6 Wild Tales from the World of Burger King

Burger King isn’t just another fast-food chain; it’s a brand with a history of quirky and audacious moves.

Burger King
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From unique marketing stunts to bizarre spa experiences, here are six of the craziest facts about this global burger giant:

1. Sauna and Burgers in Helsinki: Imagine enjoying a Whopper in a sauna! In 2016, Burger King Helsinki made this possible by opening a spa in one of its restaurants. Equipped with a 15-seater sauna, showers, a PlayStation, TVs, and a range of beverages, customers could indulge in this unique experience for $283 per person.

2. The Mattoon Exception: Across the United States, Burger King reigns supreme with its name, except for a small area in Mattoon, Illinois. Here, an unrelated local restaurant, also named Burger King, holds the rights, creating a unique exception to the chain’s national presence.

3. The ‘Whopper Sacrifice’ Campaign: In a bold move in 2009, Burger King offered a free Whopper to anyone willing to unfriend 10 people on Facebook. The catch? Burger King notified the unfriended individuals, leading Facebook to suspend the eyebrow-raising campaign.

4. The McWhopper Proposal: In 2015, Burger King reached out to its rival McDonald’s with an idea to create the McWhopper, a mash-up of the Whopper and Big Mac. McDonald’s, however, wasn’t biting and declined the collaborative offer.

5. The “Where’s Herb?” Flop: Burger King’s 1985 “Where’s Herb?” campaign, which cost $40 million, turned out to be a misstep. The campaign centered on a character named Herb who had never visited BK. Competitors quickly pointed out Herb’s apparent preference for other burger joints, leading to a 40% profit drop for Burger King in 1986.

6. The Left-Handed Whopper: For April Fools’ Day 1998, Burger King announced a new “lefty” Whopper in USA Today, claiming it was designed for left-handed customers. The burger supposedly had the same ingredients as the original but was rotated 180°. This tongue-in-cheek ad drew thousands of customers to Burger King outlets, many of whom eagerly requested the special “lefty” Whopper, showcasing the power of a well-crafted prank.

7 Crunchy Facts That Unwrap the Intriguing History of Taco Bell

Portland, Oregon - Sep 3, 2018 : Exterior of Taco Bell fast-food restaurant with sign and logo.
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Taco Bell, the well-known fast-food chain, has a history that is as colorful as its menu. With its signature concoctions and quirky marketing strategies, the brand has carved a niche for itself in the food industry. Here, we unravel seven fascinating facts about Taco Bell that reveal its adventurous experiments, bold initiatives, and unexpected origins.

1. Sweet Experimentation in Wisconsin
In 2017, Taco Bell intrigued the sweet tooth of its customers by test marketing the “Kit Kat Chocoladilla” in select Wisconsin locations. This unique dish boasted of melted Kit Kat pieces enveloped in a grilled and folded tortilla, marking the brand’s venture into dessert territory.

2. The Taco Liberty Bell Prank
Creating quite the stir on April 1st, 1996, Taco Bell announced they had acquired the Liberty Bell, subsequently renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. This audacious prank sparked public outrage, simultaneously causing a significant spike in the sales of Taco Bell.

3. Chihuahua Mascot Controversy
Taco Bell found itself embroiled in a legal skirmish when it failed to compensate two Michigan men responsible for creating the famous Taco Bell Chihuahua mascot. The court eventually ordered the fast-food giant to pay a whopping $42 million in restitution.

4. Origins and Culinary Evolution
Taco Bell derived its name from its founder, Glen Bell, who initiated his journey by serving tacos at his first restaurant, Bell’s Hamburgers. He was inspired by observing the popularity of a local Mexican restaurant and, after successfully reverse-engineering their taco recipe, launched a stand exclusively selling tacos. The creation of the iconic Doritos Loco taco exemplifies Taco Bell’s innovative spirit, involving two years of culinary experiments and 40 different recipes. This creation not only became a sensation but also played a pivotal role in Taco Bell’s growth, enabling it to surpass giants like Pizza Hut, KFC, and even McDonald’s.

5. Astronomical Taco Giveaway
In a cosmic marketing move in 2001, Taco Bell promised to give away one free taco to every US citizen if the core of the Soviet Mir space station hit a Taco Bell target floating in the South Pacific Ocean. The target, bearing a bold “Free Taco Here” message along with the Taco Bell logo, showcased the brand’s penchant for out-of-the-box advertising.

6. Helicopter Taco Delivery in Alaska
When pranksters in Bethel, Alaska spread false rumors of a new Taco Bell opening, the disappointed residents were in for a surprise. To make amends, Taco Bell helicoptered in a truck laden with 10,000 tacos, providing an unexpected feast for the thrilled crowd.

