Dole Banana has journeyed through 125 years since its establishment in 1899. This year, coinciding with the annual Minions carnival, Dole teamed up with the beloved Minions as the chief title sponsor of the 2024 Minions Banana Festival. They jointly hosted a grand birthday party for 10,000 attendees at the top national influencer landmark on West Lake. Special guests from Global and Hanglian, along with numerous fans passionate about Dole bananas, gathered to enjoy this carnival and celebrate the banana Minions love the most!
The Dole Banana 125 Golden Birthday Celebration drew immense crowds.
The Dole booth emerged as the most popular photo spot.
The celebration kicked off with a vibrant Minions flash mob dance, leading the audience to the main stage. "Dole Banana," took center stage. Ms. Wang Na, the marketing director of Dole, vividly recounted the brand's remarkable 125-year journey.
The Minions dancers were so cute that the whole audience was stunned.
. Wang Na, the marketing director of Dole talked about the 125-year history of Dole Banana.
From the origin of the brand to planting and research and development, to global influence, Dole has now become synonymous with bananas. In China, Dole Bananas can be seen in major supermarkets across the country, including Sam's Club, Hema, Ole, Walmart, and RT-Mart.
The celebration was very much banana themed.
The celebration reached its peak with the presentation of a colossal 125th-anniversary birthday cake. Mr. Li Yang, Director of Channel Sales and Marketing for Dole China, Ms. Wang Na, Marketing Director of Dole China, Mr. Richard Li, Director of Hardlines and Consumables at Universal Pictures, and Ms. Tang Haili, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou Lianhua Huashang Group, joined to cut the cake. The crowd, adorned in banana-themed attire and waving light signs, sang the birthday song, commemorating Dole's milestone.
Mr. Li Yang, Sales Director of Dole China, Ms. Tang Haili, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou Lianhua Huashang Group, Mr. Richard Li, Director of Hardlines and Consumables at Universal Pictures, and Ms. Wang Na, Marketing Director of Dole China, celebrated the 125th birthday of Dole Banana.
Dole's pop-up store featured an enormous birthday cake and attracted countless fans for photo ops. The store was brimming with banana elements, including a banana photo wall and interactions with the adorable Bob from the Minions. Fans eagerly lined up to snap pictures and participate in the events, solidifying the pop-up store as a top attraction.
The "Happy Banana Photo Studio" allowed fans to capture sweet moments celebrating Dole's anniversary. Trendy fans, dressed in banana costumes, lined up to join the fun. Dole also prepared exclusive Dole Minions co-branded gifts, encouraging attendees to spread joy and share their moments.
The highly anticipated "Despicable Me 4" from the Minions series is set to release in 2024. As one of the most beloved and successful franchises globally, the Minions series has grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film series. The charming and mischievous Minions have captured the hearts of audiences, especially families. Known for their love of bananas, the Minions share a special connection with Dole, whose bananas are a star product. In this new movie, the Mega Minions with "superpowers" make their debut. When these super-powered Minions meet Dole's "super-powered" bananas, an explosion of joy is guaranteed. To celebrate, Dole is launching the 125th Anniversary X "Despicable Me 4" Limited Edition Super Sweet Bananas!
Dole Banana Anniversary X "Despicable Me 4" Limited Edition Super Sweet Bananas.
Dole's own banana farm is located in Mindanao, the "home of bananas," which boasts a monsoon tropical rainforest climate ideal for banana growth. Dole Super Sweet Bananas thrive on the highland farms of Mindanao, where the cooler average temperature of 23℃ and a prolonged growth period of about 365 days result in their exceptional sweetness and softness.
With a 173-year history, Dole operates in over 90 countries, owning farms and possessing extensive expertise in fruit and vegetable cultivation, processing, and promotion. Since entering China in 1998, Dole's star products—including Super Sweet Bananas, Golden Pineapples, non-GMO papayas, and avocados—have been sourced from its 40,000 hectares of farms in the Philippines, cultivated by tens of thousands of dedicated farmers.
Dole China offers over 90 types of fruit and vegetable products from 19 countries throughout the year. It has established 12 modern processing and distribution centers in various Chinese cities, equipped with advanced facilities like pre-cooling warehouses and computer-controlled processing centers to ensure the delivery of high-quality produce to consumers.
In June 2022, Dole entered an IP licensing agreement with Universal Pictures' Minions, becoming the official fruit and vegetable partner of the Minions. This marked the first collaboration between the Minions IP and a renowned banana brand in China. That same year, Dole introduced the Minions series of IP fruit products to enhance the consumer experience. Dole and the Minions continue to work closely, committed to promoting a sunny and happy high-quality lifestyle.
Data source: Dole