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QSR end-of-year campaigns roll out red (+ green) carpet for customers

From white-bearded nutcrackers to coffee-scented candles, QSRs are whispering sweet little nothings into their customers' ears this time of year in the form of deals, merchandise and the kind of marketing pizzazz that they hope will build momentum well into the new year.

Photo: iStock

December 3, 2019 by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

That mad annual month-and-a-half-long dash we call the holiday season is off and running and QSR brands are well aware of the toll that takes on the spare time all of us have, so brands are invariably focusing on that need. Some are very straightforward about that, like Chick-fil-A, which as we first told you last week, has created a whole holiday campaign focused around the gift of time. 

But other brands are helping customers stretch the time they do have by offering deals and drinks that can help them make all the holiday ends meet by filling in with outsourced dinners for the family, or just a cup of much-needed caffeine to make it through another shopping or party round. And while the list below is by all means not all-inclusive, it does feature a smattering of some of the creative ways brands are drumming up business and a little seasonal cheer. 

Bojangles' 

This brand is offering its eight-piece Big Bo Box with its Cajun-spiced chicken, two "picnic fixins" four biscuits and a half-gallon of iced tea in a holiday box for a holiday price of $19.99. And customers who take a photo of themselves with the box in the shot can upload it to the Bojangles website for a chance to win $5,000 in a contest that will close on Christmas Day. 

"The holidays are about feeling at home, and Bojangles' wants to be sure our customers know we're there for them wherever they may be this season," Bojangles CMO Jackie Woodward, said in a release about the special offering. 

Chick-fil-A

As we mentioned last month, this chicken-centered brand has put the focus on

Photo: Chick-fil-A

encouraging customers to give their friends and loved ones a gift of time this season, through an animated film and New York City  pop-up shop, as well as offering to print and ship cards offering gifts of time to loved ones that customers create online at chick-fil-a.com/timeshop inside the U.S. without charge. 

The free pop-up Time Shop also offers a place where guests can create custom cards for friends and family from Dec. 4-17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except for Sundays, or course. 

Church's Chicken 

Church's is bringing back its Holi-Deals this holiday with either a 12-piece Holi-Deals original or spicy chicken or dozen honey-butter biscuit tenders with sweet honey-butter dipping sauce. The meals come with two large sides like fried okra or macaroni and cheese, starting at $15, while a single meal Holi-Deal option is offered with three honey butter biscuit tenders with fries, coleslaw and a biscuit for $5, through Dec. 29. 

"Delicious food than brings people together is what a down-home holiday is all about," Churh's Vice President of Brand Strategy and Activation Jennifer Chasteen, said in a release about the specials. 

Dairy Queen

Photo: Dairy Queen

While few of us want the real thing, few would pass up a chance to spoon down Dairy Queen's version of the Blizzard, particularly during the holidays when the brand is doling out its all new peppermint hot cocoa blizzard treat, with cocoa fudge, choco-chunks and candy cane pieces in that fluffy soft-serve. Also on the counter this season is the snickerdoodle cookie dough blizzard treat with  snickerdoodle cookie dough pieces and cinnamon sugar in vanilla soft-serve, both throughout the holidays. 

Del Taco

Del Taco's take for this holiday is geared toward filling all those gift requests with three seasonal gift card bonus program deals. Through the end of the year, the brand said guests who buy cards in-store or online will earn free food for themselves, including: 

Photo: Del Taco

Through Jan. 1 in-store, buy $15 in gift cards, get a coupon good for two free grilled chicken tacos, or buy $25 in gift cards and get a pair of coupons, each good for a pair of free grilled chicken tacos.

Dec. 2 and 3, every $30 purchased in gift cards online, will yield a pair of coupons, each worth a free small combo meal, or every $100 in gift cards will produce eight digital coupons, each for a small combo meal. 

Dec. 4 through Jan. 1, every $30 in online gift card purchases will yield a coupon for one free small combo meal and every $100 in online gift cards purchases will produce four coupons, each worth a small combo meal. 

"It's the season of giving, and not only do we want to help our customers with their holiday shopping, but also reward them in the process," CMO  Barry Westrum, said. 

Dunkin' 

Photo: Dunkin'

Sometimes just a passing whiff of a favorite scent is enough to put the bounce back in your step, and when it comes to some of the scents of the typical Dunkin', that might hold doubly true. Perhaps that's why the brand is partnering with the scent specialists at Homesick to offer a trio of holiday-inspired scented candles, including original blend coffee, peppermint mocha-flavored coffee and, Homer Simpson's favorite, old-fashioned doughnuts.

