Do you think supporting honey bees helps companies sell stuff?

Last week President Obama announced a task force to address the issue of rapidly diminishing honey bees and other pollinators. 

It's an important issue, and several companies have already adopted it as a pet cause.  Most notably Whole Foods, which this week  is sponsoring "Human Bee-In" events and "Give Bees A Chance" promotions. Participants include General Mills which will donate $1 for each box of Cascadian Farms Buzz Crunch Honey Almond sold, up to $100,000 to the Xerces Society, a leader in pollinator conservation.  Annie's, Barney Butter, Celestial Seasonings and Luna are also making donations. (Mahoney, 2014)

What effect do you think this promotion will have on sales?  Are your purchase decisions influenced by the charitable efforts of the brands you buy?  How?

Mahoney, S. (2014, June 23)  General Mills, Whole Foods Generate Buzz For Bees.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 23, 2014, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/228559/general-mills-whole-foods-generate-buzz-for-bees.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=73911

Will you go to Whole Foods to watch a movie about honey bees and stay long enough to buy something?

Whole Foods has begun a campaign to raise funds and awareness about the dwindling number of honey bees.  The effort includes in-store screenings of films, tweet-to-give and pin-to-give programs benefiting the Xerces Society, an “adopt a bee” option on their Facebook page and a 25 cent donation for every organic cantaloupe sold.

They hope to raise $180,000.  (Mahoney, 2012)

Do you think they will be successful?  Will any long term benefits accrue from the effort?

Mahoney, S. (2102, June 18) Whole Foods Creates A Different Buzz.  mediapost.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012, from

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/177002/whole-foods-creates-a-different-buzz.html