| Type of Entry: | Sectors & Services |
| Category: | Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Issues |
| Title: | HONEY, LET'S LICK THE PROBLEM |
| Advertiser/Client: | THE HAAGEN-DAZS BRAND |
| Product/Service: | FROZEN DESSERT |
| Entrant Company: | KETCHUM San Francisco, USA |
| PR/Advertising Agency: | KETCHUM San Francisco, USA |
| 2nd PR/Advertising Agency: | GOODBY SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS San Francisco, USA |
Creative Credits
| Name |
Company |
Position |
| Ching-Yee Hu |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Brand Manager |
| Crystal Hubbard |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Communications Coordinator |
| Diane McIntyre |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Senior Public Relations Manager |
| Dori Sera Bailey |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Director, Consumer Communications |
| Josh Gellert |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Brand Manager |
| Katty Pien |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Brand Director |
| Kerry Hopkins |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Brand Manager |
| Tonya Iles |
The Haagen-Dazs Brand |
Manager Interactive |
| Allyson Savage |
Ketchum |
Vice President, Group Manager |
| Anna Tiedeman Irwin |
Ketchum |
Account Supervisor |
| Daniel Acker |
Ketchum |
Interactive Specialist |
| Dave Chapman |
Ketchum |
Partner/Director, Ketchum West |
| Erica Saviano |
Ketchum |
Senior Media Specialist |
| Jean Ziliani |
Ketchum |
Vice President, Senior Media Specialist |
| Jen Parsons |
Ketchum |
Media Specialist |
| Jon Bellinger |
Ketchum |
Senior Account Executive/Interactive Strategist |
| Margo Schneider |
Ketchum |
Vice President, Senior Media Specialist |
| Matt Stearns |
Ketchum |
Vice President, Media Strategist |
| Nick Ragone |
Ketchum |
Associate Director |
| Rita Gorenberg |
Ketchum |
Account Executive |
| Sara Kerns |
Ketchum |
Senior Account Executive |
| Andrew Bancroft |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Copywriter |
| Asya Soloian |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Creative Coordinator |
| Brooks Jackson |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Copywriter |
| Christine Chen |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Deputy Director of Communication Strategy |
| Corinne Wolford |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Senior Communication Strategist |
| Cris Logan |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Designer |
| Dharnesh Kaur |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Communication Strategist |
| Erin Fromherz |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Account Manager |
| Hilary Coate |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Senior Broadcast Producer |
| James Horner |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Executive Broadcast Producer |
| Jenny Taich |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Senior Print Producer |
| Jim Elliot |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Group Creative Director |
| John Thorpe |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Director of Brand Strategy, Associate Partner |
| Joshua Spanier |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Director of Communication Strategy |
| Kelsie Van Deman |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Interactive Producer |
| Leslie Barrett |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Group Account Director |
| Margaret Johnson |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Art Director |
| Matt Rivitz |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Copywriter |
| Mike Geiger |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Director of Interactive Production |
| Rebecca Stambanis |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Co-Deputy Head of Brand Strategy |
| Stephanie Charlebois |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Communication Strategist |
| Tanner Shea |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Art Director |
| Tyler Magnusson |
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners |
Art Director |
| Describe the campaign/entry: |
| The Haagen-Dazs brand (HD) was getting stung by stagnating sales and declining consumer interest. To reconnect with its consumers, HD decided to make its first foray into cause marketing. It found a highly relevant cause upon which 40% of its all-natural ingredients depended for their very existence: honey bees. HD would champion the "disappearing honey bees" by raising awareness of and trying to help solve the underreported issue known as Colony Collapse Disorder.
HD loves HB (Honey Bees) was launched with a new flavour dedicated to honey bees, a new logo on all products dependent on the tiny pollenators, a new consumer education website, and print and TV advertising. But the biggest lever was public relations. The PR program added gravitas to the campaign's tone, formed an expert advisory board, directed donations to research and created a way for thousands to plant bee-friendly habitats to help save bees.
