Sobeys Christmas ad stars share their stories

Sobeys touched the hearts of Martime shoppers last month with the launch of the remake of its iconic Star of Christmas ad.

The heart-warming ad, which featured a Halifax children’s choir singing Nova Scotia musician Bob Quinn’s Star of Chrsitmas jingle and heart-warming Holiday family scenes, was an annual Christmastime classic across Eastern Canada until 2004.

“Everybody in Atlantic Canada sang that song,” Shauna Selig Sobeys’ communications manager for Atlantic Canada told Canadian Grocer at the time of the launch. “For many people on the East Coast, including me and my family, the Christmas season started when they heard that song.”

Selig wasn’t wrong. Since the revamped ad began airing at the end of November, Sobeys has released a series of videos featuring individuals sharing their personal connection to the Star of Christmas and what it means to them.

Cynthia, for example, played the part of choir director in the original 1987 commercial. She was also part of the remake, along with some of the original choir children.

Composer Bob Quinn says it was “a bit of a challenge” to come up with a song that evoked the spirit of Christmas and didn’t mention price or product.

See some of the reaction videos below: