Today is National S'mores day. Yum. Hershey’s is heavily promoting the ‘holiday’ on social media.
Twitter has gone crazy and the hashtag #SmoreFun is trending. Why? Part of it has to do with timing. Hershey’s has perfectly timed their S’mores day with late summer, where for decades Americans have embraced long, warm evenings by roasting marshmallows then sandwiching them between chocolate (commonly Hershey’s) and graham crackers for gooey greatness that delights young and old alike. The dessert is both nostalgia and current.
Instagram has over 1.3 million posts tagged with S’mores. On Pinterest you can discover recipe variations, how to how a S’mores party, or set up a S’mores station at an event you are hosting.
S’mores product extensions have been trending all summer. Back in June my cousin wrote this challenge on her Facebook page, “I want to start a sort of competition with you. The food industry has gone crazy with everything s'mores! Here are a few of my finds. As you find something, take a pic and post it here. Let's see how many we can get by the end if summer. #smoresrule”. Twenty-two comments later this is what her friend network has uncovered:
M&M S’mores Available at Walmart
Available at Starbucks
Available from Pillsbury
Oreo S’mores available at Walmart
Graeter’s s’mores flavored ice cream
Build-a-flavor S’mores gum (available on Amazon)
Snyder’s S’Mores pretzels
Betty Crocker S’Mores cupcake mix
Grocery store baked s’mores brownies
Klondike S’Mores
S’Mores cocktails
S’Mores goldfish
S’Mores cereal by Kellogg’s
S’Mores Poptarts also by Kellogg’s
Quaker Oats Overnight S’Mores
S’Mores Facebook page
S’mores beer
From Weber Grill Restaurant
S’mores Lunchable dippers available on Amazon.com
S’mores Little Bites by Entenmanns
Russell Stover Big Bites
More from the grocery store
Chips ahoy S’mores
Girl Scout cookies
In the end, I think we can conclude 2 things: (1) Creative variations on the S’mores theme are hotter than ever. (2) Modern holidays can spark creativity and conversation for consumer products. This allows brands to reach new and passionate audiences who might start their engagement in the physical world but then discuss their findings with friends online.
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