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Library/Food & drink/McDonald's McRib
Grade A24 sourcesHIS-01636

McDonald's McRib

Food & drink · 2024 · Niche

36Editable slideCertificate

A pork sandwich introduced in 1981 turned recurring returns into fan hunts and campaigns.

Clip · McDonald's on YouTube
Clip · Libbie Higgins on YouTube
A McDonald's McRib sandwich, as bought in America.
Evan-Amos / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
McDonald's Enters Metaverse with McRib NFT — Drew Ruiz
Drew Ruiz, campaign creative
The Famously Saucy McRib® Returns For A Farewell Tour
McDonald's USA via PR Newswire
McRib Season Is Here | McDonald’s
McDonald's on YouTube
McRib boosts McDonald's November sales
The Associated Press via NBC News

Spread Score

How it works
Reach35Contagion35Breadth80Velocity0Longevity1936

Numbers

Milestone date
Nov 25 ’24
Jun 1981 to Nov 25 ’24
Platforms
8
Started on Retail
Origin
Mixed
Food & beverage

Mechanics

  • Scarcity dropPrimary
  • Identity badge
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

McDonald's introduced McRib in 1981. Fans built a locator and circulated videos as limited returns brought new campaigns. The 2024 sauce sell-out supplies a commercial milestone; an all-time attention peak is unverified.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Wikipedia views · Google searchesSep ’79Dec ’81Jun ’91Dec ’00May ’05Mar ’09Feb ’12Aug ’15May ’18Sep ’21Sep ’23May ’26MilestoneRetailPressTVAudioOpen webFacebookYouTubeX
RetailPressTVAudioOpen webFacebookYouTubeX

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. June 1981

    McDonald's seed · Jun 1981

    McDonald's first commercial use of McRib was in June, according to its trademark record.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. November 1981

    TIME press · Nov 30 ’81

    TIME reported that McDonald's was testing the McRib in 65 restaurants.[2]

  3. February 2003

    The Simpsons platform jump · Feb 2003

    The Simpsons parodied the McRib and its following with the Ribwich.[3]

  1. owner response · 2005

  2. platform jump · Oct 3 ’08

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Food & beverage
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade A

Spread the same way

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