Valentine’s Day isn’t just for roses & chocolates. Fast food chains are serving more than just fries & burgers this February. From heart-shaped meals to pun-filled social media posts, these brands know how to win our hearts!
Why Do Brands Participate In Holiday Marketing?
Valentine’s Day is all about making a connection, not just through taste but through humor, creativity, and shared experiences. Whether it’s through limited-time offers, romantic meal deals, or silly social media content, fast food chains are learning the art of holiday marketing.
Chic-fil-A, Krispy Kreme, White Castle, and more are all serving up a fun way to combine love & food- and who doesn’t love food?
What Do These Campaigns Look Like?
Chick-fil-A’s Valentine’s Day campaign features heart-shaped chicken nuggets, special treats, and playful social media promotions. They also offer eGift Cards that you can send to someone you “love a waffley lot”. The brand creates a fun, festive experience for couples and families, celebrating love with their signature hospitality.
Krispy Kreme’s Valentine’s Day campaign of “Let Love Bloom” typically features limited-edition heart-shaped doughnuts, often filled with sweet flavors like strawberry or chocolate and dipped in yellow and purple icing. The brand also introduces fun, festive designs and promotional offers, encouraging customers to “share the love” with special deals for couples or gift boxes. Krispy Kreme makes Valentine’s Day a little sweeter for everyone.
White Castle’s Valentine’s Day campaign is famous for offering a unique dine-in experience, where couples can enjoy a cozy dinner at their local White Castle. The campaign typically includes special promotions like heart-shaped sliders, themed décor, and even reservations for a fun and casual Valentine’s celebration. They also include a Love-Kit that you can get shipped directly to your home!
How Are Customers Participating In These Campaigns?
Since 2019, White Castle’s Instagram has been reposting customers’ content they have taken on Valentine’s Day to their own story and uploading it to a story highlight. In 2022, White Castle had the option of purchasing a ‘Love Cube,’ which was a box of sliders delivered to your door on Valentine’s Day.
Customers are encouraged to post their Valentine’s Day meals and experiences on platforms like Instagram and TikTok using branded hashtags. For example, they might share photos of heart-shaped nuggets from Chick-fil-A or a couple’s meal from White Castle.
Fast food chains run fun contests, like TikTok challenges or Instagram photo contests, where customers can enter to win free meals or special Valentine’s Day treats by participating in themed activities, such as creating the best heart-shaped food creation.
Many brands invite customers to submit their own Valentine’s Day-themed content, such as creative photos, videos, or love stories. These are then shared on the brand’s social media or even used in ads
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