McDonald's Says No To Burger King's McWhopper Offer
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) — McDonald's has turned down Burger King's offer to join forces to create a "McWhopper."
In full-page newspaper ads Wednesday, Burger King said it was calling for a truce with McDonald's so that they can create a mashup of their most famous burgers — the Big Mac and the Whopper.
Burger King said 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.
Burger King is tying the publicity stunt to a nonprofit called Peace One Day, which says it promotes Peace Day. The United Nations created the International Day of Peace in 1981 to coincide with its annual opening session in September.
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 the ploy by Burger King.
"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 proposed mashup of the Big Mac and Whopper would include elements of each, such as flame-broiled beef patty and a middle bun, according to a website Burger King set up.
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.
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