Ad Campaigns doing the Local Washing

Last year it was Green Washing, this year it is Local Washing. Yes, we now have companies embarking on ad campaigns trying to sell us on being local, when they are anything but local.

For instance, take Hellmans Mayonaise which is a U.S.-based subsidiary of European processed-food behemoth Unilever, has seen fit to subject Canada to an eat-local campaign, when they are definitely NOT local.







Then there is 15th Ave Coffee and Tea, which is really Starbucks in disguise. There door signage says they were "Inspired by Starbucks"...they certainly were, and Starbucks originates from Seattle...which is only local if you live there.


And last but not least, here is Citgo with its new billboards from the petroleum company owned by Hugo Chavez's Venezuelan government makes sense only if the rather undemocratic president lives around the corner from you. Which he doesn't.