McDonald's Doubling Down on Families: A Holiday Happy Meal That Inspires Giving and Strengthens Bonds

 

As the holiday season approaches, McDonald’s is elevating family traditions with a special Happy Meal aimed at spreading joy and nurturing the spirit of giving. Beginning November 26, McDonald’s Happy Meals will include two Pet Simulator toys, with one of the toys uniquely gift-wrapped to encourage sharing.

Now according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, success does leave clues and this promotion is set to captivate children while highlighting McDonald’s role in family life, creating a “happy place” experience that deepens the brand’s connection with parents and young fans alike.

This thoughtful offering goes beyond the usual treat by focusing on play, generosity, and shared joy. With sticker sheets included to let kids personalize their Pet Simulator characters, McDonald’s is blending fun and creativity in a way that fosters both play and the joy of giving. As Jennifer “JJ” Healan, Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Brand, Content, and Culture, shares, “Sharing is core to who we are at McDonald’s. Whether kids choose to gift their extra toy to a family member, make a friend smile, or show kindness to a neighbor, this Happy Meal helps kids experience the joy of generosity this season.”

Encouraging Family Bonds Through Generosity

The Pet Simulator Happy Meal gives families an opportunity to celebrate shared values. Through the dual-toy experience, McDonald’s promotes positive values for its youngest fans. Each toy represents a chance to create memorable family moments and reinforce McDonald’s place in family life. By offering an extra toy with each Happy Meal, McDonald’s doesn’t just bring a collectible toy to families—it brings the spirit of giving, an experience that can help bridge conversations between parents and children about kindness, empathy, and connection.

The Pet Simulator Happy Meal experience ties into a broader marketing trend, with brands striving to cultivate connections beyond transactions. For McDonald’s, this effort extends the brand’s relevance in family lives, showcasing the company’s long-standing values of togetherness and generosity.

Positive Outcomes from McDonald’s Holiday Promotion

McDonald’s promotion is strategically designed to benefit both the brand and its customers. Here are some of the notable outcomes anticipated from this initiative:

1.       Increased Brand Loyalty Among Families
This holiday Happy Meal encourages families to view McDonald’s as a brand that aligns with values parents want to instill in their children. By offering a fun way for kids to practice generosity, McDonald’s strengthens its appeal to family-oriented customers who value brands that promote kindness and giving.

2.       Enhanced Collectible Appeal
The Pet Simulator collection—featuring 18 unique characters—adds to McDonald’s legacy of engaging young customers with exclusive, collectible items. Children are drawn back to the brand to complete their collection, creating an ongoing engagement loop that keeps McDonald’s top of mind.

3.       Organic Social Media Amplification
As families share their Happy Meal experiences, including the joy of gifting an extra toy, McDonald’s gains organic social media exposure. These spontaneous sharing moments can spark a wave of positive posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, extending the brand’s visibility throughout the holiday season.

4.       Educational Value Through Play
The gift-wrapped toy provides a meaningful opportunity for children to learn about sharing. By associating McDonald’s with such valuable experiences, parents are more likely to view Happy Meals as a beneficial treat for their children, reinforcing positive brand impressions.

Long-Term Benefits of McDonald's Family-Focused Promotion

1.       Strengthened Community Connection
By fostering an environment where kids learn to share, McDonald’s also nurtures a sense of community. This campaign has the potential to extend beyond families, as children are encouraged to gift the toy to neighbors or classmates, strengthening community bonds. McDonald’s position as a community-oriented brand is thus reinforced, promoting goodwill at a local level.

2.       Increased Family Foot Traffic
Happy Meals featuring unique collectibles historically boost customer visits, with families making repeat visits to complete sets. This promotion is likely to increase family foot traffic, especially among parents who value McDonald’s kid-friendly atmosphere and menu offerings, further boosting holiday season sales.

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3.       Reinforced Position as a Kid-Friendly Brand
By aligning itself with a popular game like Pet Simulator, McDonald’s continues to capture the interests of children in modern, digitally engaging ways. This integration strengthens McDonald’s as a kid-friendly brand that understands contemporary play trends, building on its reputation as a destination for family-friendly dining experiences.

4.       Enhanced Brand Recognition Through Digital Engagement
Alongside the Happy Meal, McDonald’s “GM Spread Joy” digital campaign with Doodles taps into the rising popularity of digital collectibles, offering exclusive rewards with McCafé coffee purchases. This campaign drives engagement with young, tech-savvy customers, reinforcing McDonald’s versatility as a brand that understands both physical and digital engagement in today’s fast-evolving market.

