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. 

Good Companies Do Good Things Thank you McDonald’s

 

When our children were young, we took them to McDonald’s willingly. Our children like going to McDonald’s and we liked the clean restrooms and Hot Coffee.  The team at Foodservice Solutions® apricates the clean restrooms even more today.  That said:

McDonald’s last week unveiled “The Little Mermaid” Happy Meal, featuring under-the-sea and on-land characters such as title character Ariel, Eric, Sebastian, and Flounder—for a limited time and while supplies last at participating restaurants nationwide.

So to help launch “The Little Mermaid” Happy Meal and inspire the future wavemaker in everyone, McDonald’s launched a national TV commercial with Rhonda “Coach Rho” Harper, founder and executive producer on behalf of Black Girls Surf to highlight the multi-award-winning competitive performance training camp and non-profit organization, spotlighting Maizy Gordon, Bethany & Anaya Malone, Macie Smith, Olivia Whyms, and Penelope "Poppy" Brockhaus. The spot highlights the importance of kids like Ariel who make waves and create the change they want to see in the world.​ Beyond the water, McDonald’s invited surfers to experience the magical blue carpet premiere of “The Little Mermaid” giving them exclusive access to the highly anticipated live-action film.

Rhonda Harper, Founder of Black Girls Surf, stated, “This commercial with McDonald’s is a visual reminder that we are all little mermaids,” ... “Since 2014, our organization has coached hundreds of young girls from the shores of California by way of Costa Rica, to the beaches of Senegal. We are now surfing our way to the Junior Olympics."

Now as part of its ongoing commitment to giving back to community programs, McDonald's donated funds to Black Girls Surf, to help support the next generation of competitive surfers, and will host a special "The Little Mermaid” screening for Black Girl Surf’s members, to create magical memories with a front row seat to see someone like them in such an iconic role on a big screen.

Jennifer “JJ” Healan, VP of U.S. Marketing, Brand, Content, and Culture at McDonald's, stated, “At McDonald’s, inclusivity, imagination, and joy live in the DNA of every Happy Meal,” …. “For years we have worked with Disney to bring magic to life every day. ‘The Little Mermaid’ Happy Meal is an extension of that collaboration where even more fans can see themselves reflected in profound possibility and feel encouraged to dream big and make waves.”

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  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

At Burger King Sustainable Means Fun for Kids

 

The halo of ‘better-for-you’ continues to be top of mind with Gen Z and Millennial Americans. Young parents are constantly looking for better for my baby, better for my child, food and associated products according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

It’s at the intersection the Gen Z, Millennial parents, and that ‘halo’ of better for you that Burger King came up the idea of sustainable kids toys that could be put into the Burger King Jr. Meal. 

So, the new Burger King partnership with Animal Planet comes on the heels of other recent collaboration and merchandise programs for the Animal Planet brand, including the successful toy line at Target and brand-new, educational kids’ magazine, Animal Planet with DC Thomson Media Partner.

When Animal Planet announced a collaboration with Burger King on a collection of paper-based King Jr. meal toys and activities in an effort to inspire young animal lovers around the world as well as reduce the kids’ meal plastic footprint, Johnson knew that both Gen Z and Millennials would pay attention to that enough so that he suggested the Burger King brand will garner new electricity via the partnership with Animal Planet.  

Now Animal Planet fans can find the limited-edition paper premiums in all kids’ meals at approximately 14,000 restaurant locations worldwide.  The promo began on October 18 in international markets, and in the U.S. and Canada on December 6 while supplies last.

Did you know that Animal Planet, is  one of Discovery’s biggest global brands, is delivering on its mission to keep the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing the animal kingdom into Burger King restaurants around the world.

So, the collaboration, which will run for approximately five weeks, includes a variety of paper activity books that showcase animal themes including Safari, Ocean, Pets, Endangered Animals, Wilderness, and Cute and Cuddly. Kids around the world can enjoy their King Jr. meal while learning about wildlife with the six different activity books, which each feature coloring sheets, infographics, a poster, build your own mask sets, pop out cards and stickers.

With complete relevance and incremental technology each activity book will also come with a scannable QR code to unlock more play opportunities. Users can use their device to walk through an augmented reality portal to experience the environment and animals of the themed activity book, such as a 3D walk through the Safari spotting native animals through an interactive game.

Carolann Dunn, Vice President, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery, stated, “Animal Planet is dedicated to providing quality wildlife content to a global audience through compelling storytelling across Discovery’s platforms, a mission we deepen through our consumer products offerings and our partnership with Burger King,” …. “Burger King shares Animal Planet’s enthusiasm for inspiring curious young fans, and we look forward to delivering on this shared goal through this line of kids’ meal premiums.”

