Burger King Offer Every Fast Food Franchisee in Japan ¥40M to Jump Ship

Burger King are aggressively expanding in Japan, having quadrupled their footprint from 77 locations in 2019 to 352 currently, with a target of 600 by 2028. 

These ambitions caught the attention of Goldman Sachs, who purchased the Japanese chain for 78.5 billion yen, and provided them with even more financial backing to grow rapidly. 

Burger King are certainly holding up their end of the deal by launching quite possibly the most aggressive expansion campaign not only in Japan, but anywhere. They have publicly announced that they will offer up to 40 million yen cash to any franchise owner of a rival chain, such as McDonald’s or Mos Burger, that has been in business for at least three years and is willing to convert their restaurants to Burger Kings. 

In addition, Burger King will cover half of the initial investment to make the switch and say that their average location pulls in about 17 million yen a month. This makes a very clear statement to franchise owners that if their income is south of that, then it’s probably time for a change. The change can take place anytime before December 2028, giving franchisees a little wiggle room to get out of their current contract without having to pay a penalty fee. 

If Burger King get a good response, this could be a key step in their projected growth since poaching other restaurants significantly cuts down on construction time, and every restaurant converted amounts to one less competitor out there. 

Of course, this kind of tactic in general is not unheard of, but doing it on such a large and open scale is rare to say the least. And I'm 100-percent sure no one has ever made a commercial with a jingle about it in the history of the fast food industry.

If this campaign is successful, Burger King stand to win big, but that is a considerable-sized “if” in Japan. Even in the US, these kinds of conversion deals are usually done behind the scenes, possibly through direct connections made at industry conventions rather than flashy campaigns on social media. It’s probably fair to assume Japan is even more conservative about these matters, if the various corporate apologies for 10-yen price increases or being 20 seconds early are anything to go by. 

You might be thinking franchisees are getting all the sweet deals from Burger King, but there are also chances for everyday folks like you and me to cash in as well. They're offering periodic location scouting campaigns where anyone can submit places they think would work well as a Burger King. Any suggestion that results in Burger King leasing a property will win 300,000 yen cash, and just making a suggestion will earn you a coupon for a discount on a Whopper. 

▼ They have a commercial for this too, but no jingle:

This campaign is currently not going on, but they do seem to bring it back every few months, so now would be a good time to start scouting your neighborhood to see where a Burger King might look nice. 

Meanwhile, if you’re a restaurant franchisee, you’ll have until September 30 to apply.

One Billion Meals Are Wasted Every Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than one billion meals are wasted across the world each day while nearly 800 million people go hungry, a new United Nations report has found. 

 

The world wasted 1.05 billion metric tons of food in 2022, meaning about a fifth of the food available to people was squandered by households, restaurants and other parts of the food service and retail sectors. 

 

This is on top of the 13% of the world’s food lost as it makes its journey from farm to fork. In total, about a third of all food goes to waste during the production process. These waste figures are particularly stark when contrasted with the report’s findings that about a third of the world’s population faces food insecurity and 783 million are affected by hunger. 

 

The staggering statistics, published Wednesday in the UN Environment Program (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2024, raise questions about the world’s ability to distribute the food it produces and highlights the role of food waste as a driver of climate change, according to UNEP Director Inger Andersen. 

 

“Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions will go hungry today as food is wasted across the world”, Andersen (right) said. “Not only is this a major development issue, but the impacts of such unnecessary waste are causing substantial costs to the climate and nature”. 

 

The report distinguished between food “loss” – food discarded early in the supply chain, for instance vegetables that rot in fields and meat that spoils when unrefrigerated – and food “waste”, food thrown out by households, restaurants and stores. 

 

Households wasted 631 million metric tons of food in 2022 – 60% of the total – while the food service sector accounted for 28% of the waste and retail 12%. The average person wastes 79 kilograms (174 pounds) of food each year, meaning at least one billion meals of edible food are wasted in households each day, the report found. 

