Colonel Sanders but with NO MUSTACHE!

The Movember Foundation is an organization whose mission is to change the face of men’s health, and to reduce the number of men dying prematurely. From mental health and suicide prevention, to prostate and testicular cancer, the Movemeber Foundation takes them all on. Since its foundation in 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects all around the world. All the while, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

One of their big campaigns to raise awareness, that I’m sure you know about, is in November, where they challenge all men to shave their faces clean during the first week. During the ensuing couple weeks, until December, they challenge you to continually shave the areas around your mustache and let just the mustache continue to grow. While this happens, it is inevitable that you will have a prominent mustache that will most likely foster some curious questions from those around you. These questions prompt you to give an opportunity to inform and educate people about important men’s health issues, the Movember campaign, and to hopefully raise funds for the foundation.

Now in partnership with Movember, on November 1st, one of the most famously recognized mustachioed men in the world, Colonel Sanders (KFC’s logo), decided to raise awareness for the Movember movement by shaving on day one. KFC France replaced its famous logo with a shaved one, creatively designed by Sid Lee, on all of its social media for one day, inviting KFC fans to be a part of the Movember initiative.

This is not the first time that KFC has participated in Movember. KFC was active in Ireland and the UK with the shaved Colonel Sanders back in 2014 in support of Men’s health. Moving past KFC, Pringles UK also joined with Movember by removing the iconic mustaches on Mr. P.

If you’re like me and can’t grow a mustache, the Movember foundation encourages you to support the cause in your own way, whether it’s setting a walking or running goal of 60 miles for the month or hosting an online event. There is even a similar cause called No-Shave November, or NoShavember who’s cause began in 2009 and raises awareness for cancer. Those who are participating are encouraged to donate whatever money they save shaving to cancer research.

The target audience for this campaign would be KFC’s customers, especially men and those who want to help support the prevention of premature death in men. When I first saw this campaign, I was taken aback. It was so strange seeing Colonel Sanders, who’s so recognizable by his facial hair, clean shaven. This was an easy but very effective tactic by KFC to not only raise awareness for the Movember foundation but also to bring their company into the spotlight and possibly gain new customers through this campaign.