Dole Takes on the New 'Normal-ish' with Fruit Bowls Campaign

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – January 8, 2021 – Welcome to the (not so) New Year. With a focus on the new normal, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC is kicking off the next phase of its Fruit Bowls® campaign: Normal-ish. The campaign delivers some sunshine through a tongue-in-cheek look at the re-invented ways we are all getting back to normal. From the office and the gym, to date nights and alone time, families of all shapes and sizes once again turn to fruit as the antidote to help with the normal-ish adjustments.

Building on its Fall Quaran-tensions campaign, the phrase ‘Fruit Bowl’ takes on multiple meanings in the campaign – a nod of agreement, an expression of frustration and a code word for…well, anything. Mom heads to “her office,” dad to “the gym,” and a couple to “date night” all within the normal-ish confines of a semi-quarantined life.

“2020 was a year of unexpected learnings that have allowed us to see our consumers truly adapt and evolve. The second rendition of this work continues to look at real moments: diverse families with diverse realities, finding a way to make it through this normal-ish life as we know it now,” said Rupen Desai, Global CMO for Dole Packaged Foods. “Like the first iteration, these vignettes are meant to celebrate diversity, real life and how we feel. All with an appreciative nod to the fact that, as humans, we are resilient and can best navigate these times together, with a smile.” 

The inspiration for the approach came from the brand’s core values and its commitment to bring “sunshine” to all, especially during these challenging times. Launched in August with Quaran-tensions, the initial campaign included three diverse spots depicting real life quarantine tensions and showcased how Fruit Bowls could bring some much-needed levity to these moments.

And as tensions give way to an adjusted new normal in 2021, Fruit Bowls step in again. The campaign for Dole Fruit Bowls® launches today with three new spots as well as an integrated digital and social media campaign. The extended campaign – which continues despite some negative commentary during its first phase – aims to strike a balance between humor and the real struggles and adjusted norms that all types of families face each day.

Normal-ish was directed and produced by Wild Combination in collaboration with Spark Foundry, High Wide & Handsome and Peppercomm. To see the full details of “The Dole Promise,” visit sunshineforall.com.  

About Dole Packaged Foods, LLC ​

Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, is a world leader in growing, sourcing, distributing, and marketing fruit and healthy snacks. Dole sells a full line of packaged shelf stable fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit, and juices. The company focuses on four pillars of sustainability in all its operations: water management, carbon footprint, soil conservation and waste reduction. For more information, please visit dolesunshine.com.​ 

 About the Dole Promise 

In June 2020 Dole announced The Dole Promise, with its three pillars around nutrition, sustainability and the creation of shared value.

Better for People: Access to sustainable nutrition for 1 billion people by 2025, moving towards zero processed sugar in all Dole Packaged Foods products by 2025.

Better for Planet: Working towards zero fruit loss from Dole farms to markets by 2025, aiming for zero fossil-based plastic packaging by 2025. Working towards net zero carbon emissions in Dole operations by 2030.

Better for all Stakeholders: Dole will continue to positively impact all farmers, communities and people working for Dole – through its commitment to equal opportunity, living wages, and an ever-increasing level of safety, nutrition, and wellbeing. The company also seeks to advance human rights within the direct operations and supply chains by building a culture of transparency and accountability. The company also aims for a 50% increase in the value of its business by 2025.  

Like the first iteration, these vignettes are meant to celebrate diversity, real life and how we feel. All with an appreciative nod to the fact that, as humans, we are resilient and can best navigate these times together, with a smile.

Rupen Desai
Rupen Desai
Global CMO for Dole Packaged Foods