Fast-food outlets and casual dining chains routinely dream up flashy menu items to build buzz and lure ravenous Americans.
Called “stunt foods,” the edible inventions carry some marketing risk. This spring, KFC’s “Double Down” and IHOP’s “Cheesecake Pancakes” debuted, joining a storied list of fried smashes and drive-through flops. The famous munchies typically come with cutesy names and costly ad campaigns – part of a perpetual quest to find the next Big Mac (launched in 1968).
“New products are the adrenaline of the fast-food industry,” said Nick Castaldo, a former executive with Denny’s and Burger King. “They almost guarantee a short-term spike in sales ... because of the high boredom factor and low consumer loyalty in the category.”
MSNBC lists 12 such food items and how they fare
