Hardee's California Raisins

Forgotten Collectibles · 1987

Published

Hardee's offered California Raisins figurines at a low additional price with qualifying food purchases during promotions in 1987 and 1988. The figures extended characters developed in advertising and Will Vinton's clay animation into fast-food collectibles.

Why It Mattered

The promotion joined a popular advertising property to an inexpensive object that customers could assemble into a set. Its surviving figures show how quickly a television campaign could spread into restaurants, toys and collecting culture.

From Clay Animation to Fast Food

- Foote, Cone & Belding developed the California Raisins advertising concept, with clay animation by Will Vinton Studios. - The first California Raisins “Late Show” commercial dates to 1986. - A December 1987 Washington Post report confirms that Will Vinton’s company had made a California Raisins commercial for Hardee’s.

Offer Mechanics

- The 1987 offer had four plastic figures, about two inches high, at 99 cents with any dessert purchase; one figure was offered each week. - The programme was tied to Hardee’s Cinnamon ’N’ Raisin biscuit. - A 20 July 1988 advertisement offered six new limited-edition, hand-painted “Grapevine Tour ’88” figurines for 99 cents with two Rise ’N Shine biscuits or any dessert.

Later history

- The July 1988 advertisement establishes the offer in at least one participating market, not nationwide availability. - Hardee’s 2023 return of the Cinnamon ’N’ Raisin biscuit did not document a renewed California Raisins figurine offer.

Associated With

Hardee’s; California Raisins characters developed by Foote, Cone & Belding and animated by Will Vinton Studios - creator or distributor

Defining Feature

Low-cost California Raisins figurines offered with qualifying food purchases

Status

Reintroduced - Historical figurine promotions; no modern revival of the California Raisins premium offer has been identified.

Primary Records

- **Advertising History of the California Raisins** - **Hardee’s: About Us / History of Hardee’s** - **The Lowell Ledger, 20 July 1988: Hardee’s “Grapevine Tour ’88” advertisement** - **Raisin to New Heights, The Washington Post, 19 December 1987**

Image Sources

- **Image 1** - **Image 2** - **Image 3** - **Image 4** - **Image 5**

Rights Notice

Images are included for historical and archival reference. Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.

Gallery

Four California Raisins figurines on a white background: one holds a saxophone-like horn, one raises both hands and wears blue shoes, one wears orange sunglasses and orange shoes, and one holds a microphone with a bow tie.
Source
Credit

Antique Trader

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

The California Raisins’ musical characters became small collectible figures, carrying the advertising act beyond the screen.

Black-and-white Hardee’s newspaper advertisement headed “Enjoy A Taste Of The Grapevine Tour,” with illustrated California Raisins characters, a 99-cent figurine offer, breakfast-food illustration, coupons, and a July 13, 1988 newspaper masthead.
Source
Credit

Hardee's Food Systems / California Raisin Advisory Board advertising artwork; scan by Kent District Library, The Lowell Ledger

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

The Lowell Ledger's 13 July 1988 advertisement offered California Raisins figures for 99 cents, tying the animated characters to a Hardee's meal promotion.

A white banner hung above a garage door reads "The California Raisins Are Here!" in red letters, with a small raisin character illustration at each end.
Source
Credit

Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. / CALRAB, 1987 banner artwork; listing photograph preserved by WorthPoint

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

A California Raisins banner advertised the characters' arrival at Hardee's, showing how the promotion reached the restaurant itself as well as its collectible figures.

A hand holds a sealed clear plastic bag containing a burgundy California Raisins figurine wearing orange sunglasses and orange shoes, a small blue accessory, and a yellow-backed card.
Source
Credit

eBay

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

A sealed promotional figure preserves the way a California Raisin collectible was supplied to its recipient.

A worn blue California Raisins box with a cartoon raisin carrying a yellow surfboard is displayed with a small raisin figurine on a yellow skateboard and a matching collector card labeled "Waves Weaver."
Source
Credit

eBay

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

The Waves Weaver package extends the California Raisins collection into a surfing theme, with the character and accessories presented together.