MAM
When Burger King told patrons to order McDonald’s
NEW DELHI: Fast food chain Burger King caused a stir on social media when it appealed to patrons to order from arch-rival McDonald’s and other competitors to help them survive the Covid2019 pandemic.
Taking to Twitter, Burger King's UK team encouraged customers to support local restaurants during the four-week-long lockdown recently announced in the country.
“We never thought we would be asking you to do this, but restaurants employing thousands of staff really need your support at the moment. So, if you want to help, keep treating yourself to tasty meals through home delivery, takeaway or drive thru,” it tweeted.
We know, we never thought we’d be saying this either. pic.twitter.com/cVRMSLSDq6
— Burger King (@BurgerKingUK) November 2, 2020
Known for its social media-savvy, Burger King has once again won over netizens with this appeal, while also exemplifying the golden maxim ‘modern problems require modern solutions.’ Titled ‘Order from McDonald's’, the note has been liked over 114,000 times, with comments and reactions lauding the fast food giant for its gesture of goodwill.
"Getting a Whopper is always best, but ordering a Big Mac is also not such a bad thing," the company said.
Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway, Taco Bell and Domino’s were also mentioned in the note, as were several standalone food outlets.
Over the course of their six-decades-long rivalry, Burger King has never lost an opportunity to troll McDonald's through its marketing campaigns. But this may be the first time the brand has displayed sportsmanship and stood in solidarity with not just it’s biggest competitor but the fast food industry as a whole.
The message came after the Boris Johnson-led government initiated a second nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid2019 cases, which have again registered an uptick during the last few weeks in the country.
While Burger King UK has urged people to help all restaurants, the chain's North American arm has decided to give a free Whopper to customers who dare to drive through one of the scariest places on earth – a stretch of now abandoned restaurants which used to be operated by its rivals – as part of Halloween celebrations.
The F&B sector has been reeling under the impact of the Coronavirus-fuelled curfews and restrictions, with thousands of independent as well as global food chain outlets lowering their shutters permanently. Millions of workers in the industry were handed the pink slip or forced to take pay cuts amid an already challenging time.
Brands
De Beers & GJEPC partner JioStar to promote diamonds in cricket broadcasts
New JioStar tie-up blends sport and style as diamonds shine on and off pitch
MUMBAI: De Beers Group has teamed up with the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council to bring natural diamonds into India’s cricket broadcasts, marking an unusual crossover between sport and sparkle.
The collaboration, in association with JioStar, will see women anchors adorned with natural diamond jewellery throughout the cricketing season, adding a premium visual layer to studio coverage. From statement necklaces to cocktail rings and stacked bracelets, the idea is to place diamonds squarely in the spotlight of one of India’s most-watched formats.
In a first, the broadcast will also feature a weekly segment titled ‘Real Diamonds of the Week’, celebrating standout cricketing performances while drawing a parallel with the rarity and resilience associated with natural diamonds.
Beyond the studio, the campaign leans into a broader cultural shift. Cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav front the initiative, reflecting a growing acceptance of diamonds as a form of everyday self-expression, including among men.
“India is reimagining its relationship with natural diamonds, and our partnership with JioStar is a celebration of that evolution,” said De Beers Group SVP Shweta Harit. She added that, much like cricket, natural diamonds represent something earned, enduring and rare, now increasingly tied to personal identity rather than just milestone occasions.
Echoing the sentiment, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council chairman Kirit Bhansali said India is fast evolving from a manufacturing hub into a major consumer market for diamond jewellery. He noted that with India already the world’s second-largest diamond jewellery market and projected to reach Rs 1,500 billion by 2030, the cricket broadcast offers a powerful platform to connect with younger audiences.
The partnership also underscores a wider ambition within the industry to reposition natural diamonds as relevant, contemporary and woven into everyday culture.
From pitch-side drama to studio style, diamonds are stepping off the pedestal and into the mainstream, proving they can play the long game as well as any seasoned cricketer.
