The Controversial Origins of the Happy Meal

Episode #1 of our new show… The Best Idea Yet. We’re serving it up here early for the Besties & Yetis.

For future episodes of TBIY, subscribe/follow here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/

The Happy Meal is the most successful meal in human history. With over 35 billion units sold, or about four for every person on Earth, McDonald’s iconic “Food and Fun in a Box” has also made the company a bigger toy distributor than Hasbro or Mattel (and maybe even Santa). But few know the Happy Meal’s contested origin story. Was the creator a mom of five in Guatemala, an ad man from Kansas City, or a forgotten franchise called “Burger Chef”? Spoiler, it wasn’t Grimace. Hear how McDonald’s perfected a strategy called the “window of loyalty,” and visit a little place called “Hamburger University.” Listen to find out why The Happy Meal is the best idea yet!

Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet for the untold origin stories of the products you’re obsessed with, and the bold risk takers who brought them to life. 

Episodes drop every Tuesday, subscribe here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/

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