OAK BROOK, Ill.
(Map)
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OAK BROOK, Ill., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's USA launched a
national casting call today inviting consumers to submit a video or audio
remix of the popular Big Mac chant on MySpace.com/BigMacChant. The winning
remix will be featured in a McDonald's Big Mac TV commercial that will air at
the end of July. Semi-finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and the
winner will be chosen through an online vote by July 22.*
Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide, and his creative group
at Needham Harper & Steers developed the famous
"Twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun(R)"
Big Mac jingle in 1974. Now, to continue the celebration of the sandwich's
40th anniversary, McDonald's is giving consumers a chance to rediscover their
love of the Big Mac with a fresh new twist.
"For 40 years, the Big Mac has been a familiar favorite not only to our
guests in the United States, but around the world," said
Neil Golden, chief
marketing officer, McDonald's USA. "To share in the pride we have for our
flagship sandwich, we're inviting our customers to join in the fun and add
their own contemporary touch to the famous tongue-twister that celebrates the
quality ingredients in our iconic sandwich."
Jim "MJ" Delligatti, one of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc's earliest
franchisees, invented the Big Mac in his Uniontown, Pa. restaurant and
introduced it for 45 cents in 1967. Consisting of two 100% all-beef patties,
special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun, the Big
Mac quickly gained popularity and was introduced on McDonald's national menu
in 1968.
To kick-off the year-long anniversary celebration last August, Delligatti
and his family officially opened the doors to the McDonald's Big Mac Museum
Restaurant -- "the most tasteful museum in the world" -- in North Huntingdon,
Pa. The combo museum/restaurant features the world's largest Big Mac statue
(measuring 14 feet high and 12 feet wide), and hundreds of historic artifacts
and high-tech exhibits that celebrate the Big Mac. The museum/restaurant is
one of 18 McDonald's restaurants owned and operated by M&J Management, a
three-generation family business and McDonald's franchise organization for 50
years.
Today, more than 500 million Big Mac sandwiches are sold each year in
America alone. The sandwich is sold in more than 100 countries and, because of
its global presence, inspired The Economist Magazine's "Big Mac Index," an
annual comparison of foreign currency values against the U.S. dollar.
About McDonald's
McDonald's USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United
States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to
millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700
U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees.
For more information about McDonald's visit http://www.mcdonalds.com. For more
information on the Big Mac including historical facts, commercials and high
resolution images, visit http://www.mcdepk.com/yousowantone.
* Terms and conditions apply. Visit http://www.MySpace.com/BigMacChant for
more information and submission guidelines.
(C) 2008 McDonald's
For more information contact:
Molly McKenna, McDonald's USA
630-623-6593
Jana Rhodes, GolinHarris
312-729-4221
SOURCE McDonald's USA, LLC
