The Vignette Effect

The OG of Content Marketing: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Episode Summary

Before influencers and algorithms, there was canned pineapple and content marketing, though no one called it that. In this episode, I dive into the story of how Dole turned pineapple upside-down cake into a nationwide craze through a 1920s recipe contest that inspired tens of thousands of home cooks. You’ll hear how pineapple went from a luxury fruit for the wealthy to a mid-century menu must-have, why Dole’s focus on quality and excellence made recipes the perfect form of marketing, and how this century-old campaign still holds lessons for modern brands. If you want your content to feel more like storytelling than selling, this episode will leave you craving both cake and creative ideas.

Episode Notes

In this episode:

• The story of how Dole’s 1925 national recipe contest launched the pineapple upside-down cake craze
• How pineapple went from a symbol of wealth to the star of every mid-century recipe
• Why Dole’s brand pillars of Quality & Excellence and Health & Wellness made recipe content a perfect brand fit
• What this story teaches modern entrepreneurs about inspiring customers to use what you sell instead of just promoting it
• How to invite your audience into co-creating content and finding joy in your marketing

Connect with Raquel:

✨ Book a free discovery call to clarify your brand and content strategy here: https://calendly.com/raquel-vignettebrandstudio/discovery
📸 Follow @raquel.furman for creative branding inspiration (instagram.com/raquel.furman)