McDonald's is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic '90s TV show Friends with a special Happy Meal promotion. The fast food giant has launched a limited edition Friends– themed Happy mealscomplete with collectible packaging and toy figures of beloved characters Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe.
But there is a catch: Friends The Happy Meal is only available in Spain, leaving fans in other countries out of luck. Very US Friends enthusiasts and collectors around the world are already turning to online resellers or hoping to get their hands on these nostalgic toys through international channels.
Sellers have already started selling Friends Happy Meal toys on resale platforms like eBay, where individual figures are listed up to $100and complete groups are listed as about $1000.
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Friendsa classic The sitcom from the 1990s followed six close-knit friends through their personal and professional lives in New York City. The show is known for its humor, including catchphrases, and continues to grow in popularity decades after its original run. It remains a cultural touchstone for fans worldwide.
McDonald's Spain is celebrating 30 years of Friends with an exclusive meal for adults! Fans can collect figurines of all six cast members and enjoy a special sauce called “Monica's Marinara” in the Friends Box.#Friends #Friends30 #McDonaldsSpain #HappyMeal to Grow Up #Friends box pic.twitter.com/uEe1qtocav
— Respectthechain (@respectthechain) October 9, 2024
By offering exclusive access to these popular Friends character toys, McDonald's has tapped into a powerful marketing formula – the combination of nostalgia and absence. This strategy has proven successful in past campaigns, such as last summer's Collector's Foodswhich also fueled nostalgia—mainly through collector's cups included with the meal – to create excitement and increase demand.
like McDonald's continues to blend pop culture with its iconic brand, the company demonstrates its ability to generate significant buzz not only from its core customers, but also from a wider audience that typically doesn't engage with its offerings. By keeping the promotion exclusive and limited, McDonald's reinforces the idea that NOSTALGIAwhen combined with exclusivity, it can captivate consumers and drive shopping and in-store traffic.
Read more: Yahoo!