 

And food is resource-intensive to produce, requiring huge amounts of land and water, and food systems are responsible for about a third of global planet-heating emissions. The vast majority of food waste goes to landfill, generating methane as it breaks down. 

 

A potent greenhouse gas, methane has about 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years. Food waste not only fuels climate change but may be exacerbated by it, the report said. 

 

Hotter countries were found to waste more food than cooler ones, as higher temperatures make it more challenging to store and transport food before it spoils. 

 

The report also said food waste is not just a “rich world” phenomenon. The amount of food wasted in high- and middle-income countries differed by just 7 kilograms (15 pounds) per person each year. 

 

I had it again yesterday! If you love cempedak you gotta try out Burger King's Cempedak Pie! Crispy pie crust with oozing cempedak filling! 👍

UNSC Pass Immediate Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

Finally, the United Nations Security Council have demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza as well as the unconditional release of all hostages as the United States abstained from the vote. The remaining 14 council members all voted for the resolution on Monday. 

FYI, the US has used its veto three times – this time, the US lets it pass.

Therefore, this is a very significant development, even if there's still a lot of work to be done. 

As far as I know, resolutions of the Security Council are international law and they are always seen as binding on all the member states of the United Nations.

The vote came amid international calls to bring the months-long conflict to an end, as Israeli forces pummel Gaza with one of the most destructive campaigns, and humanitarian conditions in the besieged strip reach critical levels.

I have one misgiving though. What about the Palestinians languishing in Israeli prisons? I consider them hostages as well. And they should be freed too. 

But let's put all the cards on the table. The ceasefire won't happen because Israel won't agree and the US won't make the Israelis stop the carnage! 

Besides, didn't White House National Security Council John Kirby echoed a stance made after the vote by US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield that the resolution was non-binding? This was all a farce!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh nak cempedak!* 😆 Burger King ada Cempedak Pie and it is irresistibly sedap ✨ #BurgerKingMY

Yes, I had it on Saturday! My verdict:👍

[*There's no English equivalent for this fruit's name. Unless you want to get scientific and call it "Artocarpus integer"].

And if you don't know what it looks like 👇

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I'm looking forward to Musang King Durian Pie! What say you, Burger King?

Burger King To Answer Whopper Lawsuit

A legal battle over the size of Burger King's Whopper is headed to court.

 

A US judge rejected the burger chain’s bid to dismiss a class action lawsuit brought by customers who say Burger King's in-store menu boards show a much bigger Whopper than what is actually served.

 

District Judge Roy Altman in Miami, Florida said Burger King must defend against the contention that their depiction of the signature sandwich as having ingredients that, quote, “overflow over the bun" – making it appear 35% larger overall and with more than double the meat of an actual Whopper. 

 

Burger King, a unit of Restaurant Brands International, countered that they weren’t required to deliver burgers that look “exactly like the picture”. Really? I would call it deceptive marketing, if that was the case. 

 

Anyway, the judge said it’s up to a jury to decide what “reasonable people” would think – and whether the burger joint’s alleged action amounts to a breach of contract with their customers.

 

(The judge dismissed claims over video ads, though, where you see the burger and all the stuff in it bouncing around deliciously and all that). 

 

Perhaps, Burger King can add a disclaimer: "Picture for illustration purposes only". Then customers won't feel cheated. 

 

But better still, they should make the burger be just like the one on the menu board. 

 

Burger King are not the only ones accused of beefing up their images. McDonald’s and Wendy’s are defending against a similar lawsuit in Brooklyn, New York. And Taco Bell, a unit of Yum Brands, were sued in Brooklyn in July for selling Crunchwraps and Mexican pizzas that allegedly contain only half as much filling as advertised.

Real Cheeseburger

Burger King in Thailand must have developed a fetish for cheese. Lots of cheese. 

 

They’ve just introduced a no-meat, all-cheese burger that they called "Real Cheeseburger". A bun weighed down with twenty slices of American cheese, and debuted at a price of just 109 Thai baht ($3.1) – but which will normally sell for 380 baht ($10.9). 