The campaign exceeded all expectations. HD saw its highest sales increase in 12 months, garnered 277+ million impressions with $1.5 million in advertising equivalencies, and increased consumer brand advocacy by 13%, reaching 69%, the highest level among 19 different ice cream brands measured. |
| Describe the brief from the client: |
| Business: Increase overall revenue growth by 1% over 2007.
Awareness: Increase branded media impressions by 25% over 2007 levels (total goal of 125 million impressions in year one; increase awareness of the issue and the campaign).
Behaviour: Motivate consumers to plant one million bee-friendly flowers; drive visitors to helpthehoneybees.com; increase brand advocacy over Q1 levels.
Research: No major food brand had adopted the issue. The best target audience would be highly educated, active, affluent urban/suburban parents, 35-54 people who support brands that help them and their children learn and practice sustainable living. |
|
Results:
|
| Business:
April sales spiked 5.2% (largest in one year). Sustained 4% revenue growth (April-July 2008).
Awareness:
277 million earned media impressions with paid advertising equivalency of $1.5 million
1,097+ unique news placements (CNN, AP, NPR, WSJ, Today, NYT, Everyday with Rachael Ray)
93% of media coverage was overwhelmingly favourable; 100% mentioned brand name
12-point increase in PR and "buzz" level over previous quarters
In one year, 8-point increase in consumer awareness of issue; 6-point increase in identification of issue; and highest unaided consumer brand recall among companies working to help bees (Omnibus)
Behaviour:
1.2 million Consumers planted bee-friendly habitats with free seeds
469,798 unique visitors swarmed helpthehoneybees.com (76% above industry average); average of eight page views per visit (82% above average)
Brand advocacy rating jumped 13% between Q1 & Q2 to 69% (highest in category, exceeding rival Ben and Jerry's). |
|
Execution:
|
| Donation: Awarded $250,000 to Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and the University of California, Davis (UCD) for CCD research; and $10,000 to The Pollenator Partnership.
Bee Board: The brand created an advisory board of PSU/UCD scientists and two beekeepers to guide communications and serve as media spokespeople.
Industry outreach: Prior to launch, the brand announced the campaign to beekeepers/scientists at an industry conference, engaging experts who became brand ambassadors.
Media Outreach: As a media multiplier, the team first went to CNNMoney.com, feeding hundreds of Web outlets and driving local broadcast/print.
Million Seeds Challenge: The team challenged supporters to help HD plant one million seeds for bee-friendly habitats, giving enthusiasts "HD loves HB" seed packets.
Ice Cream Social on Capitol Hill: During Pollinator Week, the brand and The Pollinator Partnership hosted a Capitol Hill briefing and ice cream social; the HD Brand Director testified before Congress on behalf of CCD. |
|
The Situation:
|
| The iconic HD brand is distinguished by its long standing commitment to all-natural ingredients. For years, HD had enjoyed 7-10% annual sales growth, but by 2007 it was at risk of becoming just another mature brand with stagnating sales and a host of new competitors. As several competitors were proving, brand advocates were becoming increasingly important in the industry. HD needed a long term business solution, something that would make it relevant again to consumers and re-ignite sales. Cause marketing seemed like a smart answer, but HD had no experience in the area. |
|
The Strategy:
|
| Overall Strategy
1) Give target consumers compelling ways to engage frequently with the brand, educating them about the honey bee plight, HD's concern and the brand's authentic reliance on honey bees
2) Establish HD as the first national consumer brand to support the issue and put the cause on consumers' radar in a major way; strategically use the brand name to raise awareness and underscore the brand's "all natural" brand essence by inextricably linking honey bees with HD.
Media Strategy: To expedite mass awareness, launch the story with a "media multiplier." Expand media targets beyond the usual food and lifestyle outlets to include scientific, agricultural, environmental, gardening and beekeeping trade outlets. |
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