Category: Marketing & Advertising

Move Over, Texican Whopper. Introducing the Latin-Flavored Hot Dog (Perro Caliente)

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Ah, marketers… always finding interesting -and amusing- ways to engage us, Latinos, into whatever it is that we’re supposed to be engaged in.

In its latest effort to have already obese Hispanics eat other than tortillas and frijoles, Oscar Mayer this week launched Sabor de Mamá, a recipe contest aimed at having Latinos share their favorite traditional recipes featuring Oscar Mayer hot dogs. In their words (not mine):

“It’s no secret that Hispanics have embraced the American hot dog. Whether you are in a plaza in a small town in Mexico or taking a stroll in the streets of Colombia, the hot dog is now widely enjoyed.”

The lucky winner will receive $5,000 and the opportunity to join Univision’s Maggie Jiménez at an event to showcase his/her winning recipe. Because, you know, it’s always a great mystery what you can do with a bun and a salchicha.

That’s It! First Burger King… Now, South Park?

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It seems that mainstream media and marketing gurus are getting their kicks making fun of poor, defenseless Mexicans.

On the heels of the Burger King Texican Whopper fiasco, comes yet another public “offense” against the Mexican people; this time from our friends enemies at South Park. The episode shows an embarrassed Felipe Calderón grilled on what his government has done with all foreign aid –presumably granted by extraterrestrials.

[Little do they know Mexico’s government does wonders with that money, including bringing beaches and ice skating to the masses. Fighting crime and drug lords? Well, that can wait.]

p.s. I wonder how long it will take for some offended Mexican official with nothing to do to urge South Park to take down the episode…anyone?

The New Whopper is a Sandwich Filled with Cajun Sauce, Frijoles and Plenty of Stereotypes

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What happens when you merge a tall, good-looking Texan man with a stocky, chubby  guy wrapped in the Mexican flag and wearing a wrestling mask? 

Answer: you get a Burger King Texican Whopper, yet another “delicious” creation from the hamburger chain.

The print ad hails from Spain, and it pitches the new Texican Whopper, an impossible fusion of cajun sauce, cheddar cheese, meat taco and beans (!) The tagline, Unidos por el destino, means “Brought together by destiny.”

My sources tell me that Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Jorge Zermeño, has already asked Burger King to take down the ad and apologize –apparently because it offends our already decimated flag, and not our cuisine.

But wait! there’s more: the Texican is also a hit in England and has its own TV spot:

Former ‘Hoy’ Employee to Launch Newspaper in NYC. Taps Local Beauties to Help Promote it

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And just when you thought the so-called ethnic press was dead, a group of former Hoy employees in New York City are getting ready to launch NY Al Día, a Monday to Friday daily expected to circulate 20,000 copies starting April 20.

According to general manager Juan Carlos Sánchez (in the photo), NY Al Día  will cost 0,40 cents and will be sold 1,800 points of sale in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.

This blogger, of course, promptly attended the April 8 press conference at the Paramount Hotel. Alas, there were no free drinks for the crowd, but plenty of eye-candy for the hombres. Let’s just hope these Latin beauties will help make Latinos read again.

Photo: Javier Castaño

At Last, a Marketing Program I Can Embrace

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There is nothing like free cash to get people do anything (even eat more junk food.) According to Advertising Age, one of Mexico’s most successful ongoing marketing promotions is Sabrilana, in which PepsiCo’s Mexican subsidiary Sabritas is stuffing mucho dinero into the packaging of Doritos, Tostitos, Ruffles and other snacks.

During the promotion, which started in January, sales were up 18% by value and 20% by units, Francisco Jimenez, Sabritas marketing director, told AdAge. Me cae!

And because nothing goes better with free cash than state-of-the-art advertising, here’s the spot pitching the promotion.

U.S. Government Finds Innovative Ways to Send Latinos Far, Far Away

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acabaThe NASA is boosting marketing efforts to reach out to Hispanics, in Spanish, so that one day we, too, will be walking on the moon.

