How Brands Can Harness Food and Beverage Holidays
Just about every day is a national holiday of some sort. You can scroll social media and find various companies celebrating anything from National Hangover Day in January to National Eat A Hoagie Day in September.
Consumer packaged goods can use these holidays to their advantage, especially for marketing purposes. Here are some popular Food and Beverage Holidays and companies that utilize these days throughout the year to gain customers and promote monthly sales.
March
National Peanut Lovers Day
What better company to celebrate National Peanut Lovers Day than Mr. Peanut®? Planters is a Hormel Foods brand that owns the most popular peanuts on shelves today. The company encourages fans to tag Mr. Peanut on social media during this day.
National Pi Day
March 14 is National Pi Day, (and Albert Einsteins birthday) to represent the most popular irrational number. “Number lovers can raise a piece of pie to Pi (π) Day, an international celebration of one of math’s most famous constants: the irrational, never-ending number π.” –According to Exploratorium, various companies take advantage of this holiday. Cici’s Pizza, for example, discounts their rates to an ironic $3.14 per person, whereas Papa John’s will give customers a second large pizza for just $3.14.
Surprisingly, most companies that advertise deals for National Pi Day are pizza companies.
April
National Burrito Day
April 7th is National Burrito Day, and just about any company that serves burritos has deals on this day. From 25% off at Taco John’s to a chance for a free burrito at Chipotle, you’re sure to find a discount.
In terms of packaged goods, this depends on where you buy them. One company may offer frozen burritos at a discounted rate, whereas others simply promote buying their product on April 7 to celebrate.
National Gin and Tonic Day
Bombay Sapphire is a great example of a company that uses these yearly memorial celebrations. For National Gin and Tonic day on April 9, this company will advertise its ready-to-drink cocktail options.
Many other companies that make gin will put it on sale during this time of year, heavily advertising the benefits of taking a load off with a delicious gin and tonic on social media.
May
National Have a Coke Day
Coca-Cola knows a thing or two about how to utilize marketing to make an extra buck. May 8th is National Have a Coke Day, and this leader in consumer packaged goods uses this holiday to discount soda drinkers.
It can range from one store to another, but the company generally gives 50% deals on May 8th.
National I Love Reese’s Day
Over 40,000 fans voted to make May 18th National I Love Reese’s Day. This classic peanut butter and chocolate combination treat is one of the most popular candies across the nation. The company encourages people to enjoy a Reeses in their favorite form on this day. From adding Reese’s Pieces into cookies to snacking on Reese’s Minis during your favorite show.
World Whiskey Day
Later in May, on the 21st, those of age can enjoy World Whiskey Day. Several consumer packaged goods companies promote this holiday. Designer Dram has packaged deals, and unique whiskey gift sets available at a discount on this day.
June
National Frozen Yogurt Day
June 5 is a great day to cool off at the beginning of summer because of National Frozen Yogurt Day. Many brands, such as Menchie’s, Yogurtland, and Orange Leaf, offer deals to consumers. Whether this is a discount on yogurt in-store or a deal on packaged frozen yogurt to take home.
Several of these shops will have signs in-store and across social media to promote the holiday and capitalize off the celebration. Many brands, such as Breyers, will have deals on their frozen yogurt sold in grocery stores nationwide.
International Hydration Day
There is no shortage of products on the market to help us stay hydrated. Whether it’s Gatorade promoting their latest endeavor or Dasani encouraging people to drink water, several brands use social media to capitalize off this day.
June 23 is International Hydration Day. Liquid IV, a company focused solely on hydrating its customers faster and more efficiently than water alone, has discounts available on its social media platforms and through email campaigns.
July
National BBQ Day
On July 4, many Americans celebrate freedom with a backyard cookout, whereas barbeque sauce companies are watching their sales soar. Independence Day is also national barbeque day and brands such as Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs, and Kraft promote using their product on your favorite wings and ribs at your July 4 celebration.
National Tequila Day
While many restaurants, such as Applebee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, have deals on their tequila-based cocktails, certain brands will utilize social media during this holiday to sell more of their spirits.
Casamigos, Jose Cuervo, Patron, and Don Julio post pictures of stunning cocktails throughout the year. They each utilize their marketing department on July 24 in hopes of customers choosing their product for this special day over their competitors.
August
National Fresh Breath Day
August 6 is National Fresh Breath Day, and there is no shortage of consumer packaged goods brands that use this to their advantage. From quirky posts about “needing a mint” from Altoids to “knowing how it feels to chew 5 Gum,” many companies take advantage of this holiday.
In addition to food and beverage companies, healthcare brands such as Colgate and Listerine will use this holiday to post on their socials.
