Fruit by the Foot, the snack brand created by General Mills, recently launched a speed-eating challenge on YouTube Live aimed at Gen Z, dubbed 'Fruit by the Foot Fridays.' The virtual tournaments were inspired by a popular meme that shows people unrolling and eating the snack as quickly as possible without using their hands.
The Fruit by the Foot Fridays campaign featured social media personalities Carlos "Famous Los" Sanford and Anthony "Spice" Adams. Contestants were chosen among a group of people who posted their "Fruit by the Foot Fridays" challenge video on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter with the hashtags #FruitbytheFootFridays and #Sweepstakes. The campaign was in partnership with sports and entertainment digital media network, Whistle, and was held live on their YouTube channel.
Kid-Friendly Speed Eating Challenges
Fruit by the Foot Launched a YouTube Live Challenge for Teens
Trend Themes
1. Gen Z Snack Challenges - The rise of viral snack challenges among Gen Z presents an opportunity for snack brands to engage with this demographic through interactive and shareable experiences.
2. Influencer Partnerships - Collaborating with popular social media personalities allows brands to leverage their reach and influence to create buzz and increase brand awareness.
3. Gamified Marketing Campaigns - Using gamification in marketing campaigns, such as virtual tournaments, adds an element of fun and competition, increasing engagement and participation among target audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Snack Food Industry - Snack brands can take advantage of the growing popularity of snack challenges among Gen Z by creating innovative and shareable snack experiences.
2. Digital Media and Entertainment - Collaborating with digital media networks and social media influencers allows brands to tap into the Gen Z audience's online consumption habits and media preferences.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Incorporating gamified elements into marketing campaigns offers a disruptive innovation approach to capturing and retaining audience attention in an increasingly competitive landscape.