13 Fast Food Gimmicks That Actually Worked
This list highlights successful marketing strategies that fast food chains have employed to stand out in an oversaturated market and convert customer engagement into sales.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
In a highly competitive industry, fast food chains have used imaginative and sometimes bizarre tactics to stay ahead of the curve. From nostalgic games and celebrity collabs to social media wit and tech innovations, these gimmicks not only caught public attention but also drove meaningful sales and loyalty. The success of these stunts shows that, when done right, a little creativity can turn a limited-time idea into lasting brand value.
1. McDonald’s Monopoly Game
Image from Wikipedia
Launched in 1987, McDonald’s Monopoly transformed the simple act of buying fries into a game of chance. Customers eagerly peeled game pieces from cups and fry boxes, hoping to snag anything from free food to cars or even a million dollars. The genius was in how it turned everyday meals into an addictive experience, boosting sales and turning McDonald’s into a pop culture juggernaut every fall.
2. KFC’s Chicken-Scented Firelog
Image from Wikipedia
In 2018, KFC launched a limited-edition firelog that smelled like their famous 11 herbs and spices. It was strange, funny, and utterly irresistible — the logs sold out almost instantly. More than a product, it was a conversation piece, and it kept KFC top of mind during the holiday season.
3. Taco Bell’s “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco”
Image from Wikipedia
Taco Bell hit a home run with baseball fans by promising free tacos if a player stole a base during the World Series. It was a low-risk, high-reward gimmick: a small price to pay for nationwide buzz. Fans now look forward to it every year, making it a tradition that ties sports and tacos together.
4. Wendy’s Twitter Roasts
Image from Wikipedia
Instead of playing it safe, Wendy’s took to Twitter with sharp, snarky comebacks that quickly went viral. The fast-food chain turned social media sass into brand loyalty, especially among younger audiences. It humanized the brand and made followers feel like they were in on the joke.
5. McDonald’s BTS Meal
Image from Wikipedia
In 2021, McDonald’s partnered with global pop sensation BTS to release a special meal with exclusive sauces. It wasn’t just about nuggets and fries — it came with branded packaging and a sense of community for fans. The collaboration drove massive international sales and proved that fast food and fandoms make a powerful duo.
6. Burger King’s Moldy Whopper
Image from Wikipedia
In a bold move, Burger King aired a commercial showing a Whopper decomposing over 34 days to highlight its lack of artificial preservatives. It was gross, but in a way that made a point about food quality. The unsettling ad sparked debate, but it undeniably got people talking (and rethinking preservatives).
7. In-N-Out’s Secret Menu
Image from Wikipedia
What started as a whisper among regulars became a full-blown cultural phenomenon. In-N-Out never advertised its secret menu, but “Animal Style” burgers and fries gained a cult following. The exclusivity made fans feel like insiders, and the buzz kept growing organically.
8. Arby’s Weird Merchandise
Image from Wikipedia
Arby’s leaned hard into absurdity with merch like meat-scented sweatshirts, curly fry-themed pool floats, and even a limited-edition Dungeons & Dragons-style role-playing game. It blurred the line between brand and lifestyle in a fun, self-aware way. The products sold out quickly, showing fans were hungry for more than just roast beef.
9. Pizza Hut’s Book It! Program
Image from Wikipedia
Since the 1980s, Pizza Hut has encouraged kids to read by rewarding them with free pizza. For millions of American students, the promise of a personal pan pizza made reading fun. It’s one of the rare gimmicks that was both effective and genuinely enriching.
10. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Craze
Image from Wikipedia
When Popeyes released its chicken sandwich in 2019, it sparked a national frenzy and sold out within weeks. Social media comparisons with Chick-fil-A fueled the hype, creating lines out the door and even physical altercations. Popeyes barely spent on marketing; the internet did it for them.
11. Jack in the Box’s Late Night Munchie Meals
Image from Wikipedia
Jack in the Box cleverly marketed its over-the-top, high-calorie boxes of snacks to night owls and stoners. The campaign leaned into its quirky humor, even airing trippy commercials to match the vibe. It worked — late-night sales surged, and the brand cemented itself with the younger, “up-late” crowd.
12. Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappuccino
Image from Wikipedia
The 2017 limited-time drink was a swirling, neon sugar bomb that lit up Instagram feeds everywhere. It wasn’t about taste (which was polarizing); it was about capturing the moment. The Unicorn Frap tapped into a cultural obsession with all things whimsical — and boosted foot traffic dramatically.
13. Domino’s Pizza Tracker
Image from Wikipedia
Domino’s introduced real-time pizza tracking in 2008, letting customers follow their order from oven to doorstep. It added a level of transparency and control that made the wait feel shorter and more interactive. The feature became a tech-forward talking point and helped Domino’s rebrand itself as a digital-savvy company.