POV - Adult Happy Meals
From our Point of View: a snapshot of the emerging trends we have our eyes on.
It can be hard to see the forest for the trees. We have eyes on the ground in different markets—and perpetually on Instagram and TikTok —to spot interesting ideas in real time. POV is a quick snapshot of emerging trends catching our eye right.
When McDonald's introduced the now iconic Adult Happy Meal in 2022, the excitement reverberated across both traditional and social media—sparking a nationwide craze. The meal combined two things people love: childhood memories, and a great value. A month's worth of supply sold out in just two weeks, bringing in $80 million in sales for McDonalds, and proving just how powerful nostalgia can be.
We’re now seeing upscale restaurants and bars capitalize on the "Happy Meal" appeal, with fresh takes that put a truly adult spin on the concept. Even without 85 years of history to leverage, restaurants are repackaging the idea into something guests can get excited about.
Check out a few fresh takes from around the country:
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