7. Space-Grade Tortillas
In a collaboration that was out of this world, NASA utilized Taco Bell tortillas for their space missions, as traditional bread proved too crumbly. Taco Bell rose to the occasion in the 90s by crafting a tortilla with a nine-month shelf life, making it the preferred choice for astronauts’ sandwiches.

10 Surprising Slices of Facts about Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut Fast Casual Restaurant. Pizza Hut is a subsidiary of YUM! Brands
Photo by depositphotos.com

Pizza Hut, one of the world’s most recognizable pizza chains, has a rich and savory history filled with interesting tidbits. Here are 10 surprising facts that add extra flavor to the story of this renowned pizza brand:

  1. Classic Touch: Pizza Hut cherishes its heritage with the existence of “Pizza Hut Classic” restaurants. Endorsed by co-founder Dan Carney, these locations flaunt legacy logos, iconic red roofs, classic lamps, and the character Pizza Hut Pete welcoming guests at the door.
  2. Space Delivery: Pizza Hut marked its cosmic presence by delivering a pizza to the International Space Station in 2001. The venture saw them paying Russia a whopping $1 million to transport the savory delight into orbit.
  3. Slogan Showdown: In a saucy legal battle, Pizza Hut successfully sued Papa John’s, claiming that their slogan “fresher ingredients” didn’t necessarily mean a “better” pizza.
  4. Cheese Monopoly: The cheese crowning your Pizza Hut pizza likely comes from Leprino Foods, which dominates the pizza cheese market with an 85% share, supplying other major pizza chains like Domino’s and Papa John’s as well.
  5. Franchise Flip: After selling Pizza Hut to Pepsi in 1977, one of the original founders turned his attention to Papa John’s, becoming a major franchisee with ownership of 133 locations by 2001.
  6. Upscale in China: In China, Pizza Hut is a slice above the rest, considered an upscale restaurant offering delicacies like escargot, tiramisu, and lamb shanks.
  7. Presidential Promotion: Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet President, added a slice of endorsement to the brand by starring in a Pizza Hut commercial.
  8. Online Ordering Pioneer: Pizza Hut blazed the digital trail in 1994 with PizzaNet, the first restaurant to test online ordering for delivery, based in Santa Cruz, California. The original site is still accessible, commemorating one of the earliest documented Internet purchases: a pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and extra cheese.
  9. Fragrance Fling: In 2012, the brand toyed with the idea of releasing a limited-edition perfume that encapsulated the scent of fresh dough. Although thousands expressed interest, only 110 fans snagged a bottle through a Facebook competition, receiving their prize in mini pizza box packaging.
  10. App for Assistance: A Florida woman ingeniously used the Pizza Hut app to get police help when she and her children were held hostage. By conveying a message through the app’s comment section, she managed to alert the authorities and ensure the captor’s arrest.

5 Intriguing Nuggets of KFC History You Probably Didn’t Know

Delve into the intriguing world of KFC, a fast-food giant with an assortment of fascinating stories under its wing. From its unique connection with Japan’s Christmas traditions to the idiosyncrasies of its charismatic founder, Colonel Sanders, KFC’s history is as flavorful as its famous fried chicken. Join us as we explore five finger-lickin’ facts about KFC that will leave you craving for more.

A front view of the facade of the KFC chain restaurant in Asturias.
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. The visionary behind the globally recognized brand, Colonel Sanders, was ironically his own biggest critic. He never shied away from expressing his disdain for KFC’s offerings, particularly the gravy which he famously dubbed as “horrible.” His critiques were so passionate that he was known to abruptly enter a KFC branch and express his disappointment by tossing the food onto the floor.

2. A bizarre cultural twist has the Japanese dining on KFC for their Christmas meals. Although Christmas is not an ancient Japanese tradition and is celebrated secularly due to a low Christian population, KFC cleverly marketed itself into the festivities. In the 1990s, they aired commercials claiming KFC as a conventional Christmas meal in America. This marketing ploy was a hit, and despite a few Japanese citizens debunking the myth, KFC continues to experience significant sales boost every December.

3. KFC has ventured beyond the world of fast food and into film. The brand sponsored a short movie, “A Recipe for Seduction”, featuring a character, Jessica Mansera, torn between marrying a wealthy suitor chosen by her mother and pursuing a romantic liaison with Harland Sanders, the new house chef.

4. The secret of KFC’s Original Recipe has been well-guarded. To ensure the formula remains undisclosed, KFC splits the process of mixing the 11 spices between two companies. One company prepares the initial blend and then ships it to McCormick, who adds the remaining spices and returns it to KFC.

5. The man whose face adorns KFC outlets globally, Harland Sanders, wasn’t actually a military Colonel. At the age of 44, he was honored with the title of ‘Kentucky Colonel.’ His entrepreneurial journey took a turn at 61 when he founded KFC, and he lived to the ripe old age of 90, leaving behind an iconic culinary legacy.