Trending Now - Fast Food Rivalry Heats up With Burger King and Wendy's Stunts

WHO:

Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald's

Tom Curtis, President of Burger King

Pete Suerken, U.S. President of Wendy's

McDonald's

Burger King

Wendy's

Social media users and commentators

WHAT:

McDonald's launched the Big Arch burger on February 3, 2026, as a limited-time offering.

The Big Arch burger includes two quarter-pound patties, three slices of cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles, slivered onions, and a signature sauce.

Chris Kempczinski posted a video review of the Big Arch burger, which received over 4.5 million views.

Kempczinski described the burger as "distinctively McDonald's" and a "delicious product."

Burger King President Tom Curtis posted a video of himself tasting the revamped Whopper, which includes upgraded ingredients and packaging, marking the first major change in nearly a decade.

Curtis stated, "You do not want to just tear up the playbook and start all over," regarding the changes to the Whopper.

Wendy's U.S. President Pete Suerken shared a video on March 4, 2026, eating a Baconator burger and making a Frosty.

The Big Arch burger contains 1,020 calories, while the Whopper has been revamped without a price increase for customers.

WHERE:

McDonald's and Burger King locations in the United States

The Big Arch burger was initially launched in Portugal in summer 2024.

WHEN:

The Big Arch burger was launched on February 3, 2026.

Chris Kempczinski's video review was posted on February 3, 2026.

Tom Curtis's video was posted on February 26, 2026.

Pete Suerken's video was posted on March 4, 2026.

WHY:

The launch of the Big Arch burger and the revamped Whopper were part of efforts to engage customers with new flavors and address customer feedback.

Curtis mentioned that the changes to the Whopper were driven by complaints about the burger being "smushed."

HOW:

Kempczinski's video review was shared on social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn.

Burger King and Wendy's responded to the viral moment with their own videos showcasing their respective burgers.

Curtis engaged with customers directly by asking them to call or text him with suggestions for improving the Whopper.

McDonald's recently launched the Big Arch burger, featuring two quarter-pound patties and three slices of cheddar cheese, which has quickly gained popularity, with CEO Chris Kempczinski's video review racking up over 4.5 million views since its release on February 3. In response, Burger King President Tom Curtis showcased a revamped Whopper in a video, emphasizing the importance of gradual changes after nearly a decade of the same recipe, while Wendy's U.S. President Pete Suerken shared his own video enjoying a Baconator and making a Frosty just yesterday. These moves from the fast-food giants aim to engage customers with new flavors and address feedback, as seen in Curtis's invitation for customers to share their suggestions directly.