Mondelēz Returns to March Madness® With a New TV Spot Featuring Superstars Juju Watkins and Jackson Shelstad

Rhea-AI Summary

Mondelēz International (MDLZ) announces its return to March Madness® as an Official Corporate Partner, featuring college basketball stars Juju Watkins and Jackson Shelstad in a new 30-second TV spot airing March 13, 2025. The company is partnering with nine NCAA athletes across its brands OREO, RITZ, CHIPS AHOY!, WHEAT THINS, and TRISCUIT.

The campaign includes a consumer sweepstakes offering chances to win a VIP trip to the 2026 NCAA Final Four® through the Win Time Outz microsite. Mondelēz will host fan experiences at both the Men's Final Four in San Antonio (April 4-7) and Women's Final Four in Tampa (April 3-6), featuring product sampling and athlete meet-and-greets.

This initiative builds on Mondelēz's sports focus, following RITZ's first Big Game spot and a partnership with Inter Miami CF. The company reported 2024 net revenues of $36.4 billion, operating in over 150 countries with brands including OREO, CADBURY, and CLIF BAR.

Positive

• Strong brand presence across multiple NCAA events with expanded portfolio reach
• Strategic sports marketing expansion with NCAA partnership and Inter Miami CF deal
• Substantial market presence with $36.4B in net revenues (2024)
• Geographic diversification across 150+ countries

Negative

• None.

Mondelēz is teaming up with nine current and former NCAA® athletes to drive excitement and buzz throughout the tournament

EAST HANOVER, N.J., March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mondelēz, an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA® for over a decade, is partnering with a new roster of NCAA athletes and offering fans a chance to win a VIP trip to the 2026 NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four®.

As part of the partnership, college basketball superstars Juju Watkins (University of Southern California point guard) and Jackson Shelstad (University of Oregon guard) will appear in the 30-second spot from Mondelēz, which will begin airing on Thursday, March 13. Mondelēz is also teaming up with a group of current and former NCAA athletes as brand ambassadors during March Madness, who will drive fan excitement and buzz throughout the tournament via snacking content on their social channels. The complete roster of athletes includes:

• Athletes Drafted by the RITZ Brand:
  • Caleb Love, University of Arizona
  • Juju Watkins, University of Southern California
• Athletes Drafted by the OREO Brand:
  • Brandon Dwyer, Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Flau'jae Johnson, Louisiana State University
• Athletes Drafted by the CHIPS AHOY! Brand:
  • Jackson Shelstad, University of Oregon
  • Chloe Kitts, University of South Carolina
  • Jalil Bethea, University of Miami
• Athletes Drafted by the WHEAT THINS and TRISCUIT Brands:
  • Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty and formerly University of Connecticut 
  • RJ Davis, University of North Carolina

Throughout the tournament, Mondelēz International brands OREO, RITZ, CHIPS AHOY!, TRISCUIT, and WHEAT THINS will leverage their official partnership to get some lucky March Madness® fans unrivaled access to the Final Four® and game-changing prizes. Users are invited to visit the Win Time Outz microsite daily to earn sweepstakes entries for free or by entering a product UPC, trying out crowd-pleasing recipes, and even playing a virtual Pop-A-Shot game branded with Mondelēz gameday favorites. Players can test their skills and earn chances to win one of hundreds of prizes including a trip to the 2026 NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four. Other prizes include a personalized message on social media from an NCAA partner athlete, autographed merch, gift cards, and more! *See below for additional details including a link to the Official Rules.

At the Men's Final Four, the RITZ, OREO, CHIPS AHOY! and WHEAT THINS brands will also host the ultimate fan experience and offer giveaways at the San Antonio Fan Fest from April 4-7. Brandon Dwyer of Florida Gulf Coast University will surprise fans with a chance to win a Mystery Box Challenge. Attendees can also try RITZ Toasted Chips, CHIPS AHOY! Big Chewy Cookies and Blondie Baked Bites, as well as belVita Banana Energy Bites during the activities.

The belVita brand will have an inaugural presence on the ground for the NCAA Women's Final Four, in Tampa, Florida from April 3-6. The brand will give away samples of its new belVita Energy Snack Bites and host a meet-and-greet.

The Mondelēz portfolio presence at the March Madness tournament builds on what's already flourishing into a long-term focus on sports, including the RITZ brand's first ever Big Game spot and a recently announced partnership between Mondelēz with Inter Miami CF.

"Mondelēz is a proud and long-time NCAA corporate partner, and this year marks an exciting step forward with the expansion of our portfolio's presence at the Women's Final Four," said Tanya Berman, Senior Vice President, Biscuits. "Our expanded partnership is another testament to how our brands continue to show up on gameday snack platters across the country."

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Open to residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. & Puerto Rico 18 years+. Ends 4/7/25. Game has 3 phases with different prizes; see Official Rules for dates. Visit microsite for Rules incl. free entry method. Void where prohibited.

About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, RITZ, LU, CLIF BAR and TATE'S BAKE SHOP biscuits and baked snacks, as well as CADBURY DAIRY MILK, MILKA and TOBLERONE chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on X at www.x.com/MDLZ

Media Contact
Weber Shandwick RITZ Team
wswnycritz@webershandwick.com 

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SOURCE Mondelēz International

FAQ

What is the value of Mondelēz (MDLZ) partnership with NCAA March Madness 2025?

The partnership includes a TV campaign, nine NCAA athlete ambassadors, consumer sweepstakes, and fan experiences at both Men's and Women's Final Four events.

Which athletes are featured in MDLZ's March Madness 2025 campaign?

The campaign features USC's Juju Watkins and Oregon's Jackson Shelstad in the TV spot, along with seven other current and former NCAA athletes as brand ambassadors.

What prizes can fans win in MDLZ's March Madness 2025 sweepstakes?

Prizes include a VIP trip to 2026 NCAA Final Four, personalized athlete messages, autographed merchandise, and gift cards through the Win Time Outz microsite.

How much revenue did MDLZ generate in 2024?

Mondelēz International reported net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion in 2024.