09/02/2025
đ¤ˇââď¸ When $40M Buys Confusion: Burger Kingâs âWhereâs Herb?â Campaign
So, being in QSR marketing for most of my career, I think this campaign is especially interesting. In 1985, I was a young Second Lieutenant at Ft. Bragg. As a fast food lover in the era of mass media, I remember seeing the BK âWhereâs Herb?â commercials. A lot. My initial thought was, âwho cares?â and apparently, I wasnât alone.
In November 1985, Burger King launched the campaign, spending approximately $40 million in an attempt to generate buzz around a fictional âHerb,â who had never eaten a Whopper.
âIt started with cryptic ads like, âWhat are you waiting for, Herb?â and culminated with a 1986 âBig Gameâ reveal of a nerdy-looking actor. Customers who found Herb in restaurants could win $5,000, and everyone else in the store entered for a $1 million prize. There was also the quirky âIâm not Herbâ offer: say it when ordering and get a Whopper for $.99.
Campaign Results
⢠Initial sales bump: Store sales reportedly increased by about 10% during the three-month promotion period.
⢠Profit collapse: Despite that early lift, Burger Kingâs profits (not YOY sales) plunged by 40% in 1986, making it one of the most expensive flops of the decade in advertising. At first, folks were curious to the point that service was slowed by staff trying to explain it all. But then the reveal was such a snoozer, customers decided that finding out âWhereâs the Beef?â was more satisfying.
Marketing Takeaway
$40M bought attentionâbut not loyalty. Mystery only works if the reveal is rewarding. Herb wasnât.
đ If âWhereâs Herb?â launched today, do you think it would flopâor could it work in the age of memes and social media?
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