Chiquita bananenflanke

Chiquita has unveiled plans for a major promotional push in Germany designed to tie in with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in South Africa next month.

The campaign, which is due to start at the beginning of June, will see Chiquita deliver specially designed, football-themed point-of-sale materials to all of its key customers around the country as it looks to capitalise on anticipated huge interest in the tournament.

'The fruit experts are delivering the perfect cross to its trading partners in the form of attractive promotional point-of-sale packs designed to be the opening pitch to increase sales,' the company said in a statement.

German football legend Manfred Kaltz, famous for his curled, banana-esque crossfield passes, is set to feature in a consumer competition as part of the campaign, with promotional partners also standing the chance of winning prizes.

Under the tagline 'Achtung, Bananenflanke!' (loosely translated as 'Look out, incoming cross!'), consumers will be invited to win the chance to train with Mr Kaltz and see if they can perfect his trademark cross.