Your weekly rundown of the biggest marketing and advertising stories is here. Catch up on the latest news you need to know in our Weekly Must Reads.

Uber Eats Wants to Ensure You “Don’t Run Out”

In Uber Eats’ new horror-esque short film, running out of candy is a grave offense. The film stars Keke Palmer, who desperately tries to keep her candy bowl stocked to ward off the Candy Snatchers. She eventually places an Uber Eats order for more candy…but she’s just a bit too late. Throughout the four-minute video, the brand hid tons of promo codes within the set and audio content, totaling more than $1 million in discounts. Each customer can attempt to enter the promo codes within the Uber Eats app. Every user is eligible for up to $830 in savings.

The film, titled “Don’t Run Out,” is part of Uber’s continued effort to promote its non-restaurant delivery services. It also highlights how Uber can be a helpful resource, even during urgent situations. Watch the timely, spooky film and watch out for promo codes here:  https://www.adweek.com/creativity/uber-eats-horror-flick-stars-keke-palmer-and-1-million-in-hidden-promo-codes/#

Ritz Rings in the Holidays

Ritz is ready for the holidays – and all the holiday recipes. In a new campaign, the brand displays how their product can be utilized into festive foods from multiple cultures. The campaign, titled “Our Holidays,” kicks off with a 15-second ad, Bon Appetit-produced recipe book and ongoing video series exploring culinary holiday traditions. The new ad and video series follows the stories of several multi-generational families who gather to celebrate their culture’s holiday together – with delicious food, of course.

Ritz has focused on celebrating diversity on a larger scale in recent years. “Our Holidays” is part of their larger brand campaign, “Taste of Welcome,” which previously highlighted LGBTQ rights, foster parent support and disability inclusion. Learn more about Ritz’s diversity initiatives here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/ritz-holiday-campaign-celebrates-diverse-cultural-traditions/634235/

Tostitos Audio Marketing Success

Thanks to growing platforms like podcasts and TikTok, audio has become an important avenue for brands to connect with consumers. Consumers’ time spent streaming audio has reportedly increased by 32 percent since last year. To address this change, Tostitos recently developed its “sonic brand,” a 1.5 second clip that sounds just like the “pop” of opening a new jar of the brand’s dips. Tostitos has started including the sound in many of its advertisements, resulting in a 38 percent increase in brand recall.

The idea to develop a sonic brand came from research that indicated consumers reach more often for Tostitos dips, rather than their chips. The pop sound of a jar opening is also more differentiated than the simple crunch of a chip, which could be associated with dozens of snack food brands on the market. Find out more about Tostitos’ audio advertising success here:  https://www.marketingdive.com/news/tostitos-sonic-branding-advertising-tone/634560/

Brands’ Reactions to Britain’s PM Mess

If you’ve followed the news at all this year, you know the UK has been in turmoil for months. Last week, Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned just six weeks after taking office. Though the chaos resulted in dire consequences for Britain’s economy, many social media users have approached the situation with humor. Brands were also eager to join the conversation. Airbnb created a fake listing for 10 Downing Street, noting that it is “perfect for short stays.” Meanwhile, popular budget airline Ryanair posted a boarding pass for the former prime minister, leaving from London Gatwick with destination “anywhere.”

Much of the social media discourse also bizarrely centered around lettuce. Those posts referenced an ongoing Daily Star livestream, which placed a photo of Liz Truss next to a head of lettuce in a competition to see which could last longer. Check out more reactions to Britain’s prime minister mess here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/10/20/brands-react-social-liz-truss-resigns-uk-prime-minister