are driving social chatter by engaging with online negativity instead of running away from it.

    By John Hazard • June 14, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Run For The Border, Get A Room

    In its biggest lifestyle play yet, Taco Bell doubles down on millennial marketing with a branded hotel that scratches several tactical itches.

    By John Hazard • May 31, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: Home Shopping Networks

    As shoppable features proliferate on social media apps, connected devices and TV, marketers have more ways — and places — to sell to consumers than ever.

    By John Hazard • May 17, 2019
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    John Hazard
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    Comic Dive: The Right Brew

    While some brands tie efforts to current TV shows or nostalgic classics, Heineken is banking on the enduring buzz for a streaming favorite to push a new beer.

    By John Hazard • May 3, 2019