Kiwiburger
Encyclopedia
The KiwiBurger is a hamburger
sold at McDonald's
restaurants in New Zealand
. It consisted of a four-ounce (113 g) beef patty, griddle egg, beetroot, tomato, lettuce, cheese, onions, tomato sauce, and mustard on a toasted bun. The egg is poached in a round shape. The burger was also sold in Australia under the name McOz but did not include an egg. The McOz was discontinued and replaced by the McFeast Deluxe, which has since been discontinued and replaced by the new range of Angus beef burgers.
The Kiwiburger was the idea of franchisee Bryan Old, who came up with the burger as a nostalgic take on the typical New Zealand hamburger prior to the introduction of McDonald's to the New Zealand market in 1976. Trialled initially in Old's five Hamilton
restaurants, it was added to the national menu in 1991. The New Zealand ad for the KiwiBurger had a well-known song, consisting of 46 Kiwiana
items, which was printed on the box for some time and was used in the TV advertisement.
It was discontinued in 2004 it as it was unprofitable. The burger had ingredients that were not a part of any other product (beetroot for example), and the egg had to be cooked on a special grill which impeded operations (because of the temperature and timing).
The KiwiBurger was reintroduced to McDonald's New Zealand menu in May 2007.
In September 2007 McDonald's ran a "Vote KiwiBurger" advertising campaign to promote retention of the KiwiBurger (which, as of July 2008, was successful). In December 2008, the KiwiBurger was discontinued again, with the premise being the burger had gone on its "overseas experience
".
In June 2009, McDonald's
reintroduced the KiwiBurger to its restaurants again for a limited time. It was due to be removed from the menu at the close of business on Tuesday 25 August 2009.
The burger was reintroduced on 17 August 2011 as part of McDonald's new Kiwi Menu, introduced ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
A burger with the same name also exists at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) in the UK. It consists of a beef patty, beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, salad, mayonnaise and relish. For each one sold, 25p is donated to the Whakatane Kiwi Trust to help save the kiwi.
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
sold at McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurants in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It consisted of a four-ounce (113 g) beef patty, griddle egg, beetroot, tomato, lettuce, cheese, onions, tomato sauce, and mustard on a toasted bun. The egg is poached in a round shape. The burger was also sold in Australia under the name McOz but did not include an egg. The McOz was discontinued and replaced by the McFeast Deluxe, which has since been discontinued and replaced by the new range of Angus beef burgers.
The Kiwiburger was the idea of franchisee Bryan Old, who came up with the burger as a nostalgic take on the typical New Zealand hamburger prior to the introduction of McDonald's to the New Zealand market in 1976. Trialled initially in Old's five Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
restaurants, it was added to the national menu in 1991. The New Zealand ad for the KiwiBurger had a well-known song, consisting of 46 Kiwiana
Kiwiana
Kiwiana are certain items and icons from New Zealand's heritage, especially from around the middle of the 20th century that are seen as representing iconic Kiwi elements...
items, which was printed on the box for some time and was used in the TV advertisement.
It was discontinued in 2004 it as it was unprofitable. The burger had ingredients that were not a part of any other product (beetroot for example), and the egg had to be cooked on a special grill which impeded operations (because of the temperature and timing).
The KiwiBurger was reintroduced to McDonald's New Zealand menu in May 2007.
In September 2007 McDonald's ran a "Vote KiwiBurger" advertising campaign to promote retention of the KiwiBurger (which, as of July 2008, was successful). In December 2008, the KiwiBurger was discontinued again, with the premise being the burger had gone on its "overseas experience
Overseas experience
Overseas experience is a New Zealand term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer...
".
In June 2009, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
reintroduced the KiwiBurger to its restaurants again for a limited time. It was due to be removed from the menu at the close of business on Tuesday 25 August 2009.
The burger was reintroduced on 17 August 2011 as part of McDonald's new Kiwi Menu, introduced ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
A burger with the same name also exists at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) in the UK. It consists of a beef patty, beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, salad, mayonnaise and relish. For each one sold, 25p is donated to the Whakatane Kiwi Trust to help save the kiwi.