A marketing campaign which puts StarKist’s brand mascot Charlie the Tuna on the campaign trail for the 2016 U.S. presidential race is seeking a running mate for the “alTUNAtive candidate,” the company announced on 19 September.
“Every president needs a vice presidential candidate, and Charlie’s campaign team will begin outreach to some of the nation’s most well-known brand mascots to join his ticket to run for the White House,” explained StarKist in a news release.
“Charlie is in good company as one of America’s most notable brand mascots,” added Andy Mecs, Charlie’s campaign manager and director of marketing and innovation at StarKist. “We’re optimistic that we’ll find the best VP for Charlie – someone that shares Charlie’s values and someone who can help bring great taste back to America.”
An ideal running mate for StarKist’s Charlie is another brand representative that stands for the same values such as great nutrition and the power of a tasty on-the-go meal. A potential complimentary mascot who wishes to join Charlie’s campaign should also be able to appeal to consumers in arenas where Charlie isn’t well-known, mainly on the breakfast front. Candidates for vice president will be shared via social media, with consumers urged to vote of their favorites on Facebook from 17 to 27 October.
Participants that cast a VP vote will be entered to win four years of free StarKist tuna pouches. The official announcement of the VP and the grand prize winner will take place on 28 October, said StarKist.
The marketing campaign aims to bring consumer awareness to eating seafood and healthy meals throughout the day. Materials for the campaign and its social media presence can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/starkist
