SELAH, WA - Apples, pears, and...socks? Oh, my! Yes, you heard me right. Rainier Fruit has announced its second annual holiday marketing program, the Pears for Pairs campaign. Pears for Pairs aligns with the team's Wholesome to the Core company values of giving back to the community, and truly is a testament to Rainier's ability to balance business with a great cause. Rainier will contribute a portion of the proceeds of bulk pear and bag pear sales this holiday season to the tenth annual Hanes National Sock Drive.
“Last year’s Pears for Pairs campaign gave us an opportunity to share our #WholesometotheCore values across our entire supply chain,” said Rainier CEO Mark Zirkle. “From our staff that organized events that culminated in the donation of socks and towels to the Union Gospel Mission in Yakima, to the retailers that promoted the ‘Pears for Pairs’ campaign."
The tie in for retailers? The campaign also helped participating retailers drive high double-digit increases in year-over-year volume sales of pears. This campaign is open to all retailers and will run from September through December at retail locations across the U.S.
During the 2018 holiday season, Rainier, along with the growers at Matson Fruit Company and Blue Star Growers, donated over 20,000 pairs of socks to five charitable organizations across the United States.
“Based on our research, pears are an impulse buy, so we found pairing purchases with the opportunity for giving back drove consumer behavior and captured category sales,” said Andy Tudor, Rainier's Vice President of Business Development.
The Hanes National Sock Drive is part of Hanes for Good, HanesBrands’ corporate social responsibility program, according to a press release, which focuses on environmental stewardship, workplace quality, and community building.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Rainier Fruit Company again this year to expand the reach and impact of our Hanes National Sock Drive,” said Sidney Falken, Chief Branding Officer for HanesBrands.
We are excited to support the news of this launch and encourage others in our industry to find a cause that aligns with their values as well!
