New Eat Mor Chikin campaign on hold because of mad-cow

<p>Chick-fil-A is postponing its newest ad campaign featuring cute cows urging people to eat chicken instead of beef to avoid appearing insensitive to concerns about the nations first confirmed case of mad cow disease.</p><p>The Atlanta-based chain had planned to unveil new in-store and direct-mail advertising in January.</p><p>The company also plans to examine existing advertising, including a billboard along Interstate 85 in Atlanta in which a cow with eyes in a vertigo swirl tries to hypnotize motorists to eat chicken.</p><p>Its not the intention of Chick-fil-A to make light or take advantage of any food health crisis, Chick-fil-A spokesman Jerry Johnston said. We are voluntarily withdrawing or delaying our advertising. We dont want people to perceive that we are taking advantage of what is happening in any way.</p><p>Laura Ries, president of Ries & Ries consultants, said holding off the campaign is a smart idea.</p><p>There is no need to throw salt on a wound, so to speak, she said. You always want to lie low in these situations.</p><p>The campaign _ with cows as company mascots urging customers to Eat Mor Chikin _ is in its ninth year. Stores are continuing with the current campaign, which includes its cow superheroes calendar, Johnston said.</p><p>Chick-fil-A will monitor the U.S. investigation to determine what to do about the postponed advertising, he said.</p>