McDonald's adding Grimace birthday meal, purple berry shake to menu
Grimace is being celebrated at McDonald's with a special birthday meal, topped off by a new purple milkshake.
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What Grimace-inspired merchandise does McDonald's release?
Just a few weeks ago, McDonald's announced the return of one of its classic characters, the Hamburglar. Now, the bulbous Grimace has returned, too.
It's all part of a Grimace birthday celebration, beginning June 12, which includes a limited-edition Grimace Birthday Meal, which comes with either a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries - and the new purple berry-flavored shake. The meal is available at participating restaurants, while supplies last. Most restaurants will also sell you the shake separately.
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What is the Grimace Birthday meal?
Birthdays have been a part of McDonald's for decades - some may remember redeeming their free McDonald's birthday meal postcard as kids.
"We're using that heritage that the brand has had with people but also want to connect with youth of today," said JJ Healan, vice president, U.S. marketing, brand, content & culture for McDonald's.
Merchandise. Customers can buy Grimace merchandise including T-shirts and socks at McDonald's online merch site.
Customers can buy Grimace merchandise including T-shirts and socks at McDonald's online merch site. Games. A Grimace video game arrives June 12 on desktop and mobile. "It's reminiscent of games from the '90s," Healan said. "Grimace actually goes on this journey with his McDonaldland friends."
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What does the Grimace video game entail?
A Grimace video game arrives June 12 on desktop and mobile. "It's reminiscent of games from the '90s," Healan said. "Grimace actually goes on this journey with his McDonaldland friends." Social media and charity. When McDonald's fans post a birthday memory June 13-14 on McDonald's Instagram story (use the "add yours" sticker), the company will donate $5 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, up to $200,000 total.
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What is the impact of the donations made to Ronald McDonald House Charities through the "add yours" sticker?
"There's a lot of really cool layers to the campaign overall" in the effort to "connect with our fans to drive the brand in culture as we are on our journey to make McDonald's a cultural icon," Healan said. "What better way to celebrate birthdays and actually give one of our favorite McDonaldland characters, a spotlight for June."
McDonald's reintroducing characters such as Grimace and Hamburglar to new Gen Z audience
The fast-food chain has been giving some of its classic characters more face time lately. The Hamburglar is shepherding McDonald's campaign to improve its burgers.
And some classic characters from the 70s and 80s made appearances last year when McDonald's partnered with Cactus Plant Flea Market on a Happy Meal for adults, with collectible toys including Grimace, the Hamburglar and Birdie the Early Bird.
"So if you think about that experience of unlocking your childhood joy when you had a Happy Meal, that the nostalgia piece," Healan said.
Partnering with Cactus Plant Flea Market made sense because "Gen Z knows who that is. That was a perfect combination of nostalgia and putting the brand and culture with a partner who connects with Gen Z."
More new McDonald's menu items? A Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Quarter Pounder coming next month?
McDonald's is already in the process of improving its burgers with a saucier Big Mac, softer sandwich buns, toasted golden brown, "perfectly melted cheese," and caramelized onions.
It apparently has a new burger coming to the menu soon, with two sites reporting a Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Quarter Pounder could hit menus this summer. The food site Chew Boom said the burger would be available as a single or double, with with three strips of bacon, pickled jalapenos and cheese sauce, along with two slices of cheese on a sesame seed bun. The menu item has been tested at some locations in Texas, the site reports.
Another site, The Krazy Coupon Lady, reports that when the burger arrives you will be able to order cheesy sauce and jalapeno slices on the side with any order.
McDonald's declined comment about the new burger to USA TODAY, but we will stay vigilant on the burger beat in the days ahead.