It might not serve the healthiest food , but McDonald’s is a nostalgic favorite for millions of people . There’s just something about the combination of comforting, consistent fast food and childhood memories that makes McDonald’s resonate in a unique way.
Now, the fast food giant is leaning into that nostalgia with a new lineup of their iconic Happy Meals. The twist? These Happy Meals aren’t for kids.
McDonald’s is looking for something to get people excited about its brand.
With tens of thousands of locations worldwide, it’s safe to say that the golden arches aren’t going anywhere. But recent market trends have shown a bit of a slump for McDonald’s.
Happy Meals are one of McDonald’s most iconic products.
First developed in the mid ’70s , Happy Meals provide kid-sized portions of McDonald’s meals, along with a toy, in a fun cardboard box. They’ve always been targeted at kids, which explains why so many people feel so nostalgic when they see those red boxes with the golden arches on top.
McDonald’s is shaking things up.
For the first time, McDonald’s will offer Happy Meals aimed at adults starting on October 3rd. These larger boxes include more food — either a Big Mac or 10 pieces of chicken McNuggets, along with fries, a drink, and a surprise.
Here are the toys.
They’re detailed, but kind of weird, versions of McDonald’s mascots Grimace, Hamburglar, and Birdie, along with a new one called Cactus Buddy. All of the toys feature four eyes, making them unique in the world of Happy Meal toys.
It’s a collaboration with Cactus Plant Flea Market.
What’s Cactus Plant Flea Market, you ask? It’s a streetwear brand that’s grown steadily in popularity ever since Kanye West was photographed wearing one of their skull caps all the way back in 2016.
What’s the connection?
There doesn’t seem to be a natural connection between the brand and McDonald’s, other than corporate opportunism.
“We’re taking one of the most nostalgic McDonald’s experiences and literally repackaging it in a new way that’s hyper-relevant for our adult fans,” said McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan in a release .
The hype is building.
“I can’t wait to give fans a unique piece of art and culture as we dive headfirst into the dynamic world of Cactus Plant Flea Market together next week,” Hassan continued. “With menu favorites like the Big Mac and McNuggets at the center of this collab, this is another way we’re reigniting a new generation’s love for our food and the brand”
Nostalgic McDonald’s fans just want their old Happy Meals back.
While the prospect of getting a full McDonald’s meal in a Happy Meal box is intriguing, millennials on Twitter mostly pointed out that they want to see the old toys, not the new four-eyed ones.
The collab begins on October 3rd.
It’ll be interesting to see if this initiative catches on or if it flops. Do you think you’ll get an adult Happy Meal? Why or why not? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.