“The future astronauts and NASA scientists are among 8- and 10-year-old Hispanic kids,” Jose Granda, an Ecuadorean NASA Faculty Fellow told the Orlando Sentinel.

The excitment around Hispanic astronauts gained momentum last month when NASA sent its first Puerto Rican to space, Joseph Acaba (in the photo), who by the way is NOT related to Elvis Crespo, despite his name and his love for aerial adventures.

Myrka Helps Kick Off ‘Hispanic Oral Health Month.’ Proves She Still Has a Full Set of Teeth

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myrkagc2North Korea might be launching rockets all over the Pacific, but there’s plenty other stuff going on in the world.

For example: Colgate and the Hispanic Dental Association (yes, there is such a thing) this week officially declared April El mes de la salud bucal: un mundo de sonrisas saludables (Oral Health Month: A World of Healthy Smiles), because even if Latinos “overindex” in the use of video games and portable electronics, we are apparently not very neat when it comes to cleaning our teeth.

The official kick off took place last week in Miami, with the presence of several “Oral Health Month Ambassadors,” including Colgate Total’s spokesperson Myrka Dellanos, who was at hand to prove not only that she cares about your health, but that despite the mañas of her former husband, she still has a full set of teeth.

Barack Obama Joins Daddy Yankee, Fanny Lu, Don Omar and Others in Univision’s Music Extravaganza

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Well, my friends, time has come for the nation’s president to be serious about U.S. Hispanics. Very serious. And that is why Barack Obama is taking a break from his busy schedule fixing AIG, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo and other stuff to come talk to us during tonight’s broadcast of Univision’s Premio lo Nuestro.

Per a Univision press release: The president will appear via video “to give a message of hope and civic engagement.” Immediately afterwards we’ll go back to enjoying a parade of scantily-clad Latinas and not very “civic” Latinos. (I’m sure Elvis Crespo needs an extra hand.)

Can’t wait!

McDonald’s Puts The Big Mac in a Tortilla. Seriously

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mcdonaldsMove over, McSkillet Burrito. Your favorite fat fast-food chain is testing the Snack Wrap Mac in several markets. The new culinary work of art is nothing but half a beef patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions –wrapped in a flour tortilla. Yummy.

McDonald’s spokeswoman Danya Proud proudly told AdAge that results of the test in several markets so far have been “great.” Supporting her claim, an executive at food industry research firm Technomic simply says: “It makes sense. They’re cheaper than a Big Mac. It tastes like a Big Mac with a tortilla.”

Hell, why didn’t we think of that before?

Dora’s New Look Enrages Parents. What’s Next? -They Wonder- Dora the Stripper?

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dora_nuevo_lookI’m sure you heard all about it: Dora the Explorer is getting a sexy makeover, and while Mattel and Nickelodeon have only released a silhouette, the new Dora is sure to make your palms sweaty (Well, not really): 

“The revamped Dora shows her with long locks, a short skirt and pointed ballet pumps.”

Meanwhile, a group of idle concerned mothers have filed an online petition to ban the new look asking: “What next? Dora the Cheerleader? Dora the fashionista with stylish purse and stilettos? Dora the Pop Star with Hoppin’ Dance Club and “Juice” Bar?”

And, may I add: What about Dora, the Spanish-language broadcast weather girl featuring a good pair? Anyone?

Buy T-Shirt. Pray. Help Mexico Qualify for FIFA 2010

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naco_saneric1There are only a few companies that know how to pitch a product to their target market. And NaCo is one of them.

In their most recent pitch, NaCo creators this week launched the “fútbol prayer tee,” featuring the image of Mexico’s coach Sven-Göran Eriksson as an winged angel holding a soccer ball with the name San Eriksson on it. Because, you know, there is no other way we’ll ever make it to South Africa.

Is there?