Jazz Apples partners with DreamWorks Animation’s new film Spirit Untamed to promote healthy snacking

JAZZ™ apples are joining an epic adventure thanks to an exclusive new partnership with the highly anticipated new DreamWorks Animation film, Spirit Untamed.

The film, which arrives in theaters June 4, 2021, is the next chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise that began with the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and includes an Emmy-winning TV series.  

 Apples are core to the story narrative of Spirit Untamed, which will hopefully encourage children and families to eat more JAZZ™ apples and other healthy produce. With retail partners nationwide this spring, JAZZ™ apples will promote the film with custom package artwork that depicts two of the film’s heroes: Lucky, a headstrong girl, and the wild stallion Spirit, whom she befriends. In the artwork, Lucky rides a galloping Spirit while holding an apple.

The co-branded on-pack and point-of-sale material will highlight the partnership with 2 lb. pouch bags, tote bags, Kwiklok tags and more for use in-store and in e-commerce activations.

“We were thrilled when DreamWorks Animation approached us with this opportunity for JAZZ™ apples,” said Cecilia Flores Paez, T&G Global’s head of marketing, North America. “Apples help forge the bond of friendship between Lucky and Spirit, and we couldn’t have asked for a better, or healthier, message to communicate with families. As revealed in the recent Produce for Better Health Foundation’s ‘State of the Plate’ report, nine out of 10 Americans don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables each day. JAZZ™ apples wants to help turn this around by stirring children’s imagination and promoting JAZZ™ as a delicious and refreshing snack.”

Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation notes, “With most Americans, including young children, eating fruit fewer than one time per day, these types of innovative partnerships make it easy for families to find and select produce. And by offering simple tips to help families have fun with fruit and vegetables in the kitchen together, we can improve consumption and build healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

DreamWorks Animation is happy to lend its support to JAZZ™’s vital effort to increase children’s fresh produce consumption. 

In addition to co-branded packaging and in-store promotions, the partnership will drive shoppers to stores with JAZZ™ apples on their lists, thanks to additional amplification via public relations, social media and a robust digital ad campaign that includes YouTube pre-roll ads. A dedicated website at jazzapplemovie.com will feature a store locator, Spirit Untamed-themed kids’ activities and a signature kid-friendly recipe inspired by the movie: a simple-yet-delicious “Epic Adventure Snack” featuring JAZZ™ apples sliced into horseshoe shapes topped with chocolate hazelnut spread and sprinkles. The promotion is expected to reach hundreds of millions of consumers nationwide.

“The partnership provides JAZZ™ apples with a great opportunity to draw kids back to the apple category and help instill healthy habits that will last a lifetime,” says Flores Paez. “With their naturally small, snackable size and refreshingly tangy-sweet flavor, they are a prefect pick for a kids’ promotion. We are proud that DreamWorks Animation recognizes the value JAZZ™ apples bring to its Spirit fans, and we look forward to an ‘epic adventure’ and successful partnership this spring!”

JAZZ™ apples are marketed by CMI Orchards, Rainier Fruit Co. and Oppy.