Starr Ranch Growers partners with emoji company for fruit branding

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers is partnering with the German-based emoji company to use the brand icons on the company’s apples, pears, and cherries.

Starting this summer, a deal brokered by the emoji company and its North American licensing agent, Retail Monster, will allow the Wenatchee-based tree fruit marketer to include emoji brand icons on fresh fruit, according to a news release.

For example, the release said emoji icons will be used on packages of top-selling varieties such as gala, Honeycrisp and fuji in an “apple snaq” pouch bag.

“The powerful and expressive emoji brand icons are known by everyone,” Brett Reasor, CEO of Starr Ranch Growers, said in the release. “They encourage real-time engagement and add a personal element to our marketing strategy. We are thrilled to use the official Emoji brand icons on packaging to speak to younger demographics and foster two-way communication.” 

Krista Beckstead, marketing and brand specialist for the company, said in the release that emoji brand icons hike engagement for social media marketers.

Facebook posts that use icons receive 57% more likes and 33% more comments and shares than those without them, and tweets with icons have a 25% higher engagement rate, Beckstead said in the release.

Marco Huesges, CEO and founder of the emoji company, said the company is happy to support Starr Ranch in the work to make healthy eating fun. “This is a great partnership that will reach shoppers across the United States,” he said in the release.

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