Chiquita Enters Donkey Kong Country
Chiquita Brands International Inc. has teamed up with Nintendo of America on a cross-promotion of Chiquita Bananas and the new Donkey Kong Country Returns video game exclusively for the Wii system. For the duration of the promotion, special secondary Donkey Kong promotion stickers on millions of Chiquita bananas across North America will pique consumer interest.
“This new partnership links the Chiquita brand with video game icon Donkey Kong, whose love of bananas has been keeping players entertained for 30 years,” said Craig Stephen, VP and general manager, North American bananas at Cincinnati-based Chiquita. “Our new marketing campaign and consumer contest is the latest effort by Chiquita to further energize the banana category for our retailers and increase banana consumption. Linking a beloved video game character with iconic banana stickers and a consumer dance contest is the perfect recipe for fun.”
As part of the integrated retail and digital marketing campaign, Chiquita is inviting shoppers to trip the light fantastic in the “Show Chiquita Your Donkey Kong Dance” contest, which runs through Feb. 28. Participants upload up to three photos of themselves performing their own version of the Donkey Kong dance for a shot at one of 31 prizes, among them a Wii system, the Donkey Kong Country Returns video game, and a grand-prize trip to Cancun, Mexico to view the ruins of Chichen Itza.
Consumers can also help choose the contest finalists by voting for their favorite entry at Chiquita’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/Chiquita) between March 1 and March 13. Winners will be revealed by the brand on April 4.
Combining e new features and dynamic motion controls with classic elements from the original Donkey Kong Country games for Super NES, Donkey Kong Country Returns also marks the first time in the series that friends can play together in a cooperative two-player mode.