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Ξ I’m not sure when McDonald’s plans to use a 92-second McCafé  TV commercial other than at its shareholder meeting (as it did last week), but “Joe and Frank” from DDB is a charmer. And those who, like Joe and Frank, are of a certain age may recognize Blythe Danner, actress and mother of Gwyneth Paltrow, Channing [...]

A year ago, Burger King caused a stir in the United States by offering a $3.69 Angry Whopper to those who agreed to “unfriend” 10 people on Facebook. The social-media network didn’t like the idea of pulling the plug on its users and the “Whopper Sacrifice” promotion—created by agency Crispin, Porter + Bogusky—was terminated. Now, [...]

[March 9 update: Hungry Jack's has met the throwdown and responded already with a "$4.95 Extra Value Brekky": The deal includes one of 3 muffin sandwiches (including Eggs Benny) plus hash browns and cappuccino. The muffin's in your court McDonald's!] Ξ Don’t think discounting is done. Checkers/Rally’s has expanded its $1 offerings with the addition of “Unbelieva Burgers”: [...]

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TusNtct9oTY A cessation of hostilities during the Olympics is a tradition more honored in spirit than in fact, but McDonald’s steps back from the so-called “burger wars” today and celebrates the neutrality and popularity of Chicken McNuggets with a Twitter-based promotion as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games get under way. As reported here in December, McDonald’s [...]

It’s tempting to conclude from CKE Restaurants red-ink sales report for January that sex doesn’t sell. However, while Kim Kardashian eating salad in a bathtub failed to boost Carl’s Jr.’s sales raises questions about several things, sexiness isn’t one of them since it wasn’t involved here. Unless you’re 14. CKE says Carl’s Jr. saw a -9% same-store-sales performance [...]

In Scandinavia, McDonald’s is trying a next step in brand marketing that harks back to—and updates—the age a half-century ago when Procter & Gamble produced “As the World Turns,” “Another World” and other soap operas. McDonald’s has created “Dreaming in Mono,” a roughly hour-long film that it has broken into seven, 8-minute segments now airing weekly on [...]

Back Yard Burgers today formally launches its redesigned Web site with the addition of a new burger to its menu and new tools intended to broaden its reach and deepen its communication with customers. The new limited-time menu offer is a Smoked Gouda burger with caramelized onions and aïoli, which is just the sort of Black Angus [...]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYWQ5sX0-5Q[Dec. 21: The Kim Kardashian TV commercial (left) has been added.] [Dec. 16 Update: As expected, salads were introduced today. Go here to see Kim Kardashian's video invitation to a Jan. 13 "interactive lunch" on Facebook. A TV spot (left) breaks next week.] Carl’s Jr. next week launches a three-item line of premium entrée salads as [...]

Many good 2010 menu/business forecasts have been compiled and released, so we’ll take a look back instead. It’s not just contrarianism; 2009 has been a remarkably robust year for burger news, providing sustenance for this and the many other burger blogs. Let’s review some of the year’s highs and lows. BurgerBusiness.com’s 2009 Burger of the [...]

Good morning! Here’s what to watch for today: ► Wendy’s today launches yet another element in its “When it’s real” campaign, this one self-contained on Twitter. “The Hunt for the Biggest Bacon Fan” invites consumers to follow Wendy’s UrBaconMeCrazy site and send tweets that include the hashtag “#bacon.” Doing so earns points; the person with [...]

McDonald’s gets not just nostalgic but downright poetic in a new campaign marking its 35 years in the United Kingdom. Beginning Oct. 10, the advertising uses the tagline “There’s a McDonald’s for everyone” in tandem with the global “I’m lovin’ it” logo.  Dubbed the ”Favourites” campaign, work from Leo Burnett/London emphasizes core menu items the chain has [...]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXSTwdQmFQEUnderstanding the rules of the Monopoly promotion McDonald’s is running here is child’s play compared to the Los Wochos promotion the chain has under way in Germany. It involves German and Spanish word plays, a funky sombrero dance, a sweepstakes and a new burger called the Big Jalapeño. But it is worth understanding because it’s [...]