As McDonald’s doubles down on families this holiday season, the brand is weaving the spirit of the season into an experience that benefits customers and drives positive brand associations. By blending values-based engagement with modern-day play, McDonald’s is ensuring its place at the heart of family memories while looking ahead to the next generation of loyal customers.

Success does leave clues. One clue that time and time again continues to resurface is “the consumer is dynamic not static”.  Regular readers of this blog know that is the common refrain of Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Our Grocerant Guru® can help your company edify your brand with relevance.  Call 253-759-7869 for more information. 

Top 10 Thanksgiving Side Dishes in the US

 

Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® was wondering who eats what for Thanksgiving Dinner.  So, after a bit of research here is just what he found.

Thanksgiving is a meal steeped in tradition, and side dishes are often the stars of the table. Here’s a countdown of the most beloved side dishes across American households, along with recipes for the top three. We’ll also take a quick look at other Thanksgiving main dish options for those considering an alternative to turkey.

1. Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes, often topped with gravy, are an American classic. They pair well with nearly any main dish and can be adjusted to fit all tastes.

Recipe: Classic Mashed Potatoes

·         Ingredients: 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed; 1/2 cup butter; 1 cup milk; salt and pepper to taste.

·         Instructions: Boil potatoes until tender (about 15 minutes). Drain, then mash with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Stuffing

Thanksgiving stuffing, traditionally made with bread, herbs, and aromatics, is a must-have side with many regional variations.

Recipe: Herb and Sausage Stuffing

·         Ingredients: 10 cups cubed stale bread; 1 pound sausage, crumbled; 1 onion, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1/4 cup chopped parsley; 1 tsp sage; 1 tsp thyme; 2 cups chicken broth; salt and pepper.

·         Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Sauté sausage, onion, and celery. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, then bake in a greased dish for 30-40 minutes.

3. Sweet Potato Casserole

This dish balances sweet and savory, often with marshmallow or pecan toppings for a rich and satisfying addition to the Thanksgiving table.

Recipe: Pecan-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

·         Ingredients: 4 large sweet potatoes, boiled and mashed; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup butter; 1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

·         Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Top with pecans and bake for 25-30 minutes.

 

Other Popular Thanksgiving Sides

4.       Green Bean Casserole – This creamy, crunchy casserole topped with fried onions has become an American staple since its creation in the 1950s.

5.       Cranberry Sauce – Whether jellied or homemade with fresh cranberries, this tangy side adds a burst of flavor that balances richer dishes.

6.       Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Popular for their hearty flavor and caramelized edges, Brussels sprouts are now a trendy addition to Thanksgiving spreads.

7.       Macaroni and Cheese – For households with Southern roots, mac ‘n’ cheese is often a go-to comfort dish, with extra cheese making it a creamy favorite.

8.       Cornbread – Cornbread’s sweet and savory flavor complements many Thanksgiving dishes, especially in the South.

9.       Glazed Carrots – With a light sweetness and colorful appeal, glazed carrots are a simple yet festive addition.

10.   Roasted Root Vegetables – Featuring earthy flavors and seasonal ingredients like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes, roasted root vegetables make for a healthy, rustic side.

 

Alternatives to Turkey

While turkey is traditional, some households opt for other main dishes. Alternatives include:

·         Ham: Ham has grown in popularity as a Thanksgiving choice, especially for those who prefer a milder, saltier flavor over turkey’s rich profile.

·         Prime Rib or Roast Beef: For a heartier, more luxurious option, roast beef or prime rib are favorites for those wanting a break from poultry.

·         Salmon: For a lighter, health-conscious alternative, salmon brings a fresh, mild taste and aligns with growing consumer demand for seafood at holiday meals.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.

McDonald's Leverages Partnerships to Build Long-Term Brand Loyalty Through Kids’ Meals

 

There is one thing that regular readers of this blog know, that is Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes is success does not mean you have to reinvent a successful brand building template, most of the time utilizing the template that works the best. With a customer focused twist will produce consumer buy-in to drive convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization, resulting in top-line sales and bottom-line profits.

McDonald’s has long been a master at forging partnerships that resonate with its youngest customers, creating memorable experiences that extend far beyond the dining table. These collaborations, particularly tied to its iconic Happy Meal, play a crucial role in building long-term brand loyalty among children, who often grow into lifelong customers. A perfect example of this strategy in action is the current promotion between McDonald’s and Crocs, which marks the second time the two brands have teamed up in less than a year.

