Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Introducing New Zealand’s Charming New Food Star – ‘Ollie the Avocado’
TAURANGA, 25th October 2016: Move over M, there’s a charismatic new food star in our midst and he’s as home-grown and healthy as they come!
NZ Avocado recently announced their suave new animated avocado friend will be named ‘Ollie’ following a nationwide
social media competition to pick a memorable moniker for him.
NZ Avocado Chief Executive, Jen Scoular, says Ollie has already started appearing in television commercials, on their
website and in Facebook posts to help promote one of our most-loved fruits.
“Kiwis have fallen head over heels in love with avocados and consumed record numbers last season. This year we have a
bumper crop and we’re sure Ollie’s going to charm households into eating even more with his good looks, high energy and
cheeky grin!”
NZ Avocado had a fantastic response to their request for names. Scoular says, “We narrowed it down to our top five and
then we put the final tough decision to our growers.”
Ollie’s already gotten into the swing of his new role, promoting ‘Guactober’ online this month and encouraging avocado
fans to enter their ultimate guacamole recipes to win giveaways.
People who share a picture of their guac creation and its recipe on their Facebook or Instagram page with the hashtag
#NZGUACTOBER, and like NZ Avocado’s page, will be in to win.
“Ollie is the king of guacamole – so long as he’s not personally in it! So grab some ripe avocados and whip up your best
guacamole to enjoy with corn chips, crackers or some crusty bread,” Scoular says.
Ollie’s five favourite recipes will each win an ‘Amazing Anytime’ branded rimu chopping board, while the overall winner
will receive an awesome guacamole prize pack.
The nationwide Guactober winners will be announced on Halloween, 31st October.
About New Zealand Avocado
The New Zealand avocado industry is vibrant and growing with a vision and strategy in place to quadruple sales to $280m
and triple productivity by 2023. The industry is pursuing exciting opportunities in both export and the New Zealand
markets, supported by innovation and collaboration with stakeholders and with new partnerships with the Crown and Crown
Research Institutes.
New Zealand currently produces just 2% of the global supply but is the ninth largest international avocado exporter.
There are over 4,000 hectares of avocado trees planted in New Zealand, primarily in the Bay of Plenty and Northland.
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