Welch's, the world's leading seller of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, shines a light on a frequently ignored shopper in America and it's not who you'd expect. Launching today, the marketing campaign "Tough as Grapes" will focus on a new audience of Gen X men with a tough and gritty look at how Welch's Grape Juice is made with the world's toughest antioxidants.
This new brand strategy is backed by one of the largest pieces of research on Gen X males where Welch's uncovered:
Welch’s new marketing campaign, “Tough as Grapes,” will focus on a new audience of Gen X men with a tough and gritty look at how Welch’s Grape Juice is made with the world’s toughest antioxidants.
- 59% of Gen X men report they are the primary grocery shopper
- 73% of Gen X men drink juice with breakfast
- 60% of Gen X men like the flavor grape
Men are already drinking more juice than women, but they are also more open to the nutritional benefits that juice offers and aware that there is room for improvement in their health.
"The juice category and shopping behaviors are changing, and we knew it was time to disrupt the category by making a bold move to reinvigorate the juice aisle," said Lesya Lysyj, Welch's President, U.S. "After comprehensive research, we discovered that the market potential is with Gen X men, a demographic that loves juice and has emerged as a primary grocery shopper. The 'Tough as Grapes' campaign solidifies our commitment to the modern grocery shopper, while championing the tough antioxidants in our Concord grapes."
There have been over 75 clinical studies done with the Concord grape over the last decade and these studies show how Concord grape juice can help support a healthy heart, help maintain a healthy immune system, improve exercise performance and positively impact mood. Welch's crushes the whole Concord grape – skin, seeds and all – to produce a 100% juice that is packed with antioxidants – more antioxidants than found in acai – and research shows that Concord grape juice contains the benefits that Gen X men find compelling as they start to think more seriously about their health.
What most people don't know is that Welch's is a co-op and 100% of profits go back to the 800 family farmers. These farmers work year-round in some of the harshest weather conditions in the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes and Yakima Valley regions to grow the grapes that go into Welch's juice. The farmers are tough, the grapes are tough and the process for making the juice is tough, but it's really the farmers who ultimately inspired this new campaign that Welch's has seen resonate well with both men and women in testing.
"We are turning a category typically packed with sunshine and smiles on its head to show consumers how grape juice is really made," said Gerry Graf, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Barton F. Graf. "The machines Welch's workers use are actually called Pulverizers and Crushers. The grapes are harvested throughout the night during harvest season. The farmers have to prune vines in the snow through the coldest winter months. The Concord grape is raised in the toughest conditions, but it's sweet – a lot like generation X men. They have a tough exterior and were raised by hard working parents. They pride themselves on persistence and effort. They are tough people and Welch's grape juice can help them to stay tough."
The "Tough as Grapes" campaign, developed by creative agency Barton F. Graf, is the first step to bring Welch's new brand strategy to life and will appear across TV, digital and radio over the next 12 months.
About Welch's
Welch's, the world's leading seller of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, is a co-op of more than 800 family farmers located across America and in Ontario, Canada, with 100% of company profits going back to the farmers. The Concord grapes used in Welch's juices and other grape-based products are packed with nutrients. Welch's is committed to research and development that will meet the growing demand for products that address consumers' health and nutrition needs. Welch's products are sold throughout the United States and in approximately 40 countries around the globe. Welch's is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veterans.
Editor's Insight: It's always beneficial to piggyback marketing efforts off of major brands. Welch's presents an interesting notion that may work in favor of operators who offer Welch's single serve grape juices.