The Crocs Happy Meal: A Creative Engagement Tool The latest collaboration features a Crocs Happy Meal, complete with eight exclusive Crocs clips, each delivered in a unique shoebox alongside a Jibbitz sticker sheet for customization. In addition to physical collectibles, McDonald’s is also offering a digital experience where customers can scan a QR code on the Happy Meal box to design personalized shoes. This creative engagement, blending physical toys with interactive digital components, is precisely how McDonald’s keeps its brand relevant to children and their families.

This partnership with Crocs builds on the previous promotion in November 2023, where McDonald’s introduced a full line of shoes, socks, and Jibbitz charms featuring beloved characters like Grimace, Birdie, and Hamburglar. By tapping into Crocs' popularity, especially with Gen Z and younger consumers, McDonald’s leverages footwear to edify its connection with kids, who are vital to its long-term success.

Six Ways Kids’ Meals Build Long-Term Brand Loyalty

1.       Creating Positive Early Experiences
From its inception in 1979, the Happy Meal was designed to provide children with more than just food—it offered them fun, a sense of wonder, and something they could look forward to. Early positive experiences with McDonald’s create an emotional connection that can last a lifetime. Partnerships with brands like Crocs, featuring colorful, customizable toys, amplify this joy.

2.       Collectibles Drive Repeat Visits
Happy Meals frequently feature toy collections, encouraging repeat visits to complete a set. The Crocs Happy Meal, with its eight exclusive Crocs clips and personalized Jibbitz sticker sheets, follows this proven model. Parents often return to the restaurant with their children to collect all variations, which builds habit and familiarity with the brand.

3.       Nostalgia Fosters Long-Term Loyalty
McDonald’s understands the power of nostalgia. The brand has often revived beloved characters like Grimace, Birdie, and Hamburglar, as seen in its Crocs collaboration. Many adults fondly remember these characters from their childhoods, and now, as parents, they’re more likely to share McDonald’s with their own kids, creating a cycle of brand loyalty across generations.

4.       Interactive Experiences Strengthen Brand Engagement
By offering digital experiences, McDonald’s extends its brand beyond the physical restaurant. In the Crocs promotion, the QR code on the Happy Meal box leads to a digital platform where children can customize their shoes. This digital interaction enhances brand engagement, meeting young customers where they are—online and on devices—and keeping McDonald’s top of mind.

5.       Cultural Relevance Through Trendy Partnerships
Collaborations with trendy brands like Crocs keep McDonald’s relevant to younger consumers. Crocs, once considered a niche product, has undergone a resurgence thanks to celebrity endorsements and a growing Gen Z fanbase. By aligning itself with popular culture, McDonald’s ensures that it remains a brand that children and their parents feel connected to.

6.       Building Family Bonding Moments
Happy Meals create moments of family bonding, whether it’s through sharing a meal or unboxing a toy together. By incorporating family-friendly brands like Crocs, McDonald’s strengthens the emotional connection between children, their families, and the brand. These shared experiences foster brand loyalty that extends into adulthood.

The Crocs Effect: Why McDonald’s Continues to Partner with Popular Brands The partnership with Crocs exemplifies McDonald’s ability to stay ahead of consumer trends while reinforcing its brand identity. Crocs, which has experienced a significant comeback in recent years, is a cultural phenomenon that appeals to a broad demographic, particularly teens and younger children. By teaming up with Crocs, McDonald’s taps into this widespread appeal and uses it to cultivate a younger, fashion-conscious audience.

Moreover, the Crocs Happy Meal, much like previous partnerships, seamlessly combines product, play, and personalization. This trifecta is essential for capturing the attention of today’s children, who are drawn to brands that offer a sense of creativity and control over their purchases.

Think About This: Partnerships Paving the Way for Future Growth McDonald’s mastery of partnerships—whether with Crocs, toy companies, or movie franchises—demonstrates the brand's understanding of how to connect with children. Kids’ meals are much more than a revenue stream; they are a vital component of McDonald’s long-term brand strategy. By continually evolving and adapting to the tastes and preferences of young consumers, McDonald’s ensures that it remains a beloved brand for generations to come. The Crocs Happy Meal is just the latest example of how the brand uses partnerships to solidify its relationship with children and their families, paving the way for future success.

