Though Popeye’s Chicken has extended its circle of popularity far beyond its New Orleans roots, the fast food chain is still showing the Big Easy some love with its new NOLA Strong campaign.
When customers across the U.S. order the NOLA Strong Meal, they’ll receive a family-sized food order as well as a branded T-shirt and hat, with all proceeds directly benefiting New Orleans families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Popeyes is telling customers they can keep loving “that chicken” while also helping a New Orleans charity that feeds the hungry.https://t.co/9G4CbnyDjn
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 21, 2020
If you’re not hungry, you can still support the cause and get some branded gear by purchasing T-shirts and hats on the NOLA Strong web store.
According to Adweek, sales will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, with Popeyes making separate donations to Feed the Front Line NOLA.
The company even tied it in with a commercial featuring “The Wire” and “Treme” actor (and NOLA native) Wendell Pierce.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHei0upiOYk
“Although we can’t be physically together, the spirit of New Orleans unites us all,” the ad reads.
As we saw with the whole chicken sandwich fiasco, Popeyes is hugely popular. If you tie in a good cause with some local charm (and a famous actor), you hit a promotional bullseye.
It’s also good to see a major, national brand making promotional products front and center in its marketing. It shows that brands can still use promo in creative and effective ways, and potentially make a difference in the process. Let’s hope more of them take Popeyes’ lead.
