Zespri Partnering with McDonald's to Add SunGold Kiwifruit to Mexican Happy Meals
NEW ZEALAND - This month, more than 400 McDonald’s Mexico restaurants will be serving Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit in Happy Meals in a world-first partnership for the New Zealand-based company.
“Mexico is a sophisticated fruit market and consumers have responded really positively to the sweet tropical taste of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit,” Carol Ward, Zespri’s General Manager, said in a press release. “Mexico is a relatively undeveloped market for Zespri; we’re forecasting sales volumes of around 750,000 trays in Mexico this season, up 50 percent from last season.”
Ward also stated that this partnership will result in sales of more than 1 million pieces of kiwifruit.
“McDonald’s in Mexico is searching for suppliers that are governed by and adopt our high standards of hygiene and quality; for us, the fact that we are incorporating products such as kiwifruit into our range of options is synonymous with evolution and our commitment to Mexican society,” said Felix Ramírez, Director of Corporate Communication for McDonald’s Mexico.
Every McDonald’s Mexico Happy Meal will include one Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit and spife, a combination spoon-knife to cut and scoop. Additionally, Zespri will promote the partnership via a SunGold advertisement will play on McTV in McDonald’s stores.
Up to 8,000 of McDonald’s Mexico’s staff members will receive training on Zespri and SunGold.
“This marketing partnership is a great step toward establishing both our brand and gold kiwifruit, which is largely unknown in this region, to families across Mexico,” continued Ward. “This is part of a broader strategy to introduce our new premium product and its powerful health benefits to new markets around the world.”
With more than tens of thousands of Happy Meals sold across Mexico every day, this looks to be a prosperous partnership between Zespri and McDonald’s. Time will tell if more suppliers follow suit.
