Sunday is April Fool’s Day, so be on the lookout for pranks and jokes from your favorite franchise companies this weekend. April Fool’s Day, also known as All Fool’s Day, has been celebrated on April 1st for centuries, and with the advent of social media, brands can easily get in on the fun.
Running a prank can be a tricky situation for a brand. It takes time and effort, and the joke needs to strike a balance between being funny and not going too far. But many franchises participate successfully, bringing a boost to engagement and showing off their fun side.
To get into the April Fool’s spirit, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite pranks from franchise brands over the past years. See what pranks franchises have pulled in the past and know what to look for this April Fool’s Day! And remember – on April 1st, don’t believe everything you read!
KFC Canada Offers a Smart Bucket
In 2017, KFC Canada put up an item on Amazon.com for The Bucket, “a voice-activated delivery and smart home device” that would allow you to order KFC delivery hands free via voice control, customize your profile and mealtime mood, learn your voice and dining habits, and would answer questions about relevant fried chicken news. If you’re feeling lazy and hungry, this would definitely be the product for you! Unfortunately for those pulled in by the prank, The Bucket was out of stock.
Swiss Chalet Perfume and New Sauce
Last year, Swiss Chalet sent out a tweet for its new perfume called Chalet No. 5, complete with an artsy video ad mimicking other fragrance advertisements. And in 2016, just one day after the brand’s parent company Cara Operations agreed to purchase competing rotisserie brand St-Hubert, the franchise nearly gave dedicated fans a heart attack with its prank announcing a change to their famous Chalet Sauce. But fear not – Chalet Sauce is here to stay, and Chalet No. 5 will remain on the shelf.
BeaverTails Pastry Takes Health Consciousness Seriously
Pastry franchise BeaverTails took dedication to healthy living to a whole new level in 2016 when it announced on Twitter its new April Fool’s flavor – KaleTail. The super appetizing menu item featured Canadian grown kale on a cracked wheat pastry, topped with a lemon wedge. An image of the sad looking pastry accompanied the tweet to really draw in the health-conscious consumer. Now who could resist that?
McDonald’s Canada Releases Big Mac Bites
In 2015, McDonald’s Canada turned their classic Big Mac miniature with the April Fool’s introduction of Big Mac Bites. The new menu item, tweeted out on April 1st, proposed the taste of two patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion, and a sesame seed bun all in delicious bite sizes, packaged in bag for on-the-go enjoyment. The tweet even linked to a website dedicated to the Big Mac Bites. Fans seemed to like this prank, some commenting on Twitter that the burger franchise should actually make this a reality.