Connect is an established media agency that aims to deliver strategically aligned, creative media strategies and solutions that elevate its client's brand presence in the minds of South African consumers.

"Winning a portfolio of brands that are as loved and hold as much heritage within the South African market is very exciting for us. We feel that an authentic connection was made with the Spur marketing team and we can't wait to get involved," says Martin MacGregor, M&C Saatchi Group South Africa's media partner.

The media team behind the pitch says that it looks forward to implementing an innovative approach that includes showing up in interesting spaces using a bespoke media stack that reaches both existing and new audiences.

"Each brand has a distinctive personality, as well as a distinct customer segment, and we are very excited to explore strategic ways to bring these brands to the spaces where their customers play — and vice versa," says Marvin Kgasoane, managing director of Connect Johannesburg.

The agency will be presented with the opportunity to devise holistic strategies that speak to the individual objectives of each brand, as well as the diverse audiences who have built loyalty for their favourite restaurants.

"Not one of the Spur Corporation's brands will have the same media strategy, which is extremely exciting for us," says Rita Nel, partner at Connect. "This is the perfect opportunity to showcase our unique approach to client needs, using every available data signal to create tailored media stacks for each brand that amplify them in their different demographic markets."

Spur Corporation operates a franchise-based business model. It has individual restaurants owned and managed by independent, entrepreneurial franchisees who trade through over 600 outlets across South Africa, the rest of Africa and Mauritius.

"When making the decision to choose Connect as our media agency partner, we went back to our vision of passionate people growing great brands," says Etienne Ralphs, group marketing manager at Spur Corporation.

"We wanted to be sure that the agency we partnered with is the best partner in these challenging times. We believe that Connect has more than the right amount of passion — coupled with the strategic expertise and innovative tools to identify engagement opportunities in exactly the right places to reach our diverse markets and allow us to continue to sustainably grow our great iconic brands," says Ralphs.

The Spur Corporation win for Connect adds another client to its growing client base, having recently added Astron and Lancewood. The agency concludes that this reinforces its position as the fastest growing independent media agency in the country. Other clients include:
  • Takealot
  • Mr D
  • Hollard
  • RCL Foods, and
  • Lexus.
For more information, visit www.mcsaatchiconnect.co.za.