Kroger's Festive Ad Says, 'Share Your Food, Share Your Heart'

The Krojis bring joy to a lonely neighbor

Kroger launched its yuletide ad, and gave us all the feels, just like last year’s vid.

From adam&eveDDB New York, “The Case of the Disappearing Food” stars a family of Krojis—the brand’s animated characters (Kroger x emoji)—cooking for the holidays. With America’s “Lonely People” as the soundtrack, food mysteriously vanishes, stealthily taken by the fam’s young son. He takes it to an older neighbor, who’s alone for the season. When the boy returns, his family packs up the food and brings it to their neighbor.

The message: “Share your food. Share your heart.”

“Kroger has always understood the power of food to bring people together. But this holiday season, we wanted to invite people to share more than just a meal,” says Paulo Junger, ECD at adam&eveDDB. “When you gather around the table, you’re not just sharing a beef Wellington or some butternut squash, you’re sharing love. No one should feel alone during this special time. It’s a notion we made all the more touching thanks to the song ‘Lonely People’ by America.”

The ad will run on Netflix, cable-TV, online and streaming. As pat of the campaign, on Hulu, viewers in select markets will be able to “Shop the Scene” and buy food featured in the dinner segment of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. 

“We wanted to tell a story that reminds people about the power of reaching out—in the most Kroger way possible, with delicious food. This is a spot that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. And hungry,” says Allegra Wiesenfeld, senior copywriter at the agency.

“We set out to celebrate food’s unique power to bring people together. Our campaign highlights the joy that can be found in even the smallest moments shared over a meal,” adds Tom Duncan, VP, head of marketing at Kroger. “We wanted our message to feel like a warm hug—a reminder of the magic in connecting over food, and an invitation to create joyful, meaningful connections this holiday season.”

CREDITS
Client: Kroger
Chief Merchant & Marketing Officer: Stuart Aitken
Vice President of Marketing: Tom Duncan
Director of Kroger Media: Kay Vizon
Senior Brand Manager: Karrie Pukstas
Senior Brand Manager: Lindsey Hasis
Assistant Brand Manager: Kate Mosure
Sr. Manager Media Partnerships Lead: Sophia Sendrowski
Integrated Media Strategist: Sarah Berkov
Head of Corporate Communications & Media Relations: Holly Stutz Smith

Creative Agency: adam&eveDDB New York  
Chief Creative Officer: Richard Brim 
Chief Executive Officer: Caroline Winterton  
Managing Director: James Rowe
Executive Creative Directors: Jason Ashlock, Paulo Junger  
Senior Art Director: Reid Plaxton
Senior Copywriter: Allegra Wiesenfeld
Executive Director, Strategy: Stu Harrison  
Group Strategy Director: Baxter Holland  
Strategy Director: Gracie McNeely  
Senior Strategist: Annie Dreyer
Head of Production: Teri Altman 
Senior Producer: Elizabeth Stebner
Group Business Affairs Manager: Kelly McCann
Executive Director: Alan Perlman
Group Business Director: Samantha Gen  
Account Director: Maggie Williams  
Account Supervisor: Livy Jacobson
Account Executive: Caitlin Braudis  
Program Director: Nicole Spaeth  
Project Manager: Nicole Andonova

Hispanic Market Creative Agency: alma DDB
Planning: Paola Villalobos
Creative: Virgilio Flores, Monica Marulanda, Bruno Trad, Luis Rivero & Aina Zaragoza
Content & Experience: Ivana Juarez, Alejandra Gonzalez, Alejandra Guzman & Alexa Janeiro
Production: Natalia Plazas & Jessica Dana
Project Management: Andrea Alvarez & Connie Guglieri
Accounts: Meg Valls, Adriana Pineda, Barbie Marins & Leisly Esquivel

Production Co: Hornet
Director: Andrew Coats
CG Supervisor: George Smaragdis
Executive Producer: Marty Geren
Senior Producer: Hanna Fuller
Senior Editor: Anita Chao 
CG Lead: Angie Rivera
Art Director: Justin Burks
Concept Artist: Hannah Kim
Designer: Christy Lundy
Storyboard Artist: Camillo Clauser
CG Animators: HeeJin Kim, Nicholas Christie, Tom Shek
CG Animation Intern: Gus McClain
Look Dev / Lighter: Alvin Bae, Ieva Callender, Mirelle Underwood, Sylvia Apostol
Compositors: Bashir Hamid, Matt St.Leger, Ted Wiggin
Junior Compositor: Ria Shinde
Modelers: Constance Benson, August Park
Riggers: Carlos Sandoval, August Park
Production Coordinator: Ryann Rezza
Talent Coordinator: Jon Chun
Managing Partner: Hana Shimizu
Director of Production: Karen Lawler
Head of Creative Development: Kristin Labriola
Head of Production: Dez Stavracos

Audio House: Heard City
Audio Engineers: Stefano Campello, Jeremy Seigel
Producer: Nick Duvarny

Music Supervision: Leland
Music Supervisors: Toby Williams, Dhamirah Coombes

Music Licensing: Clearly
Licensing Supervision: Linda Bres