To this point, it hasn’t been ready to take action, regardless of sharing pleas on social media bearing the hashtag #FindTheKetchupBoatGuy and taking different measures. In an Instagram submit, Heinz mentioned that in its investigation, it had inquired with the Colombian navy, which helped rescue Francois final month, and the federal government of Dominica, in addition to “a number of Elvis impersonators” (an organization consultant confirmed that the folks have been posing as Elvis Francois, not Elvis Presley).
Francois’s story was harrowingly cinematic: He had been repairing his boat close to the island of Saint Martin, the place he lives, in December when currents pulled the vessel out into the Caribbean Sea. He tried to name for assist however had no sign, he said in news reports, and so he spent 24 days ready for rescue. He survived on ketchup, garlic powder and Maggi seasoning cubes, based on officers, together with contemporary rainwater he collected.
“Sooner or later I misplaced hope and considered my household, however I thank the coast guard,” he mentioned in a video launched by the Colombian navy. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be telling the story.”
Francois was lastly found by a aircraft passing overhead who noticed the phrase “assist” he had written throughout the hull of his boat, based on reviews, and he was picked up by a container ship.
With out understanding for positive that it was Heinz model ketchup that helped hold Francois alive (although they assumed it was, given Heinz’s market dominance), the corporate determined to offer him a “cutting-edge boat,” a Heinz consultant mentioned within the e-mail, which could have been a neat publicity stunt/variety gesture by itself. However the plan to supply the person “a brand new boat geared up with full navigational know-how to keep away from one other catastrophe sooner or later” hit a snag when he couldn’t be discovered. And so Heinz took to social media, enlisting the general public within the widening mission.
“We’re setting this message adrift into the ocean of the web, as a result of if anybody will help us discover him, it’s you,” learn an Instagram submit in search of leads. “In case you or anybody you realize will help us get involved with Elvis Francois, please drop us a DM.”
Even after a number of posts, Francois stays beneath the radar. Heinz desires to take the search worldwide and plans on enlisting “different Heinz markets around the globe” to assist the corporate observe him down. They’ve obtained some wacky suggestions — or as the corporate’s consultant wrote, “we’ve heard from some very fascinating people.” A gaggle of web sleuths is on the case, and the corporate is also hoping to listen to again from the prime minister of Colombia. “We’re hoping to unfold the phrase far and extensive so Heinz can lastly get in contact with Elvis,” the consultant mentioned within the e-mail.
