February 19, 2009 • 10:18 PM
(UPDATE: Commercial via YOUTUBE)
Interesting missive from MediaWeek today about an ad buy for this Sunday’s Academy Awards. The Midwest (and slightly beyond) chain Culver’s has bought national TV time during the February 22nd ABC broadcast.
So here’s the big question – is the nation ready for ButterBurgers (or at least ButterBurger envy since most of us don’t live anywhere near a Culver’s – East Coast Cardiologists rejoice!)?
What is a ButterBurger?
According to Culver’s:
Our signature ButterBurger® is made from fresh, never frozen, 100% U.S. raised beef and seared on a hot grill to seal in that juicy flavor.
ButterBurger stats (amazingly below 500 calories and “healthier” than a McD’s Quarter Pounder w/Cheese)
Oh my.
In a hopeful sign for the economy:
Chris Contino, vp, marketing for the chain, said in a statement: “Culver’s roots are in the Midwest, but we’re spreading across the country. We’re proof that good companies grow even in challenging times.”
And I hope they do grow. George Motz featured the infamous ButterBurger at Solly’s in his film Hamburger America and I’ve been too scared to even try and recreate this at home. Here’s a recipe courtesy of roadfood.com. Proceed with caution.
I’ll be tuning in to see the spot on Sunday night.
Culver’s “I Am A Pickle” TV spot (Note: this is not the spot that will run during the Oscars)
Culver’s vs. In-N-Out Burger?
Filed under: Big Burgers, Burger, Burgernomics, Butter Burgers, Cheeseburger, Fast Food Chains, Fast Food Finance, Hamburger, Hamburger America, Marc Sanders, Recipe, Recipes
Advertising Age (via stockhouse.com) brings news of the $1.09 double cheeseburger at 50 McDonalds stores in Georgia and Mississippi…and apparently all is not well in franchise land. For a marketing geek, the clinical nature in which the McDonald’s folks “speak” in this article is eye-opening. Burgers are really just widgets (albeit better tasting)…
‘The value menu as an everyday-value proposition is probably not a bad thing,’ said Ed Bailey, a franchisee with 63 restaurants in the Dallas area. ‘But when you begin to advertise it and make it your marketing campaign, encouraging franchisees to do it because transactions are slipping and comp sales are slipping,’ there are problems, he said.
And the saga continues. Look out Dollar Stores, you’re next!
Filed under: Burgernomics, Fast Food Chains, Fast Food Finance
Via the Chicago Tribune comes the mildly exciting news that McDonalds’ Dollar Menu will not be a casualty of the recent spike in food (and commodity) prices.
From this article comes a pretty stunning fact, 14% of total sales at the fast food giant come for the Double Cheeseburger – an item on the Dollar Menu.
Some semi-depressing news on the Trans Fat front though…you tell me what warm and fuzzy feeling you get from McCEO James Skinner when you read this quote about removing TF from their menu’
“The commitment we made on trans fat was really around the french fry, and we have lived up to our commitment and achieved it in the U.S.,” Skinner said. “In fact, we have been done for a couple of months.”
So suffice to say, McD’s isn’t too concerned about TF in non-french fry items (like the above mentioned Double Cheeseburger which has 1.5g and the 32 oz. chocolate shake which has 2g).
As the economy continues to sputter, making the right choice and removing Trans Fats no doubt gets tougher and tougher for McD’s as they try and commit to the “value” inherent in the dollar menu and fast food dining in general.
Filed under: Burgernomics, Fast Food Chains, Fast Food Finance
February 18, 2008 • 3:26 PM
Great AP story the other day on the growing trend in fast-food, the double cheeseburger. I love (and agree) with the characterization of the double cheeseburger at McDonald’s as a “marquee” item…it always appeared like a pricing goof – but truth be told it was/is an economic bellwether.
Perhaps the most noticeable example of the more-food-for-less strategy is the appearance on more dollar menus of the double cheeseburger, long a staple of the regular menu and combination meals.
Unlike the value- and dollar-menu regulars, like a small order of fries or “junior” version of a larger burger, the double cheeseburger is a more marquee , and more expensive , choice at most fast food chains.
McDonald’s Corp., ahead of the curve on the value menu front, is the exception. Its double cheeseburger has been on the dollar menu since its introduction in 2003 and is one of the chain’s biggest sellers. McDonald’s touted the “everyday appeal” of the dollar menu in its most recent sales report.
Now a version of the double cheeseburger is appearing on value and dollar menus at the chain’s biggest competitors , Burger King Corp. and Wendy’s International Inc.
Full story here...
Filed under: Fast Food Chains, Fast Food Finance
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