Cadbury Introduces Its 2024 Bunny Of The Year, Louie The Raccoon
Image via Cadbury USA
The Cadbury Bunny has been a mainstay of Easter, a fluffy white symbol of springtime joy. But in a delightful tradition-bending move, the chocolate giant has embraced a more inclusive mascot selection in recent years. The winner of its annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts isn’t always a bunny, but rather the pet who most embodies the spirit of the season. This year’s champion is Louie, a two-year-old raccoon rescued from Miami.
Louie’s win wasn’t a fluke. The Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, now in its sixth year, unfolded in a bracket-style showdown on Instagram for the first time. Pet owners across the country submitted their furry (or feathery, or scaled) friends, each vying for the coveted title with an endearing post explaining why their pet was the perfect fit. Throughout March, a frenzy of animal lovers and Cadbury fans cast their votes, winnowing the adorable contestants down to the “Final Bunny.” Louie clawed his way to the top.
Image via The Hershey Company / PR Newswire
While a raccoon mascot might seem like the most random choice yet, Louie’s story embodies the spirit of inclusivity. Rescued after being deemed unfit for the wild, he thrives in his loving home. He even uses his paw prints to create art, with proceeds going to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Those toes will now be useful for clutching his new US$7,000 cash prize.
Louie might be breaking new ground with his charm, but he’s not the first critter to hop, waddle, or slither into the Cadbury Bunny role. Previous years have seen heartwarming victories by Crash the one-eyed cat (2023), a survivor of a car accident. There was also Annie Rose the therapy dog (2022), Betty the tree frog (2021), Lieutenant Dan the courageous coonhound (2020), and even Henri, a delightfully grumpy bulldog (2019).
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Jaime Arslan, Louie’s owner, has expressed feeling “thrilled” about the accomplishment. “Louie winning will represent ALL wildlife that desperately need a voice,” Arslan previously mentioned when describing why the critter deserved to be bunny of the year.
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You’ll meet the radiant raccoon again when the company launches its 2025 Cadbury Bunny Tryouts commercial, which he’ll play a starring role in.
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[via Boing Boing, Food Manufacturing, Fox Business, images via various sources]
