Burger King’s 'Real Meals' are designed for people who aren't happy all the time

The Home of the Whopper is introducing "Real Meals" meant to match people’s moods. In a way, they're polar opposite of competitor McDonald's feel-good Happy Meals for kids. They acknowledge the fact that consumers aren't "happy all the time" and are targeted toward customers who won't necessarily get a lift from getting a toy with their burger and fries. There’s the Blue Meal, for those feeling down; the DGAF Meal, for people who don't care; the Pissed Meal, for angry eaters; the Salty Meal, for those a tad upset; and the YAAAS Meal. (Ok, so that last one is kind of a take on happy). Each of the five “Real Meals” comes with the same food: a Whopper, fries and a drink. While they're a fun idea, the meals also bring light to an important cause. The campaign breaks May 1 to coincide with the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, and BK says it partnered with Mental Health America on the effort. The work was created out of MullenLowe U.S. and includes a music video-like film, "Feel Your Way." Shot in 35 mm, it showcases people undergoing various emotions, sprinkled with doses of humor. Running online, it starts a bit bleakly with a guy talking about how not everyone wakes up happy. As it progresses, more characters express a variety of feelings and the soundtrack builds. There’s a teenager bubbling up with anger at high school, a woman who hates her boss, a guy stuck living at home, another with dating troubles, and a young mom who doesn’t like being judged (“take your opinions and suck it, world”). Burger King’s full branding isn’t revealed until the end of the video, though wide-eyed viewers might spot an old Burger King logo on a t-shirt in one of the high school hallway scenes. BK says the “Feel Your Way” chorus is a throwback to the “Have it Your Way” song used in the brand’s 1970s commercials (have a listen here). While the campaign is airing broadly on social media, the actual boxes are only available at five restaurants total, in Austin, Seattle, Miami, Los Angeles and New York City. The campaign is BK’s latest work tying the chain and its Whopper to social issues. In the past BK has used blank Whoppers to promote voting in Brazil, charged women more to battle the "pink tax," called attention to people being bullied, explained net neutrality, supported the LGBTQ community, cheered on Saudi Arabia's first-time female drivers, and promoted Peace One Day with its Peace Day burger. As the campaign has rolled out, it's gotten praise from some fans, but ended up pissing people off too, with some complaining that BK is piggybacking on a serious issue to sell burgers. “We are not really making money with this campaign," BK Global CMO Fernando Machado told Ad Age. Rather, it’s about “raising awareness to the fact that it’s ok to express your emotions and that you don’t need to be happy all the time.” One main goal was to help get the word out alongside Mental Health America, and "just the fact that people are talking so much about the campaign demonstrates that we are accomplishing part of our objectives,” he says.

Burger King’s 'Real Meals' are designed for people who aren't happy all the time

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