"Shrek is a clever comedy that will especially appeal to our Big Kids target market as it celebrates two themes that are synonymous with our Big Kids brand essence: individuality and irreverence. We can fully integrate our promotional, food and brand marketing messages with this movie tie-in,'' said Richard Taylor, vice president of marketing for Burger King Corporation.
The green-colored food products that will continue to be offered include Heinz® EZ Squirt(TM) Blastin' Green, Gooey Green Apple Ooze apple-flavored dipping sauce and frozen Green Minute Maid® Cherry treats. Burger King Corporation sold 25% more Gooey Green Apple Ooze than initially projected in the first two weeks of the Choose the Ooze promotion. More than 100 million Heinz® EZ Squirt(TM) Blastin' Green packets were distributed to customers, and restaurants sales volume of the green version of frozen Minute Maid® Cherry treats has tripled compared to the original red.
Different Shrek Candy Caddies will be introduced weekly throughout the promotion, each featuring a character from the movie. The design features a clip-on attachment and a re-fillable caddy area for candy. A pack of Smarties® candy is included with every toy. The candy and the Caddies are packaged separately so parents can monitor their children's candy consumption.
"A fun, character-inspired toy, along with a bonus treat like candy is a proven quick-service restaurant traffic driver and frequency builder,'' said Brian Gies, director of youth and family marketing for Burger King Corporation. "Smarties® candy is a strategic fit for this promotion because of its high awareness and likeability among parents and kids alike.''
The Burger King® Shrek promotion will be supported with in-restaurant merchandising, web-based marketing and national kid-directed television advertising beginning May 6, 2001. The thirty-second spots were created by Campbell Mithun, Burger King Corporation's kids advertising agency of record.
About the Film
Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona) and John Lithgow (Lord Farquaad) head the voice cast of the irreverent comedy, Shrek, from the computer animation wizards at PDI/DreamWorks (Antz). The film is based on the children's book by William Steig.
Once upon a time in a far away swamp there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek, whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairytale characters. There are blind mice in his food, a big, bad wolf in his bed, three little homeless pigs and more, all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad.
Determined to save their home—not to mention his own—Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona to be Farquaad's bride. Accompanying him on his mission is a wisecracking Donkey who will do anything for Shrek...except shut up. Rescuing the Princess from a fire-breathing dragon may prove the least of their problems when the deep, dark secret she has been keeping is revealed.
