April 3, 2022

"Last year, Tropicana introduced a marketing campaign called 'Take a Mimoment,' which showcased hidden mini-fridges around the house where parents could sneak a mimosa made with Tropicana juice."

Sobriety advocates quickly called the brand on it — after all, hiding drinks generally signals a drinking problem. Tropicana apologized, and celebrities including Molly Sims and Gabrielle Union took down their Instagram posts promoting the Tropicana mimosa. But it seems that we are still struggling with drinking..."

From "Women, Do We Need an Intervention?" by Ericka Andersen (NYT).

Ugh! Can you imagine thinking it's a good move to pass along that Tropicana promotion? It's easier to get that some "celebrities" were dumb than it is to understand how Tropicana saw fit to portray hiding liquor around the house as cute.

You can see the Tropicana promotion here, discussed at AdAge:

“Overwhelmingly, parents noted that they sometimes just need a moment for themselves—and actively seek out creative ways to find these moments around the house. We saw #TakeAMimoment as an opportunity to engage parents in a fun—and real—way,” said Anup Shah, vice president and chief marketing officer Juice Brands, PepsiCo Beverages North America in a statement. “We can’t be our best for our families unless we as parents take time for ourselves. Tropicana recognizes that it’s important to balance self-care with caring for others, especially in times like these. As a father of three daughters, I get it.”

Self-care = drinking! You'll be better for your family if you take time to drink! He was not kidding. 

48 comments:

Beasts of England said...

I could go for a Mimosa right about now. Maybe there’s one hidden somewhere…

gilbar said...

Remember that one Hillarious Commercial ??
The one where parents kept minifridges full of heroin syringes, so they could take a quick poke? hahah!

Remember, when the ad exec said:
“We can’t be our best for our families unless we as parents take time for ourselves. Opiates® recognizes that it’s important to balance self-care with caring for others

It's Hilarious when parents admit that they are addicts! hahah

Meade said...

InTOXICated femininity

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

"...celebrities including Molly Sims and Gabrielle Union..."

Who?

tcrosse said...

It's not just for breakfast anymore.

jim5301 said...

Seems sort of funny to me, but I understand we are living in the era of that's not funny.

Wilbur said...

From Crain's Chicago Business:
"Anup Shah leads strategic positioning and marketing communication for a $2.5 billion portfolio of 15 brands, including Tropicana, Naked Juice, Izze, Dole, KeVita and Frutly. Shah and his team set out to better understand how the pandemic shifted consumer attitudes toward juice. A proprietary study served as the foundation for the division’s 2021 strategy, spurring growth across the portfolio with the launch of Frutly, a hydrating juice water for teens and KeVita’s jump into prebiotic shots. Under Shah’s leadership, year-to-date net revenue is up 5.5% from year-earlier levels. He led his team through racial equality-focused town halls and diversity and inclusion initiatives, part of PepsiCo’s racial equality commitment. Shah joined PepsiCo last year from Miller Coors Beverage, where he was global vice president for Miller brands."

Interested Bystander said...

Man, how does one become so out of touch with what's normal? Id be willing to bet Anup's parents didn't day drink mimosas or anything else for that matter.

David53 said...

Jeremy’s razor commercial. Best new commercial in a decade. 12 million views in 12 days. And that’s not a memosa he’s drinking.

David53 said...

Jeremy’s razor commercial. Best new commercial in a decade. 12 million views in 12 days. And that’s not a memosa he’s drinking.

David53 said...

Jeremy’s razor commercial. Best new commercial in a decade. 12 million views in 12 days. And that’s not a memosa he’s drinking.

Achilles said...

The problem is that women are overly indulged by corporate forces because they get to spend all of the money.

Additionally women are much more gullible and susceptible to this sort of corporate marketing. Money chases results.

Seeking safety and comfort is a primary drive for women as far as procreation go. This leads to some really awful marketing and product trends.

Notice how marketing targeting men goes after their weak spot which is scantily clad women.

Narayanan said...

?unless Tropicana markets all ingredients needed for concoction = MIMOSA?

I would call this ad-budget fraud

Wince said...

Is this ad promoting safety or deception?

