Campaign Overview

For many consumers, enjoying a favorite treat or heading to the movies can feel like a much-needed sweet escape. Hershey tapped into this idea with the Sweet Escape Buy/Get Promotion, a national campaign in Canada designed to keep the brand top of mind while movie-going and drive purchases throughout the summer season.

From May through August, consumers who purchased three qualifying Twizzlers or Jolly Rancher products could upload their receipt online to claim a reward: either a Digital Cineplex Gift Card or an Adult Theatrical Movie Ticket. By linking product purchases to an entertainment reward, Hershey highlighted the natural connection between sweet treats and big-screen escapes while giving consumers a compelling reason to keep engaging with the brand all summer long.

Our Solution

Realtime Media collaborated with Hershey to design and manage a seamless, purchase-driven campaign that rewarded consumers for brand loyalty while delivering measurable lift at retail. Our solution combined a receipt-based entry mechanic with a dual-language digital experience tailored to the Canadian market.

Our Approach

• Receipt-Based Submission: To participate, consumers purchased three eligible Hershey products and uploaded their receipt through a dedicated microsite. Our validation engine handled review and approval seamlessly, and participants could earn up to two rewards per valid receipt.
• International Campaign Administration: Realtime Media managed administration across key areas of the Sweet Escape promotion—receipt validation, digital reward fulfillment, and participant communications (including email confirmations and prize code delivery). With extensive experience supporting global brands, we are a trusted partner for promotions across international markets.

Key Benefits

• Drive Purchases: At its core, the Buy/Get mechanic was designed to generate sales. Over 14,000 approved receipts translated directly into product movement, proving the effectiveness of receipt-based promotions to motivate retail purchase.
• Strengthened Partnership: Turned the Cineplex tie-in into a consumer-ready offer—on-brand rewards (Digital Gift Card or Adult Movie Ticket), co-branded messaging, and fast digital code delivery—so the connection between treats and theater felt obvious and easy. A clear redemption path gave both brands shared visibility at the moment of reward and reinforced moviegoing as a natural occasion for Hershey.
• Sustain Summer Sales & Awareness: Timed for May–August, the program kept Hershey top of mind and converted routine shopping into action with a clear purchase-then-reward value. The three-item requirement increased basket size at the point of sale, while allowing up to two rewards per participant further encouraged volume.

Conclusion

The Sweet Escape Buy/Get Promotion delivered on multiple fronts: it drove measurable product sales, reinforced Hershey’s brand presence in the Canadian market, and elevated its partnership with Cineplex. By pairing candy with the joy of moviegoing, Hershey created a promotion that turned everyday purchases into tangible movie-night value.

Interested in learning more about how we can help with your next Digital Promotion? Get in touch with us today!  

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