More than a bit on the Side: potatoes get marketing boost in the United Kingdom

With a major new campaign to promote fresh potatoes across Britain and Ireland about to break, AHDB Potatoes and Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) are calling on industry to get behind it and help change the way consumers think about potatoes.

The first burst of joint venture promotional activity, secured with EU co-funding, will appear from 5 October. Aimed primarily at younger consumers, in particular 25-34 year old females, the campaign will position potatoes as a relevant and convenient food which is healthy, tasty and versatile.

Fun and impactful advertising will run in high profile lifestyle magazines (Now Magazine, Closer and Heat) and on digital channels (MailOnline), using a cheeky potato character and a hero dish to show that potatoes are ‘more than a bit on the side’. This message will be further supported by extensive social media activity, blogger and vlogger partnerships, recipe development and a nationwide PR campaign.

Nick White, head of marketing and corporate affairs for AHDB Potatoes:
 

“We really need to challenge consumer perceptions of fresh potatoes – particularly amongst younger age groups – in order to combat declining sales and consumption.”

“We have put together a highly visible programme which will engage with a core audience of young females, who are the most infrequent purchasers of potatoes. It includes a mix of traditional tactics such as advertising and PR combined with great social media and digital content. In addition, we’re building partnerships with influential people and other advocates that are active in health, cookery and fitness. This integrated campaign will ensure we reach consumers at every opportunity; instilling positive shopping and eating habits that will benefit the industry both now and in the long-term.”

To maximise the campaign’s impact during October, AHDB Potatoes is encouraging the industry to step-up activity to promote potatoes.
 Nick continues:
 

“Although this will be a high profile campaign, it will have even greater impact if growers, packers, retailers and distributors get behind it. To help industry do that, we will have free promotional tools available as part of our ‘One Voice’ initiative, including themed artwork, a host of new quick-cook recipes (20-30 minutes), key nutritional messages and a YouTube video of our potato character, all of which can be shared across various platforms. Full details and access to the material can be found on our website: www.potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/onevoice.

“With four in 10 shoppers making the decision to purchase potatoes at the fixture, it is important that we offer them the guidance and inspiration they are looking for. We are therefore urging packers and retailers to include more varietal and nutritional information on-pack as well as recipe imagery and even quick-cook recipe ideas in-store to coincide with our campaign.

“Together, we can really make a difference and help consumers re-connect with the category, building their enthusiasm and propensity to make a purchase.”

Nick will be discussing this new campaign at his BP2015 seminar; ‘Opportunities for growth for the potato sector’ on 12 November in Harrogate.

The full seminar programme and registrations are now live at: www.BP2015.co.uk