MARKETING
Australian bananas bring the appeal at the Sydney Royal Easter Show
Earlier this month Australian bananas featured at the Sydney Royal Easter Show as part of a consumer facing marketing activation designed to strengthen demand and reinforce bananas as a trusted, everyday choice for Australian households.
Delivered by Hort Innovation in partnership with Direct to Consumer (D2C), and Australian banana growers, the activation prioritised face-to-face engagement with consumers - bringing product, provenance and people together in a high traffic environment.
Activations like the Sydney Royal Easter Show play an important role in building familiarity and confidence in Australian bananas - key drivers of long-term demand in an increasingly competitive food environment.
Located in the popular Woolworths Dome, the stand provided a prominent platform to showcase Australian grown bananas while connecting directly with families at scale. Set against a bold yellow backdrop, the message was clear: Australian bananas are the go-to choice for a natural energy source.
Click to watch
Connecting with consumers at scale
The Sydney Royal Easter Show attracts over 800,000 attendees each year, offering a rare opportunity to engage with consumers in a setting where food choice, familiarity and trust intersect. Thousands of visitors stopped by the banana stand across the event, where they sampled approximately 72,500 samples of fresh Australian bananas, made smoothies, engaged with growers and met the ever-popular banana mascot, Benny the banana.
Maeve Lowe, a fourth-generation Banana grower from Tully, Queensland has worked with the team on the Banana stand for the past two years. Maeve said;
“Having grower participation at events such as the Easter Show strengthens the country to the city relationship. It was valuable to show the young kids where their food comes from and the time and care that it takes to produce a delicious product.”
Maeve Lowe, a fourth-generation Banana grower from Tully, Queensland
Serves: 2 / Prep time: 18 mins / Cook time: 2 mins
Banana Choc Chip Mug Cake
A quick and delicious treat that is less than $1.50 per serve!
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (reserving some slices for the top)
- 1 TBS milk
- 1 TBS salted melted butter
- 1 TBS brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 3 TBS flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 TBS dark chips
Method
Spray a microwave-safe mug with cooking spray.
In a mug, melt the butter in the microwave, for about 10 seconds.
Once melted, add the brown sugar, egg, milk, and mashed banana and stir. Once incorporated, add the flour with baking powder. Stir until combined then top with chocolate chips.
Microwave for approx. 2 minutes.
Let rest to cool in the microwave for approx. 5 minutes before adding sliced banana or desired toppings.
Missed the show?
You can recreate your own banana moment at home - with plenty of delicious, nutritious and easy recipes for everyday eating to be found on the Australian Bananas website.
At Hort Innovation, everything we do is built on our vision to create a prosperous and sustainable Australian horticulture industry built on innovation.
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