Burger King encourages people to eat at McDonalds and KFC ahead of second lockdown
‘Getting a Whopper is always best, but ordering a Big Mac is also not such a bad thing,’ it said
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Your support makes all the difference.Burger King has issued a statement encouraging people across the UK to order from fast food competitor McDonald’s, following the announcement of a second nationwide lockdown.
On Monday 2 November, the fast food chain shared a statement on its social media platforms with the caption: “We know, we never thought we’d be saying this either...order from McDonald’s.
“We never thought we’d be asking you to do this. Just like we never thought we’d be encouraging you to order from KFC, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Five Guys, Greggs, Taco Bell, Papa John’s, Leon… or any of the other independent food outlets,” it continued.
The brand said it was reminding customers to spend money at “any of our sisterhood chains (fast or not so fast).”
Burger King, which has 530 stores in the UK, said that it was forced to issue the statement as restaurants “really need your support at the moment”. “So if you want to help, keep treating yourself to tasty meals through home delivery, takeaway, or drive thru.”
It concluded: “Getting a Whopper is always best, but ordering a Big Mac is also not such a bad thing.”
On 9 July, Burger King chief executive, Alasdair Murdoch, told BBC Newcast, that between five and 10 per cent of restaurants “might not be able to survive”.
Murdoch warned jobs could be at risk as a result of the pandemic after only 370 of the chain’s stores had reopened following the March closure. Burger King has more than 16,500 employees in the UK.
He said: “We don’t want to lose any [jobs]. We try very hard not to, but one’s got to assume somewhere between five per cent and 10 per cent of the restaurants might not be able to survive.
“It’s not just us – I think this applies to everyone out there in our industry,” he added.
The second lockdown, due to begin at midnight on Wednesday 4 November will see the strictest nationwide measures since the spring lockdown came to an end.
Boris Johnson told a press conference on Saturday this would mean the closure of pubs and restaurants, which had formerly been boosted by the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, run by Rishi Sunak in August.
Food chains and pubs can still provide takeaway and delivery services.
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