Homesick's team of researchers, candlemakers and perfume chemists worked with Dunkin's culinary team to develop scent-saturated hand-poured candles that can be had for $29.95 each online at homesick.com/dunkin, all guaranteed to provide 60 to 80 hours of "burn time."

"From little moments like a morning coffee run to start the day, to sharing a doughnut and good conversation with a loved one, we cherish the special connections our guests have with Dunkin'," Dunkin' Brands Director of Strategic Partnerships Justin Unger, said in the release. "Partnering with Homesick allows Dunkin' fans, no matter where they are, to recreate those moments and bring their Dunkin' memories home."

KFC      

The finger-lickin' good bucket-centric brand is putting those buckets front-and-center this holiday with its limited-edition,

Photo: KFC

original holiday buckets for original and extra-crispy fried chicken. The special edition cardboard pails feature the artwork of award-winning children's book author and illustrator Nicholas John Frith of "Hector and Hummingbird" fame. 

The buckets show a portrait of the "other ol' white-haired fellow" at this time of year, a.k.a. Harland Sanders as Santa to help customers wax nostalgic this holiday. KFC has been creating holiday-themed buckets worldwide since the 1970s. This is the first year, however, that KFC U.S. has brought an original illustration to the buckets. 

And as yesteryear-ish as this all is, the brand is still pushing it future-forward with a social media component to its holiday campaign that asks customers to submit photos online of their favorite KFC gifts available in the contest on Instagram with one of two designated hashtags. There are 11 gifts available to go along with the long-heralded 11 herbs and spices, that the brand teases with clues like this: 

"A white suit, a black tie...all of these belong up high."

The contest closes Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. EST with all gifts sent out the next day and no purchase necessary. 

Panda Express 

Image: Panda Express

The Asian food-centered concept has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company for their holiday marketing push this year in the Get a Coke & Give Good Cheer campaign to help families in tough times have a better holiday this year.  

Through Dec. 28, customers who buy a Coca-Cola beverage at Panda Express will take some joy in knowing the restaurant will donate gifts to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationally, up to a collective value of $250,000*). 

"The holidays are a season where smiles should be abundant, yet there are so many who face hardships during this time of year," Panda Express Co-CEO Peggy Cherng, said in a news release about the campaign. "As a family-owned business founded upon values of love and giving back to the community, we hope to bring fun and laughter to the children and families who need them most, not only now but all year long. The entire Panda family, along with our valued partner Coca-Cola and our guests, has the opportunity to ignite a chain of compassion and giving across the country."

Network hospitals treat one in 10 youngsters in North America each year. 

Taco Bell Canada

Photo: Taco Bell Canada

Like Dunkin',Taco Bell Canada is also honing in on the scents of the holidays - or at least taco-scented holidays — with its scented Crunchwrapping paper. According to the an item description on Amazon, $4 orders contain five sheets of scented paper, each representing a layer of the Triple Double Crunchwrap —including seasoned beef, nacho cheese, tostada, the tortilla, and lettuce, tomato, sour cream and spice.

Sales of the paper started Cyber Monday and will last until supplies are gone. Last year that was just about 2 days. 

White Castle

White Castle leads off its holiday offerings with a very blue and very hamburger- and fry-adorned Christmas sweater, which the brand said is offered in sizes small to 5XL. The chain promises to deliver in time for Christmas if orders are placed by Dec. 16, with expedited shipping available after that date for an additional cost. 

Photo: White Castle

The blue-and-yellow cloak was made in partnership with the Ugly Sweater Store to pair with the brands slider socks and royal blue White Castle beanie. But for those who want to really rock the castle with their holiday offerings, the brand also offers these other nine logo-bearing items:  
1.    Silver winter-themed lunchbox with snowflakes and an ornament. 
2.    Blue, light-up glass ornament.
3.    13-ounce blue ceramic campfire mug. 
4.    Blue knit scarf with three white stripes.
5.    A pink or light blue onesie for newborn through 24 months.
6.    Flannel pants with checkered pattern of black and electric blue.
7.    Titleist DT TruSoft golf balls.
8.    Slider-scented candle (all sales proceeds go to Autism Speaks).  
9.    $25 White Castle gift card.

About S.A. Whitehead

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Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb editor Shelly Whitehead is a former newspaper and TV reporter with an affinity for telling stories about the people and innovative thinking behind great brands.