50 Outstanding Food PR Campaigns: KFC, Taco Bell & Red Bull

Ronn Torossian
6 min readOct 2, 2024

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Here are 50 notable food PR successes from the food industry in recent years, showcasing various campaigns, launches, and initiatives that effectively engaged audiences and garnered significant media attention:

  1. Chipotle’s “Real Food” Campaign: Chipotle’s campaign focused on its commitment to using real, non-GMO ingredients, which resonated with health-conscious consumers and generated extensive media coverage.
  2. KFC’s “Chicken Sandwich Wars”: KFC’s marketing of its chicken sandwich as part of the competitive “chicken sandwich wars” effectively used humor and competition to drive sales and engagement.
  3. Taco Bell’s “Breakfast Defector” Campaign: Taco Bell’s humorous ad featuring a “breakfast defector” who switches from traditional breakfast foods to Taco Bell’s breakfast menu captured public interest and boosted breakfast sales.
  4. Popeyes’ Viral Chicken Sandwich Launch: Popeyes’ chicken sandwich launch became a viral sensation, generating widespread media coverage and social media buzz, significantly increasing sales and brand awareness.
  5. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Rebranding to Dunkin’: Dunkin’ Donuts’ rebrand to just “Dunkin’” was accompanied by a well-received campaign highlighting its expanded beverage menu, successfully modernizing the brand image.
  6. Starbucks’ “Starbucks Reserve” Launch: The introduction of Starbucks Reserve stores, with their focus on premium, rare coffee experiences, attracted significant media coverage and positioned Starbucks as a premium coffee brand.
  7. Impossible Foods’ “Burger Taste Test”: Impossible Foods’ taste test campaigns showcasing their plant-based burgers in direct comparison with beef burgers created buzz and drove consumer interest.
  8. Beyond Meat’s Partnership with McDonald’s: Beyond Meat’s partnership with McDonald’s for the “McPlant” burger garnered significant media attention and showcased the growing trend of plant-based options.
  9. Ben & Jerry’s “Save Our Swirled” Campaign: Ben & Jerry’s campaign to combat climate change through its “Save Our Swirled” initiative successfully engaged consumers and environmental advocates.
  10. Heinz’s “Mayochup” Sauce Launch: Heinz’s introduction of “Mayochup” (a blend of mayonnaise and ketchup) was a clever marketing move that captured public interest and drove sales.
  11. Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” Campaign: Coca-Cola’s campaign featuring personalized bottles with popular names encouraged consumer interaction and social media sharing, significantly boosting brand engagement.
  12. TGI Fridays’ “Free Appetizer” Promotion: TGI Fridays’ “Free Appetizer” promotion used a social media-driven campaign to attract new customers and increase foot traffic to its restaurants.
  13. Red Bull’s “Stratos” Event: Red Bull’s sponsorship of Felix Baumgartner’s space jump was a high-profile PR success that reinforced the brand’s association with extreme sports and adventure.
  14. Nestlé’s “KitKat Chunky” Redesign: Nestlé’s redesign of KitKat Chunky with a focus on bold flavors and packaging updates was well-received and generated positive media coverage.
  15. Shake Shack’s “ShackBurger” Introduction: Shake Shack’s marketing of its iconic ShackBurger and expansion into new markets attracted significant media attention and consumer interest.
  16. Olive Garden’s “Never Ending Pasta Bowl”: Olive Garden’s promotion of the “Never Ending Pasta Bowl” was a successful campaign that drove sales and generated extensive media coverage.
  17. Perrier’s “Art” Bottles: Perrier’s collaboration with artists to create limited-edition bottles showcased the brand’s commitment to creativity and garnered attention from both art and food media.
  18. Domino’s “Pizza Tracker” App: Domino’s innovative “Pizza Tracker” app was a major PR success, enhancing customer experience and generating positive media coverage for its tech-forward approach.
  19. Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” Launch: Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” restaurants generated significant media buzz and consumer interest, leveraging the chef’s TV fame to attract diners.
  20. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ “Ice Cream for Breakfast”: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ promotion of “Ice Cream for Breakfast” events created a fun, media-friendly campaign that increased brand visibility and customer engagement.
  21. PepsiCo’s “Lays Flavor Innovation”: PepsiCo’s campaign featuring unique Lays chip flavors and consumer voting to select new flavors successfully engaged consumers and created buzz.
  22. Chobani’s “Flip” Yogurt Launch: Chobani’s introduction of its “Flip” yogurt, featuring mix-in ingredients, was well-promoted and received positive media attention for its innovative approach to yogurt.
  23. Whole Foods’ “Prime Day” Deals: Whole Foods’ collaboration with Amazon for exclusive Prime Day deals drove significant traffic to stores and generated media coverage about the partnership.
  24. Pillsbury’s “Doughboy” Anniversary: Pillsbury celebrated the Doughboy’s anniversary with a nostalgic marketing campaign that appealed to consumers’ memories and garnered media attention.
  25. Jamba Juice’s “Smoothie Innovation”: Jamba Juice’s launch of new smoothie flavors and health-focused options was well-received by media and consumers, enhancing its position in the market.
