• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, August 30, 2011

In the latest twist on employing QR codes, Quaker is looking to boost sales of its Chewy Granola Bars by enabling kids to receive personalized messages from musician Nick Jonas.

Boxes of the bars currently feature a prominent photo of Jonas and messaging urging mothers to "Send your kids a custom message from Nick Jonas!"

When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code on the back of the box launches a message to buy the bars. The code needed to unlock one of three free StarGreetz e-cards from Jonas are inside the boxes.

Entering the code on chewysuperstar.com/nickgreetz allows the user to create a happy birthday, good luck or congratulations e-card in which Jonas uses the recipient's name.

Kids 13 and older can post their message to their Facebook walls (those younger can ask friends to post it on their pages).

StarGreetz -- a startup celebrity messaging company -- worked with Quaker to create the cards, the microsite and a Jonas Facebook video.