 

"This is no joke. This is for real", Burger King posted on social media. 

 

CNN quoted one customer who politely described it as "too intense". 

 

Just looking at the poster puts me off. In fact, I struggle to understand why Burger King would create this dairy monstrosity – aside from the viral aspect of it. Maybe, they have a humongous surplus of cheese lying around. And an approaching sell-by date. 

If it comes to Malaysia, I can tell you, you won’t catch me eating this abomination!

Burger King Respond to McDonald’s ChatGPT Boast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two competing billboards from McDonald's and Burger King have been placed next to each other in Brazil. The ads both feature answers written by ChatGPT and have a similar layout. 

 

According to translated versions of the billboards reported by The Drum, the chatbot calls McDonald's Big Mac the most "iconic burger" and names Burger King's Whopper "the biggest".

 

Burger King's billboard appears to be a response to McDonald's launching a wider campaign based on the chatbot's answer. 

 

The No. 1 fast-food restaurant chain had asked OpenAI's chatbot what the most iconic burger in the world was and it named the Big Mac the "most globally recognized". 

 

When Insider asked ChatGPT which was the most iconic burger in the world, it listed the Big Mac, the Whopper, and the In-N-Out Burger in that order. 

 

However, it is unclear if the ads are always placed next to each other or how many are featured in Brazil.

Fast Food Warriors

Illustrator Coran Kizer Stone (or Kizerilla), gives a twist to comic book superheroes in much of his art. 

And he has a series where he re-imagines fast food icons and gives them a badass makeover, as if they were battling each other in an animated series! Which of them would be "good guys" or "villains" is entirely up to you – but they all have their 'war' faces on!

Brands Transform into Anime Characters

Companies spend a lot of time and money trying to personalize their brand. 

The idea is to make it seem trusted and familiar like an old friend that can always be relied upon in times of need. Even though it's clearly an illusion, corporations want your money and your loyalty and little else. Some people do feel a strong personal connection to a certain brand that ensures that they will remain customers for life. 

Canadian artist Sillvi transformed some of the most popular brands into anime characters that you can really get a feel for. Hopefully.

Sneaky Tricks Fast Food Restaurants Get You to Spend Money

Fast food is supposed to be cheap and convenient, but do you ever find yourself spending more on fast food than you expected to? 

In fact, fast food is more expensive in Malaysia, as compared to ‘coffee-shop’ food. 

Besides, places like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's are experts at getting you to spend more money. Combos, upgrades, and multiple size options are just a few of the tricks used by fast food restaurants.

 

And I will readily admit that when I’m at a loss as to what to have during mealtimes, I’ll most likely turn to fast food! It’s just expedient to do so!

Burger King's Japanese Curry Whopper

Burger King Malaysia is bringing a taste of Japan to Malaysia – it’s the Japanese Curry Whopper! 

Since one of my favorite Japanese chow is the raisu karē (literally 'rice curry'), there’s no reason I wouldn’t like the latest limited-time offering from the fast-food restaurant chain. 

Instead of the familiar rice, we have BK’s signature 5” flame-grilled beef patty that is wrapped by a soft, toasted sesame seed bun, and accompanied by toppings of American cheese, fresh onions, crisp lettuce, creamy mayonnaise and a dusting of pepper. And not forgetting, lavish lashings of karē. 

I ordered a set meal and even as I took my first chomp, I could feel the sauce with its unmistakable subtle spice and comforting flavours burst in my mouth. It even dripped out from the bap I was holding and the liquid made little yellow ochre splotches on the plate. 

I think, oishii (おいしい) is the appropriate adjective to describe my experience – and yeah, there's no doubt about it because it’s really great-tasting! Itadakimasu! 

I’m more of a burger person – but for chicken lovers, there’s also the Japanese Curry Chick’N Crisp set. 

Psst, the promo picture sure looks a lot better than the real thing though.

