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Wendy’s takes another stab at McDonald’s with a new video for its breakfast launch with former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike HaraczWendy’s takes another stab at McDonald’s with a new video for its breakfast launch with former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz

The quick service chain is trying to come for a new daypart – breakfast

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

February 5, 2020

2 Min Read
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Wendy’s is attacking McDonald’s like never before on Twitter. The Ohio-based quick service brand that calls itself “The Queen of Clapback” has been known for “throwing down” on Twitter for brand marketing before, but launching an official campaign this way is a new move.

On Wednesday, the brand posted a video featuring a former McDonald’s corporate chef showing “what breakfast is supposed to taste like” according to the brand’s Twitter.

Who is the chef daring to cross the social media picket lines? His name is Mike Haracz.

Haracz used to be the corporate chef at McDonald’s, where he was instrumental in bringing back Szechuan Sauce in 2017. After leaving in August of 2019, he remained relatively quiet about the brand’s competitors on social media until this week. He teased involvement with the new Wendy’s campaign the day before his video debuted on Twitter.

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This was the same day Wendy’s unveiled the official launch date of its breakfast menu.

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What exactly is this video that has the internet buzzing?

The main video begins with classical music as Haracz approaches a kitchen while shots of breakfast ingredients are interspersed with the chef’s thoughts, such as “maybe Wendy’s should stick to what it’s good at.”

He tries the Breakfast Baconator, though he has “many doubts,” and a slow motion shot of him enjoying the sandwich is on the screen while the song’s crescendo plays. The video ultimately concludes with Haracz exclaiming “Holy s***, this is great”.

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The internet clearly enjoyed the Haracz’s “traitorous” nature and couldn’t help but poke fun at the mashup. The campaign reminded fans of one of the greatest brand ambassador betrayals in history: the Verizon “Can you hear me now?” man becoming the Sprint spokesman.

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As of publication time, less than one day after posting, it has over 180,000 views.

Additional promotional videos include Haracz testing out the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit:

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The Frosty-ccino:

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And a sampling of all three:

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McDonald’s has not responded on social media since the release of Wendy’s campaign on Feb 4.

Contact Holly at [email protected]

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About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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