July has been yet another fantastic month for Hatch, celebrating Great British Pea Week, executing global announcements for RLWC2021, and even a visit from Chancellor of the Exchequer to Yorkshire’s very own Wensleydale Creamery.
Another WFH month for everyone, aptly encapsulated by Apple’s latest campaign ‘The whole working-from-home thing’. I think we can all appreciate the juggle, inconvenience yet humour of the current situation we find ourselves in.
For some Hatchlings there’s been an exciting phased return to the beloved Hatch HQ – socially distanced, of course. Nerves were high in trepidation as Hatchlings reunited, feeling like it was the first day of big school, rucksacks, lunchboxes and stationary were packed. It’s good to be back!
Now to take a look at some PR highlights this month…
Need a change of scene?
If some of you are finding WFH life unbearable now, it’s time to book your flights and relocate to Barbados. The Island’s government has announced that it is possible to “work-from-Barbados”.
Birds Eye welcomes a new Skipper aboard
Birds Eye was on the lookout for a new skipper this month, running a competition to find the UK’s savviest shoppers, to ultimately win the opportunity to feature as the brand’s iconic captain.
In a bid to promote the benefits of frozen food Bird’s Eye partnered with kings of the frozen aisle Iceland. At a time where people are opting to eat in more and cooking at home, their collaborative research found that more than £118m of food is wasted every week in the UK.
Celebrating the nations ‘real-life household heroes’, the public were encouraged to share their freezer hacks, grocery budgeting and waste-saving tips. Charlotte Carter-Dunn, is the new temporary Birds Eye mascot, the first time in history that anyone other than Captain Birds Eye himself has faced the brand.
Iceland’s “Looks like you need to let it out”
Moving onto Iceland – but not the frozen foods, it’s Promote Iceland’s latest campaign. Inspired by scream therapy, the ad showcases when lockdown gets too much, and we just want to let out an almighty scream.
Individuals are transported to the great outdoors where lockdown frustrations can be let out in peace. People from around the world are encouraged to let it out by submitting their screams, shouts and yells to seven locations across Iceland – all to promote Iceland’s touristic value, natural beauty and peaceful landscapes.
Screams are recorded through the Promote Iceland website and let loose into the country’s vast landscapes via giant speakers. Once replayed, each individual receives a video of their scream being played out. Anything you need to get off your chest?
Paddy Power brings a whole new meaning to ‘stay in your bubble’
Paddy Power never misses the opportunity to poke fun, and this time they’ve teamed up with Peter Crouch to create the ‘The world’s most COVID-compliant football party’, encouraging football fans to celebrate responsibly.
In response to widespread criticism of fans’ celebrations in early July, which ignored distancing guidelines Paddy Power has come to the rescue. With the Premier League season coming to an end and the race for Championship promotion on, Paddy Power revealed its simple guide to throwing a responsible celebratory party.
Before you start planning your bash, it’s worth noting that that each attendee requires a fully enclosed ‘human hamster ball’ sprayed from top to bottom with disinfectant by individuals wearing hazmat suits, and drinks are only to be consumed within the confines of the giant, oxygen-filled bubbles.
The best of the rest…
Coca-Cola takes a poetic approach, envisioning a ‘better normal’, following its UK advertising spend pull in April. Employing George The Poet to anticipate and envision a post-pandemic world, the brand’s ‘Open Like Never Before’ campaign features an emotive manifesto poem. Narrated by George The Poet himself, the advert encourages people to explore the wealth of new opportunities arising and appreciate the small things in life, that have often been taken for granted.
Running parallel, Coca Cola is also launching a ‘sustained programme’ of grassroots initiatives to support hotels, cafes and restaurants severely impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Another global giant returns to the scene, its return of the ‘Mac for McDonald’s, heralding the long awaited return to the high street. Following mass store closures throughout the coronavirus pandemic, McDonald’s returns to its advertising best, with ‘Welcome back’. The campaign celebrates how people enjoy the fast-food chain’s meals in different ways, from removing gherkins to dunking fries in milkshakes.
Ice-cream brand Häagen-Dazs is back again, following last month’s partnerships with Goodwood Motor Circuit’s drive-in experiential concept, the brand has now been announced as sponsor Paris’ floating cinema.
With the Bassin de la Villette lake as backdrop, guests are invited to enjoy a screening of Le Grand Bain, whilst aboard a small boat. Seating between four and six people, the fleet of 38 boats will certainly offer guests a night to remember. Paris anyone?
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