McDonald’s recently decided to choose Juraj Slafkovsky for its next advertising campaign this fall, in Quebec, according to our information.
However, some fear that Slafkovsky could be hit by the McDonald’s curse. Whether it’s Jonathan Drouin, Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher or even Cole Caufield, all the players who have participated in a McDonald’s commercial have had disappointing, even catastrophic, seasons.
Needless to say, Alex Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty have also been in McDonald’s commercials. Ouch. No need to remind you of their end in Montreal. Let’s hope that Slafkovsky will be able to break this curse.
As part of this new campaign, McDonald’s also plans to launch $5 menus in Canada by the fall, after testing this initiative in the United States.
The move comes as the company faces a financial free fall. The fast food giant recently announced the implementation of this $5 menu in the United States to counter the slowdown in its sales, forcing other major players in the sector to follow suit.
With the price of the cheeseburger having increased by 55% over the past three years, McDonald’s saw its sales slow down in the last quarter, and its stock lost 10% of its value.
Faced with these difficulties, McDonald’s decided to take drastic measures by offering a $5 menu on the other side of the border. The same strategy will arrive in Canada by the fall.
This menu will indeed see the light of day in Canada, although slightly more expensive due to the exchange rate. And McDonald’s would like to take advantage of Slafkovsky’s popularity to be the head figure of this campaign.
The move reignited the price war between competitors, with Burger King taking the lead by launching a $5 menu before McDonald’s.
Wendy’s also followed this trend by offering a $3 lunch, providing budget-friendly options for fast food lovers in a tough economy.
With Juraj Slafkovsky as the face of their new campaign and a bold move to attract consumers, McDonald’s is hoping to turn things around and regain its leadership position in the fast food industry.
Juraj Slafkovsky is expected to receive between $100,000 and $120,000 for his participation in this McDonald’s advertising campaign.
This considerable sum reflects not only Slafkovsky’s stature as a star player, but also the scale of the McDonald’s brand compared to local chains.
To put that into perspective, Arber Xhekaj pocketed just $25,000 to promote the “La Chambre” restaurants burger.
Compared to Slafkovsky’s $120,000, this amount seems like peanuts. This difference in remuneration highlights the distinction between a rising star and a “goon defender” who is certainly popular but with limited talent, just as it illustrates the gap between a multinational like McDonald’s and a local chain like La Chambre.
McDonald’s campaign with Slafkovsky not only aims to boost sales by offering $5 menus, it also highlights a player whose potential and popularity among fans can attract new customers.
Slafkovsky embodies the future of the Montreal Canadiens, and his association with a brand as iconic as McDonald’s could create beneficial advertising and marketing power for both parties.
McDonald’s, in financial difficulty, is betting big on this campaign. By recruiting a promising figure like Slafkovsky, the company hopes to not only attract hockey fans but also strengthen its brand image.
For his part, Slafkovsky, with this exposure, could gain notoriety and strengthen his position as a rising star, despite fears linked to the famous curse of McDonald’s advertisements.
Ultimately, this collaboration could prove to be a double victory if McDonald’s can revitalize its sales and Slafkovsky avoids the curse to continue to shine on the ice.
McDonald’s strategy of investing in popular sports figures is part of a desire to return to success, and Slafkovsky seems to be the ideal candidate for this mission in Quebec.
We wonder if Martin St-Louis will fall on him like he fell on Xhekaj’s head with his burger. As McDonald’s has always had good relations with the Montreal Canadiens as a commercial partner, we bet that St-Louis will be more lenient.
Enough to make Xhekaj jealous…
