The BTS Meal was a meal sold by the international fast food chain McDonald's in collaboration with the South Korean boy band BTS. Consisting of Chicken McNuggets, medium French fries, a medium Coca-Cola, and two spicy dipping sauces (Sweet Chili and Cajun), the BTS Meal was sold from May 26, 2021, to June 20, 2021, in select countries and eventually reached a total of fifty countries.
Product description
The BTS Meal consists of a 10- or 9-piece Chicken McNuggets,[1] medium french fries, a medium Coca-Cola, and Sweet Chili and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by "popular McDonald's South Korean recipes".[2]
History
A representative from the band's agency, Big Hit Entertainment, announced the collaboration between BTS and McDonald's through an official statement. Fans could purchase a meal coupon through a food ordering service prior to the official release.
Depending on the countries and location, the BTS Meal was available via dine-in, take-out, drive-through, and app-based orders, and it was only available during regular hours. The collaboration was the third collaboration for McDonald's. The BTS Meal was first released on May 26, 2021,[3][4] in select countries, including: the United States, Austria, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Paraguay, the Philippines, Taiwan, Romania and Sint Maarten.[5] By late June, the meal had been released in fifty countries.[6]
Availability dates
Dates and countries adapted from ABS-CBN News.[11]
- May 26 – United States, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, Malaysia, Paraguay, St. Maarten, Ukraine
- May 27 – Australia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam
- May 28 – Malta, Puerto Rico
- June 1 – Costa Rica, India (Delhi), Mexico, Panama, United Arab Emirates
- June 2 – Bahrain, Cyprus, Qatar
- June 3 – Hong Kong, Macau
- June 4 – India (Mumbai)
- June 5 – Morocco
- June 7 – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
- June 9 – Taiwan
- June 11 – Romania
- June 15 – El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Suriname
Reception
Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Louisa Chu found the dipping sauces "smooth, but unsurprising".[12] Rebecca Alter of Vulture praised McDonald's business acumen, while stating that the collaboration "made me optimistic for the future of musician promos at chains".[13] William Mullally of Esquire Middle East described the Cajun dipping sauce as "the stuff of fast food greatness".[14]
In 2021, the release reached over a million sales in South Korea,[15] and caused an increase in sales, according to McDonald's.[16]
See also
External links
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References
- Palmer Haasch. BTS McDonald's meal sauces and packaging are selling for more than double the sale price on eBay as fans race to collect the limited-edition collab Insider, May 29, 2021^
- Ethan Shanfeld. BTS Meal Coming to McDonald's in May Variety, April 19, 2021^
- McDonald's to launch BTS meal beginning May 26