Levi Making Its Short List, Checking It Twice

Levi Strauss & Co.’s ongoing review of its $90-million advertising account should produce a short list of contending agencies later this month, the company said. At least five agencies--including incumbent Foote, Cone & Belding in San Francisco--reportedly are being considered for inclusion on the apparel company’s agency short list. Other reported agencies reportedly being contacted are BBDO Worldwide, TBWA Chiat/Day, DDB Needham Worldwide and Bartle Bogle Hegarty, a London-based agency that handles Levi’s European advertising. “We’re talking to agencies on an informal basis and can’t comment until we have the short list,” Levi’s spokesman Brad Williams said. “The short list should be available in a couple of weeks.” Levi’s, which earlier this month said it would lay off about 6,400 employees and close 11 plants, has been allied with Foote, Cone & Belding for 67 years.