Wendy’s: Where’s the Beef?

Michael Cash

One of the most famous slogans of the twentieth century came from no other than the fast-food chain, Wendy’s. Similar to the situation today, Wendy’s was battling fast food chains McDonald’s and Burger King in the 1980’s. To set themselves apart, Wendy’s settled on a brand-new slogan, “Where’s the Beef?.”

“Where’s the Beef?” was introduced to the world in the year 1984. The slogan was placed in a series of commercials. The point of the commercials was to expose competing fast- food chains for not using as much meat on their burger products as Wendy’s. The most famous commercial of this campaign contained three old ladies with one being 80-year-old Clara Peller who eventually became the face of this campaign. People loved the commercials and slogan so much that Wendy’s profits went through the roof. Their rapid growth put them up there with McDonald’s and Burger King.

Although many people from my generation may not know of the slogan “Where’s the Beef?,” it is undoubtably one of the most influential and substantial ad campaigns of all time.