Spurned by McDonald’s, Burger King turned this week to the four publicity-minded smaller chains that volunteered to join it in a celebration of ground beef as a foundation for world peace.
The Home of the Whopper said it would be willing to go ahead with plans to erect a pop-up restaurant where arch-competitors would set aside their differences and jointly sell a burger they’d concoct in partnership. And if McDonald’s wants no part of the plan, BK said, it’d be glad to collaborate with Denny’s, Krystal, Wayback Burgers and 11-unit Giraffas on the kumbaya moment.
All four brands reached out to Burger King after its overtures to McDonald’s for a burger détente were gently rebuffed in a manner that mirrored BK’s tongue-in-cheek invitation. McDonald’s suggested that the two collaborate on something bigger than the joint operation of a pop-up McWhopper outlet on Peace Day, Sept. 21.
In a public message posted Tuesday on social-media platforms, BK left the tent flap open for McDonald’s. “McDonald’s, please take your time,” it jabbed. “We’re at peace with that.”
BK aired its original offer to McDonald’s last week in full-page newspaper ads that drew extensive press coverage and set the internet abuzz. Its plan was to open a restaurant for a day in Atlanta and feature a burger that incorporated six ingredients from a Whopper and six from a Big Mac. The McWhopper would be served by a staff drawn from both chains.
McDonald’s declined in a Facebook posting, but “an incredible thing has happened,” BK said Tuesday. “We’ve received a significant number of unexpected responses from other restaurants, large and small…Denny’s, Wayback Burgers, Krystal and Giraffas, we’d like to build on your individual proposals to collaborate on Peace Day.”
BK suggested that the parties collaborate on a new product, the Peace Burger, featuring ingredients from the six-chain burger brotherhood.
But it did erect a hurdle: If the would-be partners hope to proceed, they’ll need to make a donation to Peace One Day, the group hosting Peace Day.
In the meantime, Burger King said, it’s already starting construction of a one-day restaurant in Atlanta.
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