While Many Brands Remain Mum, Some Have Found the Perfect Branding Campaigns to Increase Sales Amid the Wacky Election Season

It’s that time again. A time where our TVs are inundated with commercials bashing opposing candidates, our news cycles are covering the candidates’ every move, and everyone is trying to decide whether to de-friend and un-follow about half of their friends on social media to get a break from the opinions. But, there are positives to this far-from-ordinary election season – particularly in the restaurant industry, where brands are putting clever spins on food offerings. With November 8^th quickly approaching, we’ve compiled a list of the most interesting election-themed marketing campaigns, designed to engage those that are all-in this season or simply just looking for an easy way to have some light-hearted fun.

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries and Shakes, for instance, launched The Crandidate burger on September 29th. The Crandidate campaign brings a chuckle and a spot of optimism in the midst of a lot of negativity in election marketing, and it presents all the key attributes in a leader that Americans have been desperately searching for as election day draws near: The burger’s platform base starts with a non-GMO, multigrain bun baked fresh daily, then continues with all natural Jennie-O® turkey, real Swiss cheese, crispy fried onion strings, Ocean Spray® whole berry cranberry sauce, crisp green leaf lettuce, and a touch of mayo.

“We love a good pun and this one was just too good to pass up,” said Natalie Anderson Liu, VP of Marketing for MOOYAH. “The name of the burger allows us to feature it boldly on a platform that stands for delicious burgers and fries for all. Presidential election marketing consumes the media this time of year and we think The Crandidate will cut through some of that clutter and be an engaging and comedic vehicle to spread the MOOYAH brand.”

The Crandidate is part of a larger 2016 initiative for the brand called Taste to Try. MOOYAH has successfully created 10 recipes that feature a chef-inspired combination in the hopes that customers will expand their horizons with MOOYAH’s customizable ingredients. The Taste to Try program has exceeded the brand’s expectations on multiple levels. These burgers have increased guest checks, decreased order and ticket times, and increased awareness of some menu ingredients.

The Crandidate campaign is expected to exceed MOOYAH’s most popular creation to date, The Hamburdog, which featured a burger topped with a hotdog. MOOYAH is predicting it will take the No. 1 spot for highest sales during the Taste to Try initiative, and for it to be one of their most popular limited-time options of all time.

Another brand that has taken on the presidential theme this year, particularly since the primaries unfolded, is Famous Toastery, a better breakfast brand based out of Charlotte. The brand launched a 2016 presidential election-inspired special menu, based off one of the most commonly eaten items for candidates on the campaign trail: eggs. Some menu items include “The Trumplet,” an omelet with meatloaf, pepper jack cheese and fire roasted red peppers; “The Hillary Bowl,” a quinoa bowl with green and black olives, roasted red peppers, ground beef, red onions and lemon tahini; “The Cruzmelt,” a sandwich with Canadian bacon, cheddar, American and Swiss cheese and pickle relish; and, the “Bernie Scramble,” which includes smoked salmon, goat cheese, capers and roasted veggies.

As the most controversial election season in history continues to dominate headlines and news outlets, many brands across America are remaining mum, largely ignoring typically-sought-after marketing opportunities that accompany election years. And, while election-themed marketing can sometimes add to the clutter, these clever and tasteful menu items are not only refreshing, but also proving to be a great sales driver.