Stop, look, snack
Oreo is giving Kroger shoppers a reason to look down before they look around, transforming ordinary crosswalks into cookie-themed catwalks. With stripes reimagined as stacks of Oreos and cheerful characters munching away on the pavement, the display showcases the brand’s fun-loving spirit. A quick scan of the QR code reveals a special in-store offer, blending charm with savings. At a time when consumers are tightening their wallets, Oreo is banking on a mix of street-level creativity and sweet deals to stay top of mind and shopping carts.
Not in this economy
Maxwell House is handing over its “House” for an “Apartment” creatively nodding to today’s housing squeeze while keeping the coffee coming. To celebrate the switch, it’s launching a year’s supply of “Maxwell Apartment” cans on Amazon for just $40, a bargain that could save coffee fans up to $1,000 compared to their daily café habits. The campaign debuts on National Coffee Day with tongue-in-cheek ads poking fun at the old name (“A house? In this market?”). By embracing budget-friendly vibes with a wink, Maxwell is showing that while owning a home might be a stretch, enjoying great coffee doesn’t have to be.
A side of big fail
Cracker Barrel’s rebrand is getting fried harder than its hashbrowns, and critics say it’s a $100 million flop. Creative director Jeff Rifkin didn’t sugarcoat it: the old logo was “ugly, but it worked” because it felt true to the brand’s roots. The new look? Too polished and totally missing the gravy. By scrubbing away the quirks and charm, Cracker Barrel left its loyal fans feeling like they’ve been served a microwaved version of something once homemade. Here at team Peppercomm, we know a brand refresh better than we know ourselves sometimes – and we couldn’t agree more with Rifkin’s warning to marketers: Don’t butter up the masses at the expense of your flavor. Because when you lose your brand’s soul, you’re just serving up empty calories.
Pepper Pick
We survive and thrive off of caffeine, which is why these National Coffee Day deals seriously have us buzzin’.
