Here, friends, is the second instalment of our promised periodic Fast Food sector news roundup. This week it’s largely but not entirely about McDonald’s. As I’ve said before, that’s because they make the most announcements and are usually the first to introduce compelling new ideas…
The new Canadian Big Mac with Bacon. But McD’s is hinting
that bigger things are in the works…
McD’s goes Nuts in Canada, infuriates allergy advocates
As posted a few days ago, McDonald’s quietly announced it was no longer absolutely nut-safe, with the launch of the new Skor McFlurry, which has loose nuts scattered on top. The scene didn’t stay quiet for long. Allergy awareness advocates flooded the internet with complaints but McD’s probably won’t suffer too much for lost sales of some allergy sufferers change allegiances. Only 2 per cent of North Americans have Peanut allergies and only 2.4 Per cent have Tree Nut allergies.
McD’s Big Reveal may already have sprung in Canada
McDonald’s sent ominous black boxes to many of the big food news outlets late this past week, containing a dark-looking note that, ” Big things are happening at McDonald’s,” in the U.S. on January 26. Hmm… That’s a pretty elaborate stunt, just to get the chatter rolling. So it must be something really big. They wouldn’t risk looking like goofs, which they would if they went to the trouble of sending mysterious Black Boxes to the media and launched something minor or mundane. The Burger Chain that cried, “Wolf!” The word ‘Big’ has many Fast Foodies speculating that what’s coming is the new Bacon Big Mac that debuted with intensive TV advertising in Canada this past Week. But others say the Big Mac with Bacon isn’t big enough to warrant the hype. We’ll have to wait and see…
About that Big Mac with Bacon…
The new menu item came to Canadian McDonald’s outlets this past week riding a wave of high-energy TV advertising. I guess this new combination just makes sense. But it’s such a no-brainer that I have to wonder why no one in the company’s brain trust at this Oak Brook IL, headquarters didin’t think of it before. Or is this yet another indication that McD’s, like other burger chains, is not scraping the bottom of it’s idea barrel? We shall see…
Here’s a good one…
The joke was on McD’s recently, when a Filipino diner and a big group of friends descended upon a Makati-area Golden Arches to feat on the Philippines-only Fried Chicken and Spaghetti meal. Fried Chicken is a classic Filipino street food favourite, so it’s no surprise McD’s would offer some form of the dish there. But over Spaghetti? Some locals have become used to the culturally incorrect starch on their plates, but others, it seems have been plotting an up[rising. Enter Joveboy Borromeo, an active Filipino Facebook user, who brought a mob of friends and a steaming rice cooker to his local McD’s! Maybe now management will get the hint!
Where is the most expensive Big Mac?
Every year, British business magazine The Economist publishes its Big Mac Index, showing what the iconic sandwich costs in dozens of different countries around the world. The priciest one is in Switzerland, where The Economist recons the menu item, is 25 percent overvalued compared to the U.S.’baseline standard’, selling at the equivalent of (US)$6.35. The cheapest one is said to be found in Egypt, where it sells for the equivalent of (US)$1.46.
Tim Horton’s launches Phone-pay App
The new TimmyMe App is available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry users at the Tim’s website. Check to make sure your particular smart phone OS is supported. You must have a TimCard account to use the new App. The Android version of the App also lets you check nutrition info and reload your TimCard remotely. Gets you on your way faster.
Superbowl Sunday is on the horizon and the joints are stocking up…
Hooter’s might just proclaim itself the home of Superbowl TV. That is, if you go by the amount of extra food its operators order in preparation for the Big Game. And their take-out operations are gearing up for a major run on Wings. The chain told reporters, each branch orders 22,000 more Wings than usual, 20 more gallons of Blue Cheese, and 10 more gallons of Ranch Dressing. Don’t everybody push in at once. They’re not likely to run out!
~ Maggie J.