  26. SodaStream’s “Save the Plastic” Campaign: SodaStream’s campaign to reduce plastic waste through its home carbonation systems successfully resonated with environmentally conscious consumers.
  27. Eataly’s “Italian Food Festival”: Eataly’s Italian Food Festival highlighted authentic Italian cuisine and attracted food enthusiasts, generating positive media coverage and foot traffic.
  28. Campbell’s “Soup for the Soul” Initiative: Campbell’s campaign focused on the emotional benefits of soup and featured heartwarming stories, successfully connecting with consumers and media.
  29. Miller Lite’s “Lite Taste, More Fun”: Miller Lite’s marketing campaign highlighting the beer’s taste and fun lifestyle appeal effectively engaged its target audience and increased brand visibility.
  30. Cinnabon’s “National Cinnabon Day”: Cinnabon’s celebration of National Cinnabon Day with special promotions and social media campaigns generated excitement and attracted media coverage.
  31. Starbucks’ “Pumpkin Spice Latte” Return: The seasonal return of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte was highly anticipated, and the accompanying marketing campaign generated significant media and consumer buzz.
  32. Yoplait’s “Yoplait Go Big” Campaign: Yoplait’s campaign focused on its new, larger yogurt packaging and features, driving consumer interest and media coverage.
  33. Krispy Kreme’s “Original Glazed Doughnut” Celebration: Krispy Kreme celebrated special milestones of its Original Glazed Doughnut with promotions and events that attracted media and customer attention.
  34. Chick-fil-A’s “Chicken Sandwich” Contest: Chick-fil-A’s contest inviting customers to submit their own sandwich recipes successfully engaged fans and garnered media coverage.
  35. McDonald’s “McDelivery” Campaign: McDonald’s promotion of its delivery service through convenience-focused ads and partnerships with delivery apps enhanced brand visibility and consumer convenience.
  36. Breyers’ “Ice Cream Innovations”: Breyers’ introduction of new and unique ice cream flavors and limited-edition offerings were promoted through a well-received campaign, creating media buzz.
  37. FreshDirect’s “Farm to Table” Initiative: FreshDirect’s campaign emphasizing its farm-to-table approach and fresh produce delivery was positively received and highlighted its commitment to quality.
  38. Frito-Lay’s “Snackable Stories”: Frito-Lay’s campaign focused on snack-related storytelling and consumer engagement, using social media and influencer partnerships to boost brand awareness.
  39. Ritz-Carlton’s “Culinary Experiences”: Ritz-Carlton’s promotion of exclusive culinary experiences and events at its hotels garnered media attention and attracted food enthusiasts.
  40. Papa John’s “Pizza Perks” Program: Papa John’s introduced a loyalty program with rewards and promotions that were well-publicized and effectively drove customer retention.
  41. Nespresso’s “Sustainability Commitment”: Nespresso’s campaign highlighting its commitment to sustainability through recycling and ethical sourcing resonated with environmentally conscious consumers.
  42. Barilla’s “Pasta Recipes” Campaign: Barilla’s campaign featuring new pasta recipes and cooking tips was promoted through engaging content and social media, successfully driving consumer interest.
  43. Sweetgreen’s “Farm Fresh” Promotion: Sweetgreen’s focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients was highlighted in a successful PR campaign that enhanced its reputation and customer loyalty.
  44. Lindt’s “Chocolate Lovers’ Event”: Lindt’s exclusive chocolate tasting events and promotions attracted media attention and engaged consumers with its premium offerings.
  45. Naked Juice’s “Fresh Starts” Campaign: Naked Juice’s campaign promoting fresh, healthy juices and smoothies was well-executed and received positive media coverage for its focus on health.
  46. Subway’s “Fresh Fit” Initiative: Subway’s marketing of its fresh, healthy sandwich options through a targeted campaign helped position the brand as a healthy fast-food choice.
  47. Oatly’s “Plant-Based Revolution”: Oatly’s campaign promoting its plant-based milk as a sustainable and tasty alternative garnered significant media attention and consumer interest.
  48. Maggie Beer’s “Australian Flavors”: Maggie Beer’s campaign showcasing Australian ingredients and recipes effectively promoted its brand and engaged food enthusiasts.
  49. Kind Snacks’ “Goodness in Every Bar”: Kind Snacks’ campaign highlighting the health benefits and natural ingredients of its bars successfully attracted media coverage and consumer interest.
  50. Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s “Burger Week”: Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s promotion of a special Burger Week event with unique offerings and deals was a PR success, driving traffic and media attention.

These food PR successes demonstrate how food brands have effectively used marketing strategies, creative campaigns, and community engagement to enhance their visibility, connect with consumers, and achieve significant media coverage

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Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Chairman & Founder of 5WPR, one of America’s leading & largest PR Agencies and the Author of the best-selling PR book: "For Immediate Release"