The Daily Carnage

The savvy marketer's hub for industry news, insights, resources, and culture.

Today’s Issue

Choose Your Adventure 🏹

Are custom algos the future?

Issues

View All

Goldfish Retrieval Service

Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish wins for splashiest summer pop-up.

One thing about Goldfish’s primary audience? They could probably use a free car wash and interior vacuum.

So, the brand is hosting the Goldfish Retrieval Service (to clean up your wayward crackers) this week, on Thursday and Friday at Valet Auto Wash in New Jersey, which is the perfect spot to target travelers en route to the Jersey Shore.

Snacks are indeed included.

McMinis

Starting July 1, new “Lil McDonald’s” Happy Meals will feature 21 mini figurines inspired by the fast-food chain.

We’re talking tiny fries, delivery trucks, toy-sized cash registers, and even a little boo bucket.

Slow down, millennials. Leave some for the kids. You can just complete your set on eBay later.

Official Tea of Arizona*

The state of Arizona ain’t big enough for two teas.

So, Liquid Death held an official vote and subsequently declared itself the official iced tea of Arizona, Nebraska, instead, leaning into some Americana absurdity to boost brand awareness.

There’s no signature LD gore here—just chainsaw demos, country music, and wholesome heartland charm. Oh, and one very big asterisk.

Filet-O-Fish Society of 2012

Ain’t nothing the Internet loves more than a niche.

So, McDonald’s UK, with agency Leo Burnett UK, has resurrected a defunct 2012 Facebook group dedicated to the Filet-O-Fish.

Once home to just six members, the “Filet-O-Fish Facebook Society of 2012” has now become the center of a multi-channel campaign celebrating the sandwich’s die-hard supporters.

Spearheaded by the return of long-retired mascot Phil A. O’ Fish, the campaign leverages CRM, paid social, OOH, custom merch, and press placements, culminating in the first-ever National Filet-O-Fish Day on July 1.

Happy FoF Day to all who observe.

The Other Venice Wedding

As part of its revitalized “Yes, JCPenney” campaign, JCPenney hosted a $10,000 wedding for a real couple in Venice, California, a non-so-subtle counterpoint to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s ultra-luxurious wedding in Venice, Italy.

Everything from the bride’s $99 gown and the groom’s tuxedo to the bridal party attire, rings, cosmetics, and reception setup was sourced entirely from JCPenney’s existing product lines.

In an era where department stores are kind of outdated, JCP is trying out a new strategy under CMO Marisa Thalberg: break from traditional retail marketing by tapping into pop culture moments with wit and warmth.

Put a Little Mustard On It

For the first time in a decade, Heinz has launched a new mustard, this time with some star power behind it.

The limited-edition Heinz Mustaaaaaard was crafted in partnership with artist and grilling enthusiast DJ Mustard, who worked closely with Heinz’s R&D team, tasting and tweaking every ingredient to perfect the honey chipotle flavor.

Heinz Mustaaaaaard will roll out first at Buffalo Wild Wings for two weeks before hitting shelves at select national retailers.

Tall Drink of Capri Sun

The best summer solstice campaign goes to Capri Sun… by a mile.

They’ve made the longest juice pouch ever—a 15-inch limited-edition Solstice Pouch—which sold out in just minutes after its release this month.

The oversized pouch held 20 ounces of juice (more than triple the usual size) and came with a matching long yellow straw.

Priced at $1.50, a clever nod to the solstice’s 15 hours of sunlight, the pouch was only available at Walmart.

We’re sad to report that there are no plans to restock, so this will all seem like a bizarre fever dream in no time.

Resized

Canva, in partnership with Talon and Stink Studios, transformed all 14 billboards at London’s busy Waterloo gallery into a playful showcase of its creative tools.

Each special-build billboard highlights a specific Canva function, like Magic Resize and Background Remover, in pleasantly surprising ways.

Designed as both spectacle and story, the takeover turns a high-traffic transit space into a fully immersive brand experience, showing off Canva’s wit and creative accessibility.

Share a Pepsi

We all know “Share a Coke.” It’s an iconic campaign, and it’s making a comeback with Gen Z.

And Pepsi, which has dropped to the No. 4 spot behind Sprite, can’t beat ’em. So, they’re joining ’em.

Forget your best friend. Share a Pepsi with Pepsi’s best friend. That is, “burgers,” “wings,” and “hot dogs.”

The campaign features limited-edition bottles, OOH, radio spots in key cities, and a social media giveaway encouraging fans to post what food they’d #ShareaPepsi with.

In tandem, the brand is continuing its “Crashers” series—stunts where actors replace Cokes with Pepsis at cookouts and restaurants—to lean into the challenger energy.