McDonald’s Canada has just confirmed the arrival of a certain iconic purple character and the drink that was made in his honor.
Grimace is coming to Canada! And with him, he brings along the new Grimace Shake, which should be available for a limited time at select McDonald’s locations starting on May 14, 2024.
The Grimace Shake, which was first introduced in the United States last summer, will now soon be available in Canada. This extremely viral drink brought along with it massively entertaining trend while also being very delicious. Grimace was spotted recently at a Vancouver Canucks games and has generated a lot of excitement among fans.
Grimace is best known for his fuzzy purple appearance and friendly demeanor. His arrival in Canada includes a playful handwritten note teasing the Grimace Shake launch.
Fans can try this new Grimace Shake at all participating McDonald’s locations in Canada through various order channels like in-restaurant, the McDonald’s app, Drive-Thru, and McDelivery. The shake is a limited-time offering, so fans should mark their calendars to enjoy it before it’s gone.
The Iconic History Behind McDonald’s Grimace
McDonald’s has been a household name for over half a century, but how did Grimace, the friendly purple character, come to life? Grimace made his debut in the early 1970s as part of McDonald’s cast of characters designed to engage with children. Initially, he was a villain with four arms, known as “Evil Grimace,” who stole milkshakes. However, he quickly transformed into the lovable, clumsy character we know today. His character development symbolizes McDonald’s ongoing efforts to stay relevant and adapt to changing consumer preferences.
The brainchild behind Grimace is McDonald’s marketing team, who sought to create characters that would make the brand more appealing to children. Grimace, along with Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, and the Hamburglar, became part of the McDonaldland fantasy world, which was featured in advertising campaigns and children’s books.
Today, Grimace continues to capture the hearts of McDonald’s fans around the world. His recent appearance at a Vancouver Canucks game in Canada shows how McDonald’s effectively uses nostalgia and fun to keep their brand engaging, even decades after its inception.
RELATED: Top 15 Best Fast Food Mascots Ever
Unraveling the Hype Around the Grimace Shake
The Grimace Shake’s arrival in Canada serves as a testament to the product’s success in the United States, reflecting McDonald’s strategic decision to leverage popular items across different regions. The shake, inspired by the iconic character Grimace, adds to McDonald’s vibrant tradition of creating themed food items that resonate with pop culture and consumer nostalgia.
With its limited availability, the Grimace Shake appeals to the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) among consumers, driving traffic to stores and fostering a buzz in the digital world through platforms like Twitter and Instagram where fans eagerly share their experiences and reviews. The strategy behind the Grimace Shake is also reflected in McDonald’s approach to multi-channel accessibility—offering the product through in-restaurant orders, mobile app purchases, drive-thru, and McDelivery ensures maximum reach and convenience for customers.
The introduction of such innovative products not only reinforces McDonald’s position as a leader in the fast-food industry but also shows their commitment to keeping the consumer experience exciting and enjoyable, proving that even established brands can continue to innovate and captivate their audience.
From The Club
The Grimace Shake is one of the best items to come out from McDonald’s in recent memory. Sure it’s pretty delicious on its own right. But what really made it take off was all the viral stunts that content creators made on popular social media sites. Basically the gist of this trend is how people would drink the Grimace Shake and would find themselves in comical yet slightly disturbing situations. Now that it’s in the Great White North, Canadians can try their own take on the massively popular trend and enjoy a delicious shake while doing so.