Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOLLIPOPS FOR A SWEET KRIS KRINGLE GIFT

Chupa Chups launches the Super Mega Lolly packed with 40 sweet treats

- By Raoul J. Chee Kee @raoulcheek­ee

Just in time for the holiday rush, a well-loved lollipop brand has come out with a gift item perfect for Kris Kringle. The Super Mega Lolly from Chupa Chups is an oversize lollipop-shaped container filled with—count ’em—40 lollipops in assorted flavors.

Sold exclusivel­y online on Shopee with the introducto­ry price of P550, the Super Mega Lolly was designed to mark the 60th anniversar­y of Chupa Chups. Founded originally in Spain, the brand has since been acquired by Italy’s Perfetti Van Melle (PVM), which also distribute­s Mentos and Fruittella.

Gerard Orriols, managing director of PVM Philippine­s, has worked at Chupa Chups for 21 years and has seen how the brand’s popularity has grown since the acquisitio­n.

“We’re now able to reach more markets, and enchant more people,” Orriols said. “We have over a hundred flavors of Chupa Chups but the favorite—and the most readily available—are strawberry, strawberri­es and cream, lemonade, cola, grape, choco- late, choco banana, cherry and raspberry.”

Offbeat flavors

He said that the company’s R&D teams have also experiment­ed with offbeat flavors like different vegetables and assorted cheeses but “they’ve only tried them, didn’t really launch them in the market.” Favorites worldwide continue to be the cola and ice cream-flavored ones.

Since the brand is marking its 60th anniversar­y this year, wouldn’t it have been more celebrator­y to have 60 lollies in one giant container?

“We chose to keep it at 40 to keep the price manageable,” brand manager Denise Opulencia said. “Our target market consists of older teens and yuppies. We’re looking at those who really shop online.”

To launch the Super Mega Lolly last wee, Chupa Chups held a 1950s-themed party at Bonifacio Global City complete with games and music.

“We decided to partner with Shopee to be where our consumers are. In today’s modern world, there’s no other way but to go digital,” Eugen Soriano, PVM trade marketing manager and digital lead, said.

 ??  ?? Chupa Chups brand manager Denise Opulencia, PVMmarketi­ng and trade marketing director Ira de Vera, PVMmanagin­g director Gerard Orriols
Chupa Chups brand manager Denise Opulencia, PVMmarketi­ng and trade marketing director Ira de Vera, PVMmanagin­g director Gerard Orriols
 ??  ?? Shopee PH head of intelligen­ce Martin Yu, Chupa Chups brand manager Denise Opulencia, Perfetti Van Melle marketing manager and digital lead Eugen Soriano
Shopee PH head of intelligen­ce Martin Yu, Chupa Chups brand manager Denise Opulencia, Perfetti Van Melle marketing manager and digital lead Eugen Soriano
 ??  ?? GMAartists Andre Lagdameo, Lindsay Johnston, Ayeesha Cervantes, Addy Raj
GMAartists Andre Lagdameo, Lindsay Johnston, Ayeesha Cervantes, Addy Raj

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