FAST-FOOD chain McDonald’s and South Korean boy band BTS have collaborated for a special menu item that will be available globally in nearly 50 countries, including the Philippines.
Launched last June 18, the branded meal features a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Coke, and sweet chili and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by recipes from McDonald’s in South Korea.
Also, the meal comes with one set of special packaging for the Chicken McNuggets, beverage cup, sauces and take-out bag.
The fast-food chain gave a first taste of the much-awaited offering to healthcare workers, distributing over 2,000 BTS Meals to select hospitals and vaccination hubs.
Oliver Rabatan, assistant vice president for marketing and channels at McDonald’s Philippines, said this exciting campaign connects customers with such an iconic band through the McDonald’s food they love.
The fast-food chain will roll out promos and deals across different ordering platforms to give customers more ways to enjoy the supergroup’s favorite order.
A variety of weekly deals is offered when customers purchase the meal via front counter and drive-thru transactions with its app until July 9.
Those who will flex their very own BTS memorabilia all week long get a free upgrade from medium to large fries and Coke until June 27.
When ordered through the fast-food chain’s app, the meal has a delivery fee of only P7 until June 27.
In his post, food app rider Benjamin Baetiong noted how in-demand the meal was, saying his orders were mostly the BTS meal and even encouraged people to order more. This became viral and brought a smile to Filipino ARMY, who raised funds for him for spreading the positive vibes.
Meanwhile, Malaya Business Insight Living asked some people to give their comments about the celebrity meal.
Cie Cisneros, Cheryl Tru, Kat Llemit, Alma San Buenaventura, Maika de Castro, Gelyka Ruth Dumaraos, Sheila Pino Ylagan, Enzo Luna, Karina Ramos, Lira Regala and Joyce Ann Rocamora said the items remain the same except for the stars of the show — sweet chili and Cajun sauces — that have a delicious kick and liven up the meal.
Ma. Leonila Garcia also had a taste of the BTS meal, stressing the exciting new dips. The purple theme, she said, is calming at this time of uncertainty. Fan or no fan of the BTS who spread love in many ways these days, people are becoming creative by recycling the packages of this limited-time product offering.
Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro said the packaging in the Philippines is superb as other countries only did the bag. She finds the inexpensive, limited edition meal delicious and the sauces yummy, noting that a lot of people like them mixed together.
For Alejandro, McDonald’s Philippines is really nailing the rollout, making it fun so that fans will have a memorable experience.
Hannah Tejuco said while there is no new product except for the sauces, ARMYS love it because it represents the love for BTS.
Irish Maureen Manuel has saved the paper bag and has guaranteed to reorder the meal just for the sauces. Her only beef is that as the ARMY pays extra, the company might as well have improved the product itself.
As an ARMY, NT Estiva bought the meal even though she never orders the Chicken McNuggets. She said the sauces are okay, particularly the Cajun, but nothing really special about the meal. Customers should not also expect a Michelin-level of taste for P260. Still, she finds the packaging cute.
Bhaby See said the only thing that changed is the packaging but the taste is the same.
For Angel Mae Ganub, it was her first time to try the nuggets. “It is really the experience for me, and as a newbie ARMY, I feel that I get closer to the group,” she related.
March Ortuoste said it is something new for her since she always gets the conventional barbecue dip. She added the meal was worth it, plus it makes ARMYS extra happy.
Edwin Sallan is already a longtime fan of Chicken McNuggets so his only concern with the meal is the two new sauces. Surprisingly, both are good, he said, although he is more partial to the Cajun variant. His sister and nieces love the packaging.
