After reading https://blogs.ubc.ca/veronicacho/2010/09/16/a-pregnant-nun-and-gelato-a-breach-of-ethics/, I was compelled to look into the string of advertisements by the company Federici ice-cream (example seen above). The following is my view on Federici’s marketing strategy.
There is an advertisement for Federici ice cream in the UK that was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. The advertisement shows sexual tension between a nun and a Priest with a caption that reads “Submit to Temptation”.
I understand how the advertisement can sell the ice cream as ice cream is considered to be fattening and unhealthy, so people tend to stay away from it, and Federici would like more people to submit to the temptation of ice cream and consume more of it. It is basically relating ice cream to one of the most taboo relationships in the world, namely between a nun and a priest.
I do not feel that this advertisement is ethical as Federici is exploiting religion in order to sell its product. It is linking sex and religion and by doing so, it damages the image of religion. This form of advertising is offensive to a lot of people and as it is making fun of religion, the ethicality of this advertisement is limited.
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One reply on “Post #5 Business Ethics – Federici Ice Cream”
I appreciate you sharing your views about this advertisement. There is definitely a controversy brewing over this series of ads. I have no idea if it is helping the company sell ice cream but it certainly has people writing! I have posted a link to this post from my website which tracks activity on all things Federici.