As the holiday season ramps up, QSRs have an exciting opportunity to capture customer interest and spark social media buzz with festive, limited-time menu items. While holiday-themed drinks are popular, many brands are also finding creative ways to bring seasonal flavours into pizzas, snacks, and side dishes. From holiday pizzas to loaded fries and festive sandwiches, here are some of the best ideas and success stories QSRs can learn from to make their holiday offerings go viral.
When it comes to holiday products that stand out, it’s all about balancing festive flavours with novelty and visual appeal. Here are some holiday-themed products and ideas that QSR brands have used to create seasonal buzz and inspire customer loyalty.
The Strategy:
McDonald’s has historically capitalised on the holiday season with special festive menu items, such as turkey-flavored sandwiches, cranberry sauce-topped burgers, and peppermint desserts. Beyond food, McDonald's UK launched an Advent Calendar Giveaway via their app, where customers could win daily prizes like free menu items, discounts, and even exclusive holiday merchandise.
Giveaway Success
The Advent Calendar campaign was a massive success, driving daily engagement through the app. Customers eagerly checked in each day to see what they’d win, fostering loyalty and increasing app downloads.
Why It Worked:
By creating a holiday ritual with daily incentives, McDonald’s kept their brand top-of-mind and tapped into the seasonal excitement. The limited-time offerings and free giveaways created a sense of urgency and exclusivity, encouraging repeat visits and organic social sharing as customers shared their winnings online.
The Strategy:
In several markets, Domino’s has rolled out a “Christmas Cravings” pizza inspired by classic holiday flavours. Toppings include roasted turkey, stuffing-flavoured sausage, a drizzle of cranberry sauce, and fresh herbs, capturing the essence of a Christmas dinner on a pizza.
Merchandise for Viral Appeal
In some regions, Domino’s has also offered limited-edition holiday-themed pizza boxes and branded clothing, encouraging customers to share their holiday-themed “Domino’s moments” on social media.
Why It Worked:
This unique menu item combined beloved holiday flavors in a format that felt both new and nostalgic. The holiday-themed merchandise added to the appeal, creating a multi-sensory experience that customers were eager to post about. It also became a memorable seasonal treat, drawing in customers who wanted to try something out of the ordinary.
The Strategy:
Pizza Hut’s Triple Treat Box has become a holiday staple, featuring two pizzas, breadsticks, and mini Cinnabon rolls, all neatly stacked in a three-tiered, gift-like box. The holiday box design changes each year, often with festive colors and branding that reflects the holiday spirit.
Merchandise Appeal
The Triple Treat Box itself acts as a piece of holiday-themed merchandise, resembling a stackable holiday gift. Some locations have even offered additional branded holiday items, such as cozy Pizza Hut blankets and mugs.
Why It Worked:
The clever, gift-like packaging makes the Triple Treat Box a natural fit for social media. Families and friends see it as a “holiday experience” to enjoy together, creating perfect photo opportunities. The visual appeal of the box also made it a hit for holiday gatherings, further increasing brand visibility online and fostering a sense of tradition for Pizza Hut customers.
Greggs has built a loyal following with its Festive Bake, a savoury pastry filled with ingredients reminiscent of a Christmas dinner, including chicken, stuffing, bacon, and cranberry sauce. Additionally, Greggs releases quirky holiday merchandise each year, like branded Christmas jumpers, festive-themed sleeping bags, and even wrapping paper.
Merchandise for Viral Appeal
Greggs’ holiday merchandise is wildly popular, and each item is designed to resonate with their fanbase. The limited-edition holiday items, particularly the jumpers, have become a collectible item that loyal customers and influencers post about, creating a viral loop.
Why It Worked:
The Festive Bake itself is a highly anticipated annual treat, but the quirky merchandise brings additional charm. Greggs’ holiday items appeal to customers’ sense of humour and nostalgia, and because the items are both unique and limited, customers feel compelled to buy and share them online. The merch has become a social media favourite, reinforcing brand loyalty and expanding Greggs’ reach.
The Strategy:
KFC has added an unconventional twist to holiday merchandise by launching a limited-edition firelog scented with the brand’s signature “11 herbs and spices.” This novelty item, sold online, became a sensation, with fans snapping it up each year it’s available. During the holiday season, KFC also decorates its signature buckets with festive designs.
Giveaway and Novelty Success
The herbs and spices firelog quickly became a cult favourite and was sold out soon after its launch. The firelog’s viral appeal was amplified by social media, where customers shared photos and videos of the humorous and unique product.
Why It Worked:
The quirky concept of a KFC-scented firelog offered a humorous, attention-grabbing holiday product that stood out from typical seasonal items. Its uniqueness and novelty sparked organic social media buzz, and the firelog became a conversation piece. The festive buckets added to the seasonal fun, making KFC part of customers’ holiday celebrations in an unexpected way.
Based on these successful examples, here are some tips QSRs can use to make their holiday menu items go viral:
The holiday season offers endless possibilities for QSRs to engage customers with festive food items that stand out. By focusing on visually appealing products, exclusive flavours, and creative social media strategies, QSR brands can create limited-time items that capture the holiday spirit and drive engagement. With the right mix of seasonal flavours, presentation, and social sharing incentives, your holiday menu can turn into a viral success, making this season a memorable and profitable one.