Rice wasn't made to sit on the side, says Tilda

Leading British rice brand Tilda has unveiled a new advertising campaign for its steamed rice range – the start of a seven-figure marketing investment into a range which will represent the brand’s focus across 2021.

Elevate Your Plate – the first major above-the-line campaign for the product range, positions Tilda Steamed rice as an integral part to so many much-loved dishes from around the world, not something made to merely sit on the side.

Devised by creative agency Havas London, it highlights that the range, available in more than 20 different flavours, always delivers the right rice for the right dish, enabling people to explore a multitude of culinary cultures whenever and however they’d like.

This idea is brought to life through a lively new TV spot directed by Guy Manwaring through Merman. Opening with the line ‘I can make everything nice with Tilda steamed rice’, it sees an amateur (but enthusiastic) home cook grow in confidence and ambition as he crafts an array of dishes of increasing complexity – from halloumi wraps and bibimbap to leftover Thai in a stir-fry; dinner for one to a banquet for everyone – all with rice at their heart.

It was created by Rosie Bird Smith and creatively directed by Dave Mygind at Havas. Planning and buying has been handled by media agency Goodstuff. The £1M campaign will run across TV and video on demand from today launching at prime time on Channel 4 in Devon & Cornwall. This will be the biggest investment Tilda have made in advertising to date. The campaign will be further supported by digital executions and a social campaign from fellow Havas agency, Cake, rounding off the new campaign for the much-loved brand, which is purchased by at least a quarter of all UK households.

Anna Beheshti, Head of Marketing at Tilda says: “As well as raising consideration versus own-label and competitor brands, we wanted to champion our premium quality Tilda rice itself as so much more than a side. With people eating at home more than ever before, we know it can be hard to find the inspiration – or the time – to cook delicious meals day in, day out. Luckily, Tilda’s tasty 20-plus varieties – including Japanese Teriyaki, Peri Peri, and Coconut Basmati – make it easy, whatever dish of the world you fancy.”