The annual "Minions Banana Day" has kicked off. This time, the Day landed for the first time on Anyi Road, Jing'an Kerry Center, a trendy landmark in Shanghai. Dole, the official fruit and vegetable partner of the Minions, have brought their limited-time offering of Minions' beloved super sweet bananas to the event.
Their vibrant pop-up store, featuring an eye-catching display, immediately captivated tourists upon their arrival. Visitors eagerly snapped photos with the larger-than-life Dole Sweetio Banana and the iconic "King of Pineapple." In addition, attendees had the opportunity to choose from a selection of high-quality fresh fruits and partake in the lively "BANANA!!!" carnival organized by Dole.
Dole and the Minions jointly named, the Minions love Dole’s Sweetio bananas
As one of the most well-known IPs in the world, the Minions series is the highest-grossing animation series in the world, with a global box office of more than 3.7 billion US dollars. Everyone knows that the favorite food of the Minions is bananas, and bananas are one of the most well-known star products of Dole. In September 2022, Dole and the Minions collaboratively held an IP authorization ceremony at China's inaugural Minion Banana Market, signaling the beginning of a strategic partnership. Together, Dole and the Minions aim to spread joy and provide exceptional product experiences to more families.
As an international fruit brand with a century-old history and a leading brand in the fruit industry, Dole's banana business can be traced back to 1899. In order to allow Asian consumers to taste fresher bananas, more than 50 years ago, Dole began to sow 176,000 selected giant Cavendish banana seeds on around 2.86 hectares of land in the Philippines, which also became the first banana nursery project in the Philippines. Dole's own banana farm is located in Mindanao, the "hometown of bananas" in the Philippines.
Mindanao has a monsoon tropical rainforest climate, which is very suitable for growing bananas. Dole Sweetio Bananas are grown in highland farms over 500m above sea level. Each banana undergoes an extensive 365-day journey of growth and sugar accumulation, resulting in a tender, delectable, and delightfully sweet Dole Sweetio Banana.
Dole's limited-time pop-up store is open - join the Minions for a super sweet taste
At the scene of "Minions Banana Day", Dole created a pop-up store inspired by the shape of the Minion capsule. The colorful Dole fruit image makes everyone feel like they have come to the orchard with the Minions. The most eye-catching part of the pop-up store is the oversized Sweetio Banana on the top.
Within the pop-up store lies a delightful surprise—a secret window. Guests are encouraged to jot down recent happy moments on a card and ring the adjacent doorbell to summon a "minion." In exchange for their interaction, visitors receive a Dole Sweetio Banana, beloved by the Minions, ensuring the continuation of joy and infusing their day with a delightful mood, courtesy of Dole Sweetio Bananas.
Dole's Little Prince Banana attracts countless fans!
In 2022, Dole introduced its first Minion-themed banana product, Dole's Little Prince Banana, exclusively available through FreshHema. This small and scrumptious banana received widespread acclaim upon its launch.
From May 27th to June 4th, the Minions Banana Day series embarked on a themed roadshow at the FreshHema Xinjiangwan Store in Shanghai, extending the joyous Minion celebration. Attendees had the chance to participate in interactive games, with the opportunity to win the Minions co-branded Dole's Little Prince Banana free of charge. The Minions themselves made special appearances, engaging closely with their adoring fans. Additionally, numerous FreshHema stores nationwide, including locations in Shanghai, Beijing, and Qingdao, showcased adorable Minion-themed displays and offered enticing discounts for online purchases, catering to the diverse consumption needs of fans.
Centennial Dole, with excellent quality, joins hands with the Minions to deliver sunshine and happiness
As a fruit and vegetable brand with a history of 172 years, Dole has a sales network in more than 90 countries around the world, many countries have their own farms, and have very rich experience in planting, processing, cultivation and promotion. Dole entered China in 1998. The star products in China include Sweetio Bananas, Golden Pineapples, non-GMO papayas and avocados, all of which come from Dole Philippines's own farm of more than 40,000 hectares, after the careful cultivation of tens of thousands of fruit farmers.
Dole China operates more than 90 kinds of fruit and vegetable products from 19 countries throughout the year and has established 12 modern processing and distribution centers in many cities in mainland China, equipped with advanced equipment, such as pre-cooling warehouses and computer-controlled processing warehouses. Scientific control measures are employed to provide consumers with top-notch fruits and vegetables.
In June 2022, Dole forged an IP authorization agreement with the Minions, marking the first collaboration between the beloved Minion IP and a renowned banana brand in China. This partnership fulfilled the Minions' quest for their favorite banana. Dole also introduced the Minion series IP fruits, enhancing the consumer experience even further.
About Universal Products and Consumer Experience Business (UP&E)
Universal Products and Consumer Experience Business (UP&E) leverages the rich assets of Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBC Universal TV and streaming media. It focuses on promoting the iconic brands, intellectual property, and image of NBC Universal while enhancing storytelling. UP&E achieves this through innovative physical and digital products, retail and product experiences at global theme parks (including both owned and third-party intellectual property), offline retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and worldwide retailers.
Aligned with a global brand strategy, UP&E encompasses three core business directions: consumer products, games and digital platforms, and theme park products and retail business. UP&E is part of Universal Parks & Resorts, which falls under the umbrella of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA).
For more information, please visit:
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Source: Dole