• Brand - Milka
• Spot - The Strong Man
• Music Title - All The Fun Of The Fair
• Artist - Philip Kay
• Composer - Kay
• Publisher - Woodwork Music
• Master Rights - Woodwork Music
• Music Supervisor - Woodwork Music
• Ad Agency - Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam
• Creatives - Daniel Schaefer, Szymon Rose
• Film Company - Hobby Films
• Film Director - Vesa Manninen
• Ppst Production - MPC
• Air Date - 5/04/16

Milka had to travel to New Zealand to find the right location for its latest European ad campaign – but it was a British composer Philip Kay who conjured up the magical sounds the makers of Germany’s favourite chocolate bar were looking for.

‘The Strong Man’ and ‘The Biscuit Jar’ are the first of a planned series of storybook-styled spots set in the fictional Alpine village of Lilaberg, home of Milka’s mascot Lila, the lilac-coloured cow.

Manchester-born Kay, who won awards in 2013 for his score to The Guardian’s harrowing 'Three Little Pigs' commercial, was invited onto the project by Daniel Schaefer and Szymon Rose at Milka’s agency Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam.

“They collaborated with Phil on the epic Lynx/Axe 'War And Peace' film when they were at BBH and know how much he loves working with cinematic ads and particularly telling stories with his music,” says Andy Oskwarek at Woodwork Music, which represents Kay for film and TV.

“Everybody agreed that the vintage Milka mnemonic should be loosely incorporated into each composition to tie the campaign together,” Oskwarek continues.

“Phil’s task was to build on that to create a musical world of charm and childhood wonder without sounding saccharine.”