Pear Bureau Northwest (PBN) has a variety of promotions planned for the upcoming Lunar New Year in markets across Asia.
“We have a programme targeting Hong Kong wholesalers where we’ll be giving out special New Year posters depicting the god of fortune with a play on words that turns the Chinese character for ‘pears’ into ‘profits’,” said the company’s international marketing manager, Jeff Correa.
PBN is also making New Year gift boxes available to certain retail chains in Singapore and Vietnam.
Correa noted that mandarin oranges and Red Delicious apples are the traditional fruit gifts during the celebrations.
“US pears typically see a boost in sales after the New Year as consumers are looking for something different other than mandarins and apples,” revealed Correa.
“That’s starting to change somewhat in certain markets such as Taiwan and Vietnam, as both red and green Anjou pears are catching on with consumers more and more each year.”
The Washington Apple Commisions (WAC), meanwhile, will be focusing its Chinese New Year promotional efforts on South East Asian markets, according to marketing director Rebecca Baerveldt-Lyons.
“The WAC is launching social media activities – primarily Facebook-focused – in markets such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, India and Hong Kong,” she told Asiafruit.
“In Malaysia our mascot Crispy will visit key retailers to communicate the high-quality eating experience of Washington apples to families. In Thailand we’ll be conducting several retailer-specific activities, including a gift-carton giveaway.”