Don’t over reach. Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit us on our social media sites by clicking the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

 

Do you Work at a School? McDonald’s is Giving You Free Breakfast

 

Success does leave clues and McDonald’s understands that education and good schools are the undercurrent for future success for all of us and for McDonald’s.  So, if you work either inside and outside the classroom at a school. This week, McDonald’s is making school day mornings a little brighter for educators and staff’s by and showing their appreciation with a free breakfast for all employees at schools with a Thank You Meal.

Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA, stated, “Together with our Owner/Operators, we're proud to serve the people who make our communities a better place, and this is an important time to say thank you to some of our everyday heroes,” … “We were honored to give away 12 million free Thank You Meals to first responders and healthcare workers last year and now, with educators going above and beyond, we're excited to recognize them in a way only McDonald's can.”

Yes, all educators—including teachers, administrators and school staff—can simply head to their local participating McDonald’s during breakfast hours from October 11-15 and show a valid work ID for a free breakfast. It’s just that simple.  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru®  at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® wants to congratulate McDonald’s on a great interactive and participatory promotion.

Get this for fun, the Thank You Meals will be served in a classic Happy Meal box filled with an entrée breakfast sandwich, Hash Browns and a beverage. Sandwich choices include an Egg McMuffin, a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit or a Sausage Biscuit. Beverage options include a medium McCafé hot or iced coffee or a medium soft drink.

Did you know that, McDonald’s franchisees have supported educators in the local neighborhoods they own and operate their restaurants for decades, including initiatives like McTeachers’ Night, coordinating food drops at educators’ homes after school, and free meals during the pandemic. Taking our support of educators national through our Thank You Meal program will allow even more educators to be recognized, and is just a small token of our appreciation.

Stefanie Cabrera Bentancourt, McDonald’s Owner/Operator based in Miami, stated, “As a former teacher, this Thank You Meal means the world to me, and I know it will touch my customers and my employees,” says, Florida. “Educators are the backbone of our communities. They’ve done so much for us, and it’s an honor to join my fellow Owner/Operators across the country to celebrate them.”

You can help, to make sure educators feel recognized and appreciated, McDonald’s is inviting everyone to honor a special educator in their life. Whether it’s your kid's favorite teacher, or an educator making a difference in your community or who has impacted your life, share how they inspire you by using #ThankYouMeal on Twitter, TikTok or Instagram, now through October 15. If personal messages are more your style, you can also download a free Thank You e-card here and send it directly to a special educator in your life.

Looking for success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities, technology, or a new menu product segment.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

McDonald’s Old Partnerships Make for New Electricity

Looking A Customer Ahead McDonald’s renews a successful platform.  Differentiation does not mean different it means familiar but with a twist as according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  There are very few foodservice companies that understand that as well as McDonald’s according to Johnson.

Success does leave clues and McDonald’s has in the past had outstanding success with a partnership with Disney the team at Foodservice Solutions® believes that this renewed relationship / partnership will be the new electricity  that will fuel incremental growth at McDonalds.

Happy customers equals Happy Meals and this renewed Happy Meal Deal with Disney  clearly creates new electricity to drive sales for both Disney and McDonald’s with a focus on customer relevance.

In the minds-eye of Johnson, there is one dominate element that will power success within retail and foodservice over the coming years and that is partnerships. Johnson calls it the new electricity that is partnerships specifically strategic partnerships.   

The new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh food, grocerant Mix & Match bundling, foodservice consultants, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of McDonald’s to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable in some form.  That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

This new multiyear agreement enables McDonald’s to promote movies on its meals, starting with "Incredibles 2."  The multiyear, “non-exclusive” deal enables McDonald’s to cross-promote Disney movies on its Happy Meals.

The deal will start with the Pixar Animations Studios movie “Incredibles 2,” which debuts in theaters on June 15. That will be followed by the Disney movie “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2,” which debuts on Nov. 21.

This agreement is important as it has improved the nutritional content and lower the calories in its Happy Meals it is those changes that paved the way for the chain’s first marketing relationship in more than a decade with a focus on kids.

McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley stated  “This relationship combines the ingenuity in food and entertainment to encourage more balanced meal selections in our Happy Meals and inspire families in fun and innovative ways,” McDonald’s and Disney had co-promotional deals for years, with movies such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Finding Nemo” on the burger chain’s Happy Meals. But Disney ended the relationship in 2006 over nutrition concerns.

Success does leave clues the consumer is dynamic not static according to Johnson.  How has your company evolved?  Who should you be partnering with to find your new electricity? Have you evolved to the point you need new partners or should you be rekindling previous relationships? 

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.