National Lemon Juice Day
On August 29, Realemon gets its chance to shine. This is easily one of the most popular brands for packaged lemon juice. On National Lemon Juice Day, the company shares on social media that their product is real lemon juice made from concentrate, and it is a great way to add a bit of tang to a variety of dishes and drinks.
September
World Coconut Day
The entire globe gets to take part in World Coconut Day and this opens up the gates to even more consumer packaged goods. The main one to utilize this holiday to their advantage is Vita Coco.
From promoting deals on social media to discounts on their clothing, they’re a great example of using what you have to your benefit.
National Cheeseburger Day
Many restaurants take part in National Cheeseburger Day and have no shame in using social media to drive sales. This holiday is fantastic for a variety of consumer packaged goods. From condiment brands such as Kraft to burger buns from Sara Lee, there’s no shortage of examples of how to use national holidays to their advantage on September 18.
October
International Beer and Pizza Day
Like the last holiday, International Beer and Pizza Day allows numerous brands to participate. From packaged Pabst Blue Ribbon to frozen Digiorno’s pizza, it’s easy to use this made-up holiday to boost sales!
National Candy Corn Day
You either love it or hate it; candy corn is yet another packaged good that gets its special day. On October 30, National Candy Corn Day allows companies like Brach’s to promote their candy. Having this day on the eve of Halloween is a convenient way to utilize two holidays at once to make sales using Instagram and YouTube ads.
November
National Raisin Bran Cereal Day
On November 15, people can fill a bowl with one of the country’s most popular cereals. Kellogg may have a myriad of cereals under their name, but this leader in consumer packaged goods simply uses this day to promote the tried and true Raisin Bran.
National Espresso Day
There are a variety of coffee-themed holidays throughout the year. November 23 is National Espresso Day, and various brands participate in this. From Starbucks to Dunkin, both packaged products and in-store beverages are on sale.
Some coffee shops will offer an extra free shot of espresso, whereas brands like Folgers will have classic commercials online to promote their favorite roasts.
December
National Green Bean Casserole Day
Right between two of the biggest holidays of the year, December 3 is National Green Bean Casserole Day. Brands such as French and Campbell’s use the power of social media on this holiday to showcase their product as part of the ingredient list for this savory dish.
National Champagne Day
What holiday is better than New Year’s Eve combined with National Champagne Day? The vast majority of champagne brands, such as Cook’s and Dom Perignon, will use pictures of parties, toasts, and celebrations of the new year to promote their champagne on the days leading to the end of the year.
How Can Your Brand Take Part?
Flagging food and beverage holidays is just the first part of your responsibilities as a brand. Let’s explore how your brand and business can use food and beverage holidays in your marketing plans to mobilize customers and convert leads.
Narrow Down Relevant Days
First things first: narrow down which days apply to you. We’ve listed some of the most popular food and beverage holidays, but there are dozens of days — there’s a good chance more than one of these days will apply to your business. Check out our article for a full list of social media and tentpole holidays in 2024 for more inspiration. Once you narrow down the days your brand wants to embrace, you can move forward to discuss how you might harness the power of food and beverage holidays.
Discounts & Promotions
How will your brand embrace food and beverage holidays? First, determine how important the day is. Does it align perfectly with your business, or only marginally so? For a day that might only be distantly related to your brand, consider using the hashtag to start a conversation on your channels. You might pick up a couple of new followers!
If you come across a day that aligns perfectly with your brand — for example, Chipotle and National Burrito Day — why not go all out? Brands may want to build up excitement for this day and any promotions they offer, so customers remain aware of the timing and can plan ahead. This is especially crucial if reservations or bookings are required. Discounts or promotions on goods and services can help drive sales — especially when combined with national food and beverage days.
Events
Events can be a great way to drive customers for special food and beverage holidays. Events centering around timely discounts can help engage your customers. For example, the discounts change hour-by-hour or at different times of day (such as happy hour, lunch specials, or more).
For example, National Oyster Day may be a great event for your business if you have a seafood restaurant. The chef could host an oyster shucking demonstration, followed up with discounts on oysters and a wine pairing for attendees.
However, when planning these events, remember your budget and social calendar. Don’t overload your social calendar to ensure your discounts or promotions seem special.
If you plan to host an event, make sure to promote it through social media or Facebook events — or even a press release if the event warrants it.
Key Takeaways
Food and beverage holidays can be an easy way for brands to connect with their audiences and find potential customers. In addition, it’s a simple way for businesses to jump in on greater conversations. However, it’s critical to remember not to overload your social calendar and make each discount or promotion seem special. With the right strategy, food and beverage holidays can benefit brands. Contact us today to learn how to utilize social media holidays for your brand! Our team of digital marketing experts is here to help.