Anyway, I’m still happy with it because I requested for them to be more generous with the karē sauce. And I believe they obliged. I don't think I was exaggerating when I say it was sloshing around in my mouth the whole time I was devouring the Whopper! Well, it sure felt like it! Best lah!

Thumbs Up to Burger King’s Chocolate Melt

Burger King’s Chocolate Melt Beefacon and Chocolate Melt Chick ‘N Crisp are covered in a chocolate sauce and served with a sesame bun. I'm expecting this combination of sweet and savoury to be a knockout.

And so, on Sunday, I had the Chocolate Melt Beefacon – and I didn’t regret my decision one bit. The chocolate burger tastes exactly like how I imagined it to be,  sensory-wise! 

Tastefully titillating is how I'd describe it!  

Make no mistake, it's still a flame-grilled burger that essentially consists of two patties drizzled with decadent chocolate sauce, together with other fillings.  

This add-on brings another dimension to the overall taste experience because of the chocolaty sweetness that is thick and smooth and creamy as it glazes my tongue, delighting it and leaving behind a velvety after-taste. 

Wow, wow, wow!!!

And to cap this sinful adventure, I had a Coke to wash it all down.

P.S. If I have any suggestion for improvement, I would wish for a more generous chocolate topping.

A Smooch That Says Love Conquers All

Helsinki Pride is Finland’s biggest cultural and human rights event for gender and sexual minorities. 

And Burger King Finland's "Love conquers all" campaign expresses this eloquently as a celebration of love and all the forms it takes. 

"Burger King has always stood for equality, love and everyone's right to be just the way they are. The only instance where it might not seem so, is when we're bantering with our competitor. But we want to be clear – it all stems from the respect we have for them. And we know McDonald's stands for the values we stand for, too", states Burger King Finland's brand manager Kaisa Kasila.

But I didn’t expect to see Burger King and Ronald McDonald settle their rivalry with a kiss! 

The smooching can be widely seen in outdoor and print advertising as well as in Burger King's own channels and restaurants around the country during Helsinki Pride Week (September 07-13).  

Yesterday, Celtic thrashed Ross County 5-0 to stay in touch at the top of the Scottish Premiership. 

Odsonne Edouard's penalty opener in the fourth minute was followed sixteen minutes later by striker Albian Ajeti marking his first start. And then, Shane Duffy (59), fellow centre-back Kristoffer Ajer (64), and substitute Patryk Klimala (75) completed Celtic's biggest win of the season. 

The Scottish champions remain six points behind leaders Rangers with two games in hand.

The 34-Day-Old Whopper

“The beauty of real food is that it gets ugly”, so says Burger King in their new ad campaign. 

The said commercial demonstrates a time-lapse of 34 days to show exactly how long it takes for their new burgers to decompose. While it isn’t pretty to watch, it shows BK’s pledge to say farewell to the artificial preservatives and instead serve their customers a healthier meal.

As Fernando Machado, Restaurant Brands International Global Chief Marketing Officer says: “At Burger King restaurants, we believe that real food tastes better. That’s why we are working hard to remove preservatives, colors, and flavors from artificial sources from the food we serve in all countries around the world”.

I'm sure there will be many who applaud Burger King for their novel yet unorthodox approach, and there will be just as many who would be left with a bad taste in their mouths. In any case, it has generated a lot of social media chatter around the brand.

The number of Covid-19 infections across Latin America surpassed 100,000 on Sunday with nearly 5,000 deaths, according to an AFP tally based on numbers reported by individual countries. 

The “official” figures indicated 100,952 new cases – the 7 countries featured above constitute 89.4% of the total – with 4,924 fatalities. But be aware that those numbers may be just the tip of the iceberg. 

As Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno (right) had confessed on April 02: "We know that in terms of both the number of infections and deaths, official records fall short. Reality always exceeds the number of tests and the speed with which we pay attention". 

In any case, this is a worrisome development because while the United States and Europe have so far borne the brunt of the pandemic, infections have been steadily rising across Latin America which has little of the health infrastructure of its richer counterparts.