“We take a great amount of pride in the joy that our youngest guests find in the toys accompanying our beloved King Jr. meals,” says. “We are proud to introduce fun opportunities for digital play in our premium programs through this incredible partnership with Animal planet, while also reducing our reliance on plastic premiums."

Paloma Azulay, Global Chief Brand Officer, Burger King, stated, The Burger King partnership comes on the heels of recent collaborations and merchandise programs for the Animal Planet brand, including the successful toy line at Target and brand-new, educational kids’ magazine, Animal Planet with DC Thomson Media Partner. How is your brand driving new electricity into it’s customer base?

According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new food and related products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.” 

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, developing brands, unique urban clothing, grocerant positioning, fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different. 

For international corporate presentations, regional chain presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert, and public speaking will leave success clues for all. For more information visit GrocerantGuru.com, FoodserviceSolutions.US or call 1-253-759-7869

McDonald’s Continues Looking A Customer Ahead

Brand managers know that in order to Look A Customer Ahead more often than not you have to look back.  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated “brand differentiation does not mean different it means familiar but with a twist”.

Regular readers of this blog know that McDonald’s for over 25 years sold more toys than any other retailer in the world.  Now that Millennials are having children McDonalds is resurrecting 17 classic Happy Meal toys as part of the Surprise Happy Meal, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the classic kids meal. Toys are consumer interactive and participatory and a value added brand attribute. 

The limited-edition meal will only be available for a few days: Thursday, Nov. 7, through Monday, Nov. 11.  The lineup of toys will include:

·         The Cowboy McNugget, Fireman McNugget and Mail Carrier McNugget from 1988

·         The Hamburger Changeable from 1989

·         Grimace from 1990

·         The Dino Happy Meal Box Changeable from 1991

·         The Hot Wheels Thunderbird from 1993

·         Hamburglar and Power Rangers from 1995

·         Space Jam Bugs Bunny from 1996

·         Beanie Baby Patti the Platypus and 101 Dalmatians from 1997 

·         Tamagotchi and My Little Pony from 1998

·         Furby from 1999

·         Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey from 2002

·         Hello Kitty from 2013

McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook stated “Since the Happy Meal was introduced on the menu, it quickly became synonymous with our brand,” The Happy Meal has become a major centerpiece of the chain’s family-centric focus, giving it a broader customer base than many of its primary rivals over the years.

Easterbrook understands that success does leave clues and while the company has come under some fire for using toys as a way to lure kids to eat, it has also worked to improve the healthfulness of the menu selections included in the meal. There is no reason food, meals, and meal time should not be fun according to Johnson.

McDonald’s has reduced the size of the French Fry box, for instance, and offers items such as fresh fruit or yogurt, as well as water or milk rather than soft drinks. More than half of Happy Meals are now served with milk, water or juice, rather than soda. Success does leave clues and Looking A Customer Ahead at time requires looking back from time to time.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us 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 ‘Better-for-You’ Platform is Expanding

Success does leave clues and every now and again we must remind regular readers of this blog that customer relevance requires that brands continually evolve with consumers. McDonald’s is the worlds largest single seller of kid’s toys.  Why, because they understand consumers (kid’s) are dynamic and they must be as well. 

The ‘halo’ of better for you kid’s toys has arrived at McDonald’s that will please both the children and most likely the parents according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  There is little doubt that these new ‘better-for-you’ toys will create a new electricity while driving incremental trial, adoption, and industry buzz.

McDonald’s has Partnered with Discovery on Mind-blowing STEM Toys.  This will be a global collaboration with McDonald’s beginning in select markets and will continue to roll out through 2020 according to press reports.

How is your brand creating new electricity? So, just what is your brands new electricity? According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new menu related products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.”

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, free food / sampling, toy’s, beer, developing brands, unique urban clothing, grocerant positioning, Fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different.  Consumer like Eating-Out when Eating-In. It’s time to call the Grocerant Guru®

Carolann Dunn, vice president, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery stated  “Discovery and McDonald’s collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to kids and families and allows our two companies to work together on new ways to encourage an interest in STEM, or build on one that’s already blooming,”  “We are proud of this collaboration and believe it will help make learning fun for kids while bringing families closer together through meaningful play experiences.” 

Battle for Share of Stomach Today and Tomorrow

Amy Murray, senior director, Global Family Marketing, McDonald's. “We are always looking to bring fun, engaging experiences, as well as balanced meal options, to our Happy Meal customers around the world,

Murray continued; “Our hope is that this meaningful promotion with Discovery empowers hands-on learning, and acts as a catalyst to introduce or foster an interest in STEM all while spending truly together family moments at McDonald’s.”  visit Facebook.com/DiscoveryMINDBLOWN.  McDonald’s will continue to sell more toy’s than any other retailer in the world according to Johnson.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us 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:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.