THE 14TH ANNUAL SHORTY AWARDS

The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media and digital. View this season's finalists!

Industry

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Strategy & Engagement

See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Brand Partnership See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Call to Action See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Community Management See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Creative Use of Technology See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> CTV/OTT See previous winners and honorees for Insights and Trends here.</a> <a href=https://shortyawards.com/17th/"https://shortyawards.com/category/16th/data-visualization">See previous winners and honorees for Data Visualization here.</a>"> Data & Insights See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Earned Media See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Event & Experiential See previous winners and honorees here.</a>""> Gamification See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Humor See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Innovative Media Buying Strategy See previous winners and honorees here.</a>""> Integration with Traditional Media See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Internal Communications See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> LGBTQ Community Engagement See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Micro-Influencer Strategy See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Multicultural Community Engagement See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Music & Dance See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> On a Shoestring See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Organic Promotion See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Paid & Amplification See previous winner and honorees here.</a>"> Physical and Digital Convergence See previous winner and honorees here.</a>"> Public Service Announcement See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Real Time Response See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> SEO & SEM See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Social Commerce See previous winners and honorees here.</a>"> Storytelling

Kirbee’s Quick Run

Finalist in Gamification

Objective

When Tastykake, a Philadelphia snacking institution, sought to reignite snackers love for the infamous Krimpet within its hometown, the approach was as rich and crafted as the snack itself. We celebrated Philly by playfully reimagining the city’s most cherished landmarks: the LOVE statue turned into “KAKE,” the Rocky statue as Kirbee, and the streets of Philadelphia as the game board in a virtual tour where Kirbee, the Krimpet mascot, collected Tastykake treats. This combination of history and interactive fun made for a modern cultural moment in a way only Tastykake could.

Strategy

Bringing our project to life required a strategic blend of creativity, digital engagement, and a deep connection to Philadelphia’s culture. Our plan of action centered around leveraging the city’s most iconic landmarks to create an immersive and engaging experience for Tastykake fans.

To align with our consumers' passion for interactive gaming, we developed a fun and competitive digital game starring our most iconic treat—the Krimpet—and a digitized version of the beloved Krimpet Mascot, Kirbee. Players navigated through the game, encountering a variety of Tastykake products and obstacles, competing for high scores, and engaging with the brand in a fresh, modern way.

To create excitement with snack fans, Kirbee’s Quick Run was launched with a digital campaign that included a giveaway sweepstakes. Lucky players got a chance to win some tasty prizes such as the all-new, limited edition Confetti Krimpets and exclusive merchandise featuring one-of-a-kind art from Philly artist, Paul Carpenter. 

A key activation element was the integration of a limited-run Confetti Krimpet, which launched in conjunction with National Krimpet Day. This real-world tie-in strengthened the campaign’s impact, creating a buzz around the product and reinforcing the game’s theme.

One of our biggest challenges was working within a limited media budget. To overcome this, we focused on social engagement and leveraging Tastykake’s strong brand presence in the Philly market. By tapping into the nostalgia and love for Tastykake, combined with the excitement of an interactive experience, we successfully maximized reach and engagement without a heavy media spend.

This unique blend of digital innovation, brand storytelling, and consumer engagement made our project stand out, bringing the joy of Tastykake—and especially Krimpets—to life in a whole new way.

Results

We didn’t just connect Tastykake to Philadelphia—we celebrated it. The campaign sparked excitement and conversation, generating nearly 32 million impressions and overwhelmingly positive sentiment. The sweepstakes element further amplified engagement, drawing nearly 104,000 entries, while the interactive game captivated users with an average playtime of 6.5 minutes. By creating an experience that let fans see their city—and Tastykake—in a fresh, immersive way, we strengthened the brand’s bond with Philadelphia, embodying its spirit and flavor in a playful, unforgettable campaign.

Media

Entrant Company / Organization Name

PPK, Tastykake

Link

Entry Credits