Cardi B and Offset’s McDonald’s collaboration is doing well even though some franchisees are concerned about its appeal.
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According to reports from Entrepreneur and the Wall Street Journal, multiple owners of McDonald’s franchise restaurants have submitted written complaints about the company’s partnership with the pair of hitched rappers. Their concerns reportedly lie in worries that the married Hip Hip duo and their perspective images and song lyrics do not reflect “McDonald’s family-friendly,” brand. Other owners have alleged the collab with Cardi B and Offset violates the “Golden Arches Code,” of brand standards. The code purportedly states promotions should not include, “musical partnerships associated with content that includes offensive language in the lyrics.” Some restaurants have reportedly refused to promote the meal entirely.
on my way to mcdonalds likeeee pic.twitter.com/wi6CX43RH3
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) February 14, 2023
While it is unclear exactly how many of McDonald’s 1,000-plus franchises are concerned about the collaboration, and or refused to sell or market the meal, the Wall Street Journal revealed the franchisees it spoke with were based in the “Southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.” The collaboration, aptly dubbed “The Cardi B and Offset Meal,” debuted in McDonald’s locations nationwide on Valentine’s Day following a Super Bowl LVII commercial spot. The meal for two includes a cheeseburger with BBQ sauce, a Coke for Cardi B and a Quarter Pounder with cheese and Hi-C Orange Lavaburst for Offset. The meal also comes with large fries and an apple pie.
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McDonald’s told Wall Street Journal that despite the alleged backlash, the Cardi B and Offset meal promotion has been met with “widespread support and excitement from owners and their restaurant employees.” In another statement provided to Bloomberg by Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer for the U.S. market, the fast-food chain is currently “focused on putting McDonald’s at the center of culture.”
Additionally, a rep for McDonald’s expanded on the value of artist collaborations for the company, explaining how the collaborations have helped them reconnect with their long-standing customer base.
“[Artist collabs] have helped reignite fans’ love for our food and fueled significant business momentum, both for the company and our restaurant owner/operators.” The statement reads in part. “Cardi and Offset are an iconic couple who have their own date-night tradition at McDonald’s that goes back years. We’re proud to share a little piece of that with customers across the US with our latest campaign.”
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While Cardi B and Offset are the current topics of conversation when it comes to McDonald’s collaborations, they apparently aren’t the first artists to rile up franchise owners. According to a survey by the National Owners Association, 65 percent of U.S. franchisees weren’t in favor of Travis Scott’s 2020 partnership. According to the Wall Street Journal, the meal, which included a Travis Scott Burger (a Quarter pounder with cheese, lettuce and bacon), medium fries with BBQ sauce, and a medium Sprite, helped McDonald’s see a 4.6 percent spike in sales over a three-month period.