McDonald's has a long list of beloved products topped by its signature sandwich, the Big Mac. The fast-food leader has been so successful thanks to the fact that its greatest hits album, so to speak, has so many true chart-toppers.
Its billion-dollar brands included not just the Big Mac, but nine other products, including its Quarter Pounder with Cheese, the Filet-O-Fish, and the McFlurry make that list too.
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CEO Christopher Kempczinski spoke about his company's product equity during its fourth-quarter earnings call.
"The strength of our brand goes beyond the Golden Arches themselves and includes our iconic products such as our world-famous French Fries, the Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets and the McFlurry," he said. "Each of these products are billion-dollar brands and in total, McDonald's possesses 10 of these billion-dollar brand equities. In an environment where our customers are looking for the simple and familiar, our core menu items have never been more relevant or beloved."
Burger King has followed the same basic plan, but it really only has the Whopper as a signature product. That's why it has leveraged that name on everything from the plant-based Impossible Whopper, to dozens of other variants (some serious, others more novelty public relations stunts.
Its latest Whopper will help launch a new product line, which will also include a different take on fries.
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Image source: The Packaging Company/TheStreet
Burger King adds a Fiery Bacon Whopper
Burger King, a Restaurant Brands International (QSR) company, will use the Fiery Bacon Whopper to launch its Fiery Meny. That's a five-item new menu offering that will offer different spice levels, according to Fast Food Post.
The "Heat" level goes from 1 to 5 and the restaurant chain is offering Hidden Valley Ranch dip cups with orders of the new Fiery Mozzarella Fries and Fiery Chicken Fries. The new menu includes:
- Fiery Strawberry & Sprite (Heat Level 1): Elevate your Sprite experience with a burst of fiery strawberry puree.
- Fiery Mozzarella Fries (Heat Level 2): Available in 5, 8, and 12-piece orders, these new fry-shaped mozzarella sticks are filled with melty mozzarella cheese and peppers and then fried until crispy and golden brown. They are also enhanced with Fiery Calabrian pepper breading.
- Fiery Bacon Whopper (Heat Level 3): The new Fiery Bacon Whopper features a quarter pound of flame-grilled beef topped with crispy Fiery-seasoned bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy Fiery sauce, all served on a toasted sesame seed bun.
- Fiery Chicken Fries (Heat Level 4): Available in 4, 8, and 12-piece orders, Fiery Chicken Fries feature the brand’s signature crispy white meat Chicken Fries marinated with a Fiery seasoning and coated in savory garlic and pepper breading.
- Fiery Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Heat Level 5): A crispy white meat breast chicken filet coated with a Fiery glaze and topped with crispy Fiery-seasoned bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy Fiery sauce on a toasted bun.
The Fiery menu began being offered nationwide on July 18 and it's a limited-time offer while the Hidden Valley Ranch dip cups are a permanent menu addition.
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Burger King has a loose definition of fries
McDonald's has a massive edge when it comes to fast-food fries. Both Burger King and Wendy's have revamped their fries multiple times to try to catch up, but the magic is very hard to duplicate.
Wendy's has had some success with its various bacon cheese fry offerings. Burger King has fallen to third place in fries, and it has tried gimmicks like its "Satisfries," which were lower-calorie french fries, and its Chicken Fries with limited success.
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Chicken Fries are basically chicken fingers cut more thinly. They're served in a fry-style sleeve, which makes them easier to eat while driving. It's a gimmick, and the chain has offered them in a variety of flavors, but it hasn't really been a major success.
The new Fiery Mozzarella Sticks seem like a variant of the same idea. Burger King does offer a traditional mozzarella stick and has onion rings for those looking for a french fry alternative.
