You Are What You Eat (And Drink)
IMAGE CREDIT: Kellogg’s Store
Fans love to show off their love for their favorite brands. Read on to see some of the latest merch drops, from milk to whiskey to granola and more.
IMAGE CREDIT: Organic Valley
1. Organic Valley Milk & More Merch
The farmer-owned cooperative Organic Valley launched a line of branded merchandise to help customers who “Give a Cluck” to support its member farmers. “We wanted to create a site where people could literally wear their support on their sleeve,” said Organic Valley chief brand officer Jaclyn Cardin in a press release.
The collection comprises 13 items, including T-shirts, hats, stickers and a grocery tote bag – all of which are organic or recyclable and shipped in Earth-friendly packaging, in line with the brand’s commitment to sustainability. The farm-themed graphics include slogans like “Dream Big Farm Small” and “I went organic before it was cool,” as well as chickens, cows and the company’s red barn logo.
2. Jameson x Dickies Workwear Collection
IMAGE CREDIT: Midleton Distillery Collection
The Irish distiller of Jameson whiskey partnered with American workwear brand Dickies for Crafted Together, a clothing and accessory line intended to be “ a celebration of the real creator and maker communities who are inspired by their dedication to craft.” The rugged collection includes tees, jackets, overalls, beanies, ball caps and more.
T-shirts feature chest and back graphics that celebrate Dickies’ Texas roots and Jameson’s barrelman mascot. The Eisenhower jackets feature an exclusive plaid print lining in Jameson’s signature colors, and the flannel shirt in the same pattern – both equipped with a hidden stash pocket designed to hold a Jameson flask – sold out within weeks.
3. Kellogg’s Bear Naked Granola Snack Belt
IMAGE CREDIT: Kellogg’s Store
Perhaps you’ve heard of barefoot hiking – but naked hiking? To mark National Nude Day (July 14), the Kellogg’s Store released a Bear Naked Granola Snack Belt in a kit complete with nylon belt, two bags of granola and a burlap bag for “shielding your naughty bits with some tasty bits” (i.e., stashing the snacks). Sales of the limited-edition kit are limited to one per customer, but perhaps not surprisingly, this one’s still available as of press time.
The kit is part of Bear Naked’s partnership with Outside magazine’s Gaia GPS app. The #HikeBearNaked challenge invites hikers to rate trails online for things like crowds, shade, poison oak, bugs, etc. to create an unofficial nude-friendly trail system.
4. Mustard-Flavored Skittles
IMAGE CREDIT: McCormick & Co.
Perhaps the most out-there edible promo stunt of the summer was the introduction of mustard-flavored Skittles, an unholy alliance between parent companies McCormick & Co. and Mars Inc., for National Mustard Day on August 5. It’s not the first time McCormick has made desserts with its French’s mustard, but it might be the most enduring in terms of engagement. Endia Fontanez, a writer for the Arizona Republic, requested a sample and wrote an entire column about the experience.
Fun-size bags of the curiously condiment-flavored candy were available free from the French’s website while supplies lasted – and they promptly ran out – but several are now posted on eBay, along with related campaign swag, starting around $50. Those additional promo items, including bucket hats, belt bags, pool floats and more, were handed out from a decked-out party bus that made pop-up stops in Atlanta, Washington and New York.
View this post on Instagram
5. Super Mario x Oreo Cookies
IMAGE CREDIT: Mondelez International
Collect cookies! Save the kingdom! For a limited time, Super Mario fans could power up with official Super Mario Oreo cookies, sold at Walmart and Target. Each package contains a random assortment of 16 designs featuring Mario, Luigi and an assortment of enemies and power-ups – but not Princess Peach, of course.
That’s where the cookie campaign gets interactive: To stop Bowser – who, according to one TikToker, is the hardest Mario Oreo to come by – from taking over Peach’s castle, Oreo challenged fans to balance a Bowser cookie on the edge of a glass of milk and then stack hero cookies on top until he is defeated (i.e., falls into the glass). TikTok and other social media platforms were quickly awash in #SuperMarioOREO posts and videos, with over 23 million views on TikTok alone.