Read on Twitter
Is the food industry using the pandemic as a marketing opportunity? Let’s look at a few examples. https://twitter.com/whitecastle/status/1247599313003347970
Some food companies are using humor to promote their brands because, you know, a deadly pandemic is so funny. https://twitter.com/hostess_snacks/status/1250141789492830211?s=21
Our friends at @Doritos broke new ground with their coronavirus social distancing product placement. https://twitter.com/doritos/status/1244644403014230016?s=21
The coronavirus is so funny you guys. https://twitter.com/burgerking/status/1248399565146820614?s=21
So glad food brands have come to our rescue with cool Zoom backgrounds. Subliminal marketing anyone? https://twitter.com/skittles/status/1245121318691000331?s=21
Pick your background, pick your poison. https://twitter.com/poptartsus/status/1245073983617277953?s=21
Food companies are notorious for exploiting physiological cravings and psychological vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic offers a captive audience. https://twitter.com/oreo/status/1248974080327528448?s=21
Now that the rules are out the door! https://twitter.com/ritzcrackers/status/1247214426765373441?s=21
But perhaps the most insidious examples of food companies brand-building off of the suffering caused by the coronavirus are the ads showcasing frontline workers. This, unfortunately, is an entire genre. https://twitter.com/dunkindonuts/status/1249002046407270406?s=21
Afterall, what better way to show our appreciation for health workers who risk their lives during this deadly pandemic than to buy them donuts https://twitter.com/dunkindonuts/status/1248946464820277250?s=21
Or to have Oreo cookies salute nurses and doctors on World Health Day. https://twitter.com/oreo/status/1247575554108338184?s=21
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the winner (or wiener, if you prefer) of the celebrate-healthcare-workers-fighting COVID-to-promote-your-brand hall of shame https://twitter.com/oscarmayer/status/1245811398392909824?s=21
But the food industry is also taking the opportunity presented by this health emergency to make frontline food workers the stars of its ad campaigns.
This #HereForYou campaign is brought to you by Big Soda’s lobbying shop. https://twitter.com/ameribev/status/1248622621580595203?s=21
This #HereForYou campaign is brought to you by Big Soda’s lobbying shop. https://twitter.com/ameribev/status/1248622621580595203?s=21
This thread by @MsPackyetti nails the ridiculousness of these type of ads—namely, that employees would appreciate a living wage, hazard pay and paid leave more than an ad.... https://twitter.com/mspackyetti/status/1246115001775132672?s=21
And then there are the food companies who advertise their “generosity” in response to this crisis.
While some give money to food banks and other relief organizations, others give....one million pieces of fried chicken
https://twitter.com/kfc/status/1244975778107764736?s=21
While some give money to food banks and other relief organizations, others give....one million pieces of fried chicken
https://twitter.com/kfc/status/1244975778107764736?s=21
To be fair, this donation was likely chicken that KFC had in their inventory at the time of lockdown and would become food waste.
Great that they decided to use it to feed people instead of landfills but be honest about that. And why pat yourselves on the back?
Great that they decided to use it to feed people instead of landfills but be honest about that. And why pat yourselves on the back?
There's a whole campaign by Coke and friends telling us that eating fast food in the middle of a public health emergency is an act of patriotism. #GreatAmericanTakeout https://twitter.com/cocacolaco/status/1250106148092555265?s=21
You know what would be patriotic 
? If McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, and Burger King offered workers like Fran Marion
decent wages, health benefits, and paid leave https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/opinion/mcdonalds-paid-leave-coronavirus.html
? If McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, and Burger King offered workers like Fran Mariondecent wages, health benefits, and paid leave https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/opinion/mcdonalds-paid-leave-coronavirus.html
