News

Culver's plans to expand farmers campaign in 2014

November 8, 2013

Culver's "Thank You, Farmers" initiative, launched in July, has raised $220,735 for the National FFA Organization, local FFA chapters and farm families across the country.

The donation combines the efforts of Culver's Franchising System and nearly 500 participating restaurants. This donation amount is preliminary and is expected to rise as individual restaurants announce their local chapter donations in the coming weeks.

"We're thrilled with the support our guests have offered for Thank You, Farmers," said Craig Culver, CEO and co-founder of Culver's. "Coming from a place connected to the farms that produce the dairy and grow the food that's made the restaurant what it is, celebrating and supporting farmers just feels right."

As part of the "Thank You, Farmers" campaign, participating Culver's restaurants across the nation pledged support through percent of sales nights, a Scoopie Token and guest donation program and event sponsorships — all benefitting local chapters of the National FFA Organization.

Culver's also launched an online donation campaign on the Culvers.com homepage, as well as a Facebook promotion that contributed to the cause. The Facebook promotion allowed fans to write a thank you note to a farmer — with each thank you note resulting in a $1 donation made to the National FFA Organization on behalf of Culver's.

In total, Culver's is donating $50,000 to the National FFA Organization while local restaurants are donating individually raised funds to their local chapters. The total donation made to local chapters across the country is more than $170,000.

"We're excited with the results of our program in just the first few months," said David Stidham, vice president of marketing at Culver's. "In 2014, we plan to support other organizations in addition to the National FFA Organization who understand the importance of recognizing the farmers who work so hard to provide us the great food we serve. This includes 4-H, middle and high school agriculture programs and others."

Read more about cause marketing.