7UP, Celebrity Chef Team up for a Winning Recipe
Chef Carlos Fernandez of Hi-Life Café in Fort Lauderdale is touring supermarkets in Chicago, Houston and Dallas this month and July to offer live demonstrations of healthy cooking with 7UP soda.
The live events, targeting primarily Hispanic markets, are intended to promote the “7UP 100% Naturally Talented Chef” contest being run by brand owner Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Contestants are asked for original, health-conscious recipes for entrees or main dishes made or infused with 7UP. Entries can be submitted by mail, at the in-store events or online at www.receta7Up.com through Aug. 5.
The contest kicked off in mid-April and has reportedly received thousands of submissions to date.
Fernandez, a self-taught culinary expert who has taken part in the popular Bravo program Top Chef, will review the recipes and select eight finalists for the contest’s $70,000 grand prize. Fernandez will select the winning creation on live television in early September after a live in-studio cook-off. The prize selection will be a segment on a new daily morning show from Hispanic-themed network Telemundo one of whose stars, Monica Noguera, will help in the award selection.
The recipe contest and live tour key into the main marketing message of the 7UP ad campaign: that the beverage is made with “100% Natural Flavors.”
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. owns the 7UP brand along with almost 50 others in the beverage segment including Mott’s, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry, RC Cola and Diet Rite.