Do you really think the point of this ad was to impart that people should hide bottles of champagne and orange juice in (unrefrigerated?) floor-level unlocked cabinets as an illogical child safety measure to accommodate an infrequent adult guilty pleasure?

Or is this ad is about deception? Promoting the idea that maybe you can hide your drinking from everyone simply by pouring orange juice in s glass of vodka?

Bob Boyd said...

"Kids are different today," I hear every mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
It's not like she gets stinkin', but she's definitely drinkin'
She goes running for the shelter of her mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day

Meade said...

Awww sing it to me, honey!

Meade said...

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands

Sing it

Meade said...

(Also known as the Trump walk on)

Mr Wibble said...

A better ad would have been to have the juice and champagne in the fridge, and just called it "Mommy's little helper."

Bob Boyd said...

You can't always drink what you want
but if you hide some you find
You get what you need

Meade said...

Pretty sure Trump dedicated that song to his beloved opponent in the 2016 election a total of 3 people predicted he would win. Before the empire struck back.

gilbar said...

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...
"...celebrities including Molly Sims and Gabrielle Union..."
Who?

I wondered too, so i asked wikipedia and found that Gabrielle Union has written two memoirs, entitled We're Going to Need More Wine (2017) and You Got Anything Stronger? (2021)

So, she's (apparently) a self professed Alcoholic Drug Addict; who has been in a Grand total of NOTHING I'D EVER HEARD OF (in which she co-stared with Molly Sims)

iowan2 said...

I suppose its a feminism thing.
Guys have always had their, studies, garage, shop, mancave, golf course,ice fishing, to hide their booze.

Scott Patton said...

The NSA might have something to add to this conversation.
That is, the National Stuttering Association.

Darkisland said...

Sounds like as much an ad for mini-fridges as OJ.

Won't someone please think of the environment?

All those coal fired refrigerators spewing carbon dioxide (not carbon) and killing the planet.

ohhh.... the humanity!

Everclear should run a counter ad.

"Save the planet. Stash our convenient pint bottles wherever you think you might need a little nip.

And remember, Everclear leaves you breathless. It will be our little secret. People will just think you are stupid, not drunk."

John LGBTQBNY Henry

Oh Yea said...

At the neighborhood pool the mother's show up with bags of snacks and drinks for everyone, including a container with "Mommy Juice" that is only for the adults.

Temujin said...

For years I've watched ads that I see or read, and movies or shows that make it to prime time and think: There is a team led by a person somewhere -adults all- who looked at this material and then said, "That's it! Let's move on it."

Someone comes up with this crap. But worse, someone higher paid looks it over and thinks it's a good idea.

So many people in so many positions are just plain bad at their jobs. Incompetent. Perhaps not very intelligent. Maybe they got into those positions by being a good golfer. Or by having sex with the right person at the right time. Or by just managing to not get noticed and therefore, fired, over a number of years until the time comes when they're 'it'. Or maybe you just maneuver a few votes in a few states, here or there. Either way, a bad Tropicana ad is one thing. A comatose President backed up by in idiot Veep surrounded by a cabinet filled with people you would not hire to manage a shoe store is an entirely larger issue.

If I think about it I feel the need for multiple mimosas.

Narayanan said...

why so much clown-downing for Gabrielle ?
= sort of military brat; responsible and paid off student loans; sane child actor!

After high school, Gabrielle attended college at University of Nebraska, where she played on the soccer team; and then later transferred to Cuesta College. Eventually, she ended up at UCLA. On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eyeing the help. Upon the completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Gabby thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed without any headshots, on Saved by the Bell (1989).

rhhardin said...

WC Fields said a woman drove him to drink and he's grateful to her for it.

Lurker21 said...

Don't all parents "hide" their liquor from kids in one way or another?

Having an actual well-stocked bar on display in the house is asking for trouble.

If the kids are hiding their own drinks that's when you have to worry.

And was this product even a good idea to begin with? Won't most people prefer liquor that doesn't have to be refrigerated?

stunned said...

My proud moment was when my mom allowed me a sip of champagne from her glass at age 12.

