SCOTS can enjoy a ‘virtual’ Burns supper this year thanks to a new augmented reality (AR) pack which beams a kilted host reciting the ‘Address Tae A Haggis’ directly into their homes.
Launched by ready meal specialist McIntosh of Strathmore, over 300,000 special AR Haggis Neeps & Tatties packs have arrived in Scottish supermarkets to help shoppers mark Burns Night during lockdown.
Consumers can download the Zappar app on their smartphone, scan the code, and within seconds an actor ‘leaps’ off the pack to deliver Rabbie Burns’ famous poem.
The man delivering the virtual address is actor and Burns fan Max Raskin, who was challenged to recite the poem in a single take, and also to interact with an array of animations that bring the ‘Address Tae a Haggis’ to life.
Running across three different ‘Ultimate Burns Night In’ McIntosh packs – single (340g) and double (860g) Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, plus a single vegetarian haggis option – every meal is made with the firm’s traditional haggis recipe and locally grown Scottish potatoes and neeps.
Julie Nisbet, MD of McIntosh of Strathmore, said, “Burns is a very special occasion for everyone at McIntosh, and we’re very proud of our Haggis, Neeps & Tatties ready meals which use the best Scottish produce made to our tasty family recipe – ready for people to heat, eat and enjoy. We recognised however that the missing component in 2021 would be friends, family and all the fun of an actual Burns supper.
“Thanks to a brilliant performance from Max and some very clever technology, we are delighted to launch our AR version for both new and loyal shoppers across Scotland. We hope it raises the spirits of the thousands of people around the country who’ll be missing out on their usual Burns celebrations this year.”
Max Raskin recently appeared in the BBC’s Armchair Detectives and in adverts for Visit Scotland. He’s also a well-known host for events within the Scottish drinks industry. He commented, “When I was young my family owned the Inn on the Green in Glasgow which was famed for its Burns night events, and from there my love of celebrating Burns has only grown. An AR shoot is a first for me so I’m excited to see myself on pack, though I think my mum is even more excited! The address had to be done in one take, so we ended up doing 50 just to make sure we had the perfect version. But it was great fun. I don’t think I could ever get bored of reciting Burns!”
