• by Tanya Gazdik , September 10, 2012

Edible Arrangements is marking reaching 500,000 Facebook fans with a series of online and in-store promotions.

The promotions begin Sept. 17 and are timed with the launch of a new Edible Arrangements product.

"While it is an incredible achievement for us to hit a half million fans, we feel like it's more important to look at the interaction we have with each of them," said Kaitlin Reiss, vice president of e-commerce for Edible Arrangements, in a release.

Edible Arrangements launched its Facebook Page in 2008, and within one year had over 170,000 fans. Since then, an average 100,000 per year have signed on.

"Much of this growth happened naturally," Reiss said. "As our brand awareness has increased, we've seen the impact and importance of the role that social media can play. We've really made a commitment to grow our following on Facebook, and to engage with our fans."

The e-commerce division at Edible Arrangements has more than doubled in size over the past 20 months. More than 50% of Edible Arrangements' store sales are driven by online orders and the chain recently introduced a customized mobile version of the Web site.

Edible Arrangements was recently ranked number 27 in “1851's Social 100: Top Social Media Campaigns That Stand Out.” In addition, the Edible Arrangements Web site was ranked among the top 30 in ForeSee's Top 100 e-Retail Satisfaction Index and named one of the Top 100 internet retailers by Internet Retailer magazine.