Americans - alcohol is a toxic substance, it's high in calories, cancer component, hiding a mini fridge in the laundry room, using it to "relax" and escape mental problems. But they are very friendly!

French - 🧐

Iman said...

Wastin’ away again in sad mimosaville

Jake said...

I liked the ads.

mikee said...

Outrage, from absolutely real to completely imaginary, is a standard method of attracting attention on social media. Tropicana played the outrage machine to obtain social media based free advertising of its brand, and all it had to do to go from social media outrage against the ad (not the fruit juices, just the ad) to social media promotion of its fruit juices was pull the paid ad that started all the free advertising.

in other words, Tropicana stopped paying for regular advertising and is now getting free social media advertising, which is no longer outraged about an ad, but is happy the juice has returned to being a wonderful product we all should imbibe.

Well played, you juicy SOBs.

lonejustice said...

Ahh you've gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you're gonna have to get used to it

n.n said...

Smoke them, blow them, snort them, inject them... why not imbibe them, too. One flew over the rainbow.

Ted said...

As Tropicana executives are well aware, many health-conscious people are now more concerned about the large amount of fructose in glass of pure orange juice (as well as the other sugars and/or alternative sweeteners in other PepsiCo products) than the relatively small amount of alcohol in a mimosa.

Achilles said...

I am probably the only person alive who didn't scour the house looking for parent's booze?

When I was 2 I managed to get enough alcohol at a party to get drunk. Probably a sip or mouthful. Since then I have had less than 10 oz's of alcoholic beverages.

I have other forms of addiction. But thank goodness Alcohol has been repulsive to me my entire life.

But our society and our culture have made it to be something desirable and cool. Getting drunk is celebrated for a variety of reasons.

Compare and contrast how the people in this channel brag about their predilection to alcohol and their mocking of people who smoke pot which is far less destructive and addictive by any reasonable measure.

farmgirl said...

Idk why- I think it’s funny as hell. Maybe b/c “mimosas” sound funny to me. I’m not a fan. Sangria? I’d hide that in a mini fridge. Except my mini fridge is full of eggs…. Hmmmm.

As long as the OJ isn’t for fuzzy navels- I got so sick on those in college- the thought of a peach would cause nausea. Sooo very sick.
The other night I reached for liquor and the cap was on too tight. No drink for me.

MadisonMan said...

The Tropicana "apology" was one of those to people who are disappointed. A corporate non-apology. They heard the feedback to this lame ad campaign and reacted. But they showed no contrition that you need when you apologize.

Iman said...

@lone justice…

You used to be so amused
By teh Tropicana juice and teh Korbel that you used
Grab it now, it calls you, you can't refuse
When you drink to kill the pain, you can shake off them blues
You're shit-faced drunk now, you've got snot slobber that’s congealed
How does it feel? Ah, how does it feel?

n.n said...

High carbohydrate consumption is a recipe for a quick fix now, diabetes later, thus the progress of "fat is beautiful", "healthy at any girth", a first-order comorbidity, and unaffordable, unavailable medical care at any price. Self-moderation, proper diet, and a little kinetic motion, go along way to a healthy hive, happy life.

Severely Ltd. said...

Can you believe Adidas advertising shoes for sports, when they have to know about people in wheelchairs or confined to hospital beds! What were they thinking?

Howard said...

Carrie Nation Lives!

BUMBLE BEE said...

C'mon man, the first officially licensed business in the 17th century was a distillery. A history professor read the class the manifest of the Constitution. On the voyage they departed with some 400 barrels of potable water. Pillaged powder and shot and booze from every "enemy" they came across, including a land raid on an Irish distillery, making off with the inventory. Manifest showed, upon return, some 400 barrels of potable water. Hard core in any language.

BUMBLE BEE said...

What do ya do with a drunken sailor?

farmgirl said...

What DO ya do w/a drunken sailor?

mikee said...

I was holding a six month old nephew of mine at a family wedding, and gave him a sip of my champagne. His mother, seeing this, grabbed her child back from my insane-uncle clutches just in time to receive his regurgitation of the bubbly, and everything else he'd recently swallowed, all over her dress.

Timing is everything where kids, parents, and alcohol are involved.