McDonald's rejects Burger King's peace offering
Open letter calls for cease-fire in burger war
McDonald's has said no way to a Burger King offer to join forces to create a "McWhopper."
In full-page newspaper ads Wednesday in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, Burger King said it's calling for a one day truce with McDonald's so that they can create a mashup of the Big Mac and the Whopper. Burger King says it wants to serve the concoction for a single day at a popup location in Atlanta, a midway point between the headquarters of the two chains.
The proposed mashup of the Big Mac and Whopper included elements of each, such as flame-broiled beef patty and a middle bun, according to a special website set up by Burger King.
Burger King said the sales proceeds would be donated to Peace One Day, a nonprofit group seeking to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace, which is on Sept. 21. The United Nations created the International Day of Peace in 1981 to coincide with its annual opening session in September.
Burger King notes on the site that it's open to discussing the proposal, but that details would have to be worked out in time for Peace Day.
"Proposals like McWhopper make noise," Burger King says in a video on the site.
In a response posted on its Facebook page, McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said the proposal was inspiration for a good cause, and that he thinks the two companies could do "something bigger to make a difference."
Then he took a dig at Burger King --suggesting the move was a marketing stunt.
"Let's acknowledge that between us there is simply a friendly business competition and certainly not the unequaled circumstances of the real pain and suffering of war," Easterbrook said.
He added "P.S. A simple phone call will do next time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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