By Morgan Fitzgerald
Since 1957, the world-famous WHOPPER® has been the face of the BURGER KING® brand. Over the last 60-plus years, countless variations of the beloved classic have been the subject of successful marketing campaigns across the globe.
Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic editions of the WHOPPER:
Texas WHOPPER
Introduced in May 2006, the Texas WHOPPER consisted of cheese, spicy jalapenos and a light, slightly sweet barbecue sauce that replaced the usual ketchup, pickles and mayonnaise.
Angry WHOPPER
The Angry WHOPPER featured thick-cut bacon, American cheese, crispy “Angry” onion petals, jalapenos and “Angry” sauce.
Indy WHOPPER
A promotional tie-in with the 2008 release, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” this WHOPPER included bacon, spicy mayo and pepper-jack cheese.
BK Whopper Bar
The first limited-service concept restaurant was opened in 2009 and features a menu with as many as 10 variants on the WHOPPER.
The BK Whopper Bar is the only BURGER KING restaurant that offers beer.
California WHOPPER
Guacamole, crispy bacon and melted Swiss cheese were the ingredients that set the California WHOPPER apart.
A1 Halloween WHOPPER
Famous for its black-colored buns, the A1 Halloween (or HA1loween) WHOPPER featured A1 barbecue sauce and a unique, smokey flavor.
The A1 Halloween WHOPPER had eye-catching black-colored buns.
Angriest WHOPPER
A new spin on the 2008 hit, the Angriest WHOPPER added a red bun with hot sauce baked into the roll.
Whopperito
The Whopperito was exactly what it sounds like: A burrito that contained all the ingredients of a WHOPPER. However, the usual condiments were replaced with queso sauce.
Customers loved that the Whopperito was low in carbs.
Upside-Down WHOPPER
Released in partnership with the hit Netflix show, “Stranger Things,” the Upside-Down WHOPPER was served with the bottom and top bun switched.
Ghost WHOPPER
The most recent Halloween-themed WHOPPER featured a white cheddar cheese-flavored sesame bun.
Impossible WHOPPER
Now a permanent menu item, the Impossible WHOPPER is a plant-based protein patty that tastes the same as a classic WHOPPER but is 100% meat-free.
The Impossible WHOPPER’s success inspired the creation of the new Impossible Croissan’wich®
We asked members of the National Franchisee Association (NFA) for the Franchisee to Franchisee Forum in 2019’s Flame, Issue 4, what their favorite incarnation of the WHOPPER has been. They said:
“I would have to say that the best incarnation of the WHOPPER is undoubtedly the Angry WHOPPER. Since first being released in 2008, not only does it perform extremely strongly when we bring it back as a limited-time offer, but it also has had sub-incarnations of its own, such as the Angriest WHOPPER and the A-1 Halloween WHOPPER.”
Amir Syed
“I thought the Halloween WHOPPER with the black bun was very innovative and a big hit with customers. For me, nothing beats a WHOPPER with cheese and bacon, no mayo, no pickle, no ketchup and add barbecue sauce. Delicious!”
Rick Cowley
“My favorite of all time is a Texas WHOPPER, minus mayo. Mustard and jalapenos make the difference! Yummy! Come to think of it, we should bring that limited-time offer back soon!”
Keith Egyed
“I have had many favorites over the years – the Texas WHOPPER, the Angry WHOPPER, the Carolina WHOPPER, the California WHOPPER. The Halloween WHOPPER with the black bun was a kick, but the Impossible WHOPPER has been the best because it reaches so many different guests than we normally do with our variations. I love it when a guest or a friend asks me how it tastes, and I can truthfully say, ’Just like a WHOPPER,’ and they come back and say how great the sandwich was.”
Shirley Humerian
What is your favorite incarnation of the WHOPPER? Let us know in the comments!
Morgan Fitzgerald is the NFA Digital Media Coordinator. You may reach Morgan at 678-540-6202.