Let’s make a ‘McWhopper’: Burger King calls for truce with McDonald’s

Burger King was hoping to “end the beef” with its long-time rivalry McDonald’s for at least one day.

The fast-food chain has taken out a full-page ad in The New York Times and Chicago Times featuring an open letter to McDonald’s, offering to collaborate on one new burger called the The McWhopper.

Burger King proposed that the two chains combine “the tastiest bits of your Big Mac and our Whopper, united in one delicious, peace-loving burger” and the two chains would sell it on Peace Day, September 21.

But before you get too excited, McDonald’s said no.

Burger King said it wanted to serve The McWhopper at a pop-up store location in Atlanta, a “neutral territory” marking the midway point between the two chains’ headquarters.

On a web site setup by Burger King, the company had apparently thought of everything: packaging for the burger box, uniforms for the staff, and a peace treaty drafted on a napkin.

The proceeds would be donated to Peace One Day to increase global awareness.

McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook responded on Facebook and said the proposal was an “inspiration for a good cause.” But he had quickly shut it down and offered his own proposal instead.

“We love the intention but think our two brands could do something bigger to make a difference,” he wrote. “We commit to raise awareness worldwide, perhaps you’ll join us in a meaningful global effort?”

He then took a jab at the plan and urged Burger King to 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.”