NatureSweet and Barilla pasta freshen up the back-to-school ‘rotini’

The greenhouse grower and pasta producer have joined forces to promote a back-to-school campaign on the Instacart and Kroger grocery delivery platforms this fall.

NatureSweet x Barilla. Photo courtesy NatureSweet
NatureSweet x Barilla. Photo courtesy NatureSweet
(Photo courtesy NatureSweet)

San Antonio-based greenhouse grower NatureSweet has partnered with pasta producer Barilla to share recipe inspiration this school year.

Both companies have created a campaign focusing on delicious, simple meals for back-to-school lunchboxes that are being promoted on two major grocery delivery platforms — Instacart and Kroger, according to a news release.

“NatureSweet continues to embrace digital innovation and a partnership like this truly strengthens our efforts on the digital shelf,” Travis Laveault, NatureSweet’s senior digital marketing manager, said in the release. “We’re excited to partner with Barilla in this effort to bring better lunch ideas to consumers during the back-to-school timeframe.”

The bento box-style recipes are designed to be quick and easy for the on-the-go family as kids head back to school, the release said.

“As a busy mom of two active boys, I know how exhausting it can be to make lunches that my kids are excited to eat,” Jennifer Ping, vice president of marketing for Barilla Americas, said in the release. “We hope that this partnership with NatureSweet inspires our fans with easy, delicious pasta lunch ideas and makes grocery shopping a bit more enjoyable.”

This is the first time the two companies have run a co-branded campaign on Instacart, according to the release.

“We’re proud to continue innovating and helping our CPG brand partners drive awareness on our platform, whether they’re category leaders or emerging brands,” Graham Edward, senior director of brand partnerships at Instacart, said in the release. “This back-to-school season, we’re excited to help consumers discover and be inspired by NatureSweet’s school lunch ideas across the Instacart marketplace.”

The Barilla and NatureSweet campaign will continue until Sept. 2, 2023. Learn more and check out featured recipes:

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