Thanks to CanadianCrossing.com for its semi-annual look at Canadian ads during the NHL Center Ice free preview, we get a glimpse into some cool and crazy Canadian food ads.
The preview came about 3½ months late thanks to the NHL lockout (CanadianCrossing.com told us to say "Fire Gary Bettman").
Though there was only 12 days (instead of 25 days) for the 2013 NHL Center Ice free preview, there were some fun ads.
"Starting things off with Tim Horton's in its Welcome to Canada spot. During the promotion, you could get a 49¢ donut with purchase of a hot drink. Sounds like "Welcome to Canada" to me."
"We don