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McDonald's, BTS collaborating on LTO

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April 19, 2021

McDonald's is collaborating with Korean pop group BTS to roll out its latest menu item, the BTS Meal.

Available May 26, it features the singing group's favorite meal from the Golden Arches — 10 Chicken McNuggets, fries and a medium Coke. It also comes with sweet chili and cajun dipping sauces, inspired by popular recipes from McDonald's South Korea, the country from where the pop group hails.

"BTS truly lights up the world stage, uniting people across the globe through their music," McDonald's CMO Morgan Flatley said in a press release. "We're excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald's can — through our delicious food — when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month."

BTS is the latest group to join McDonald's celebrity signature orders program, which launched last year when the QSR giant featured rapper Travis Scott's favorite meal in its U.S. locations. The collaboration led to a surge in September sales, a key driver of the chain's successful third-quarter earnings. BTS is the first to have its menu item available globally in nearly 50 countries.

"True to the famous orders that have come before it, this is much more than a traditional promotional campaign; and we're tapping into McDonald's key strengths to bring it to life," McDonald's Global CMO Alistair Macrow wrote in a letter this week to stakeholders. "That work starts today, as we maximize our industry-leading marketing capability to celebrate the union of these two iconic brands and excite our millions of fans. Just as importantly, the BTS meal will celebrate our core menu favorites in a fresh, captivating way, and we'll use our digital footprint to engage with customers on the channels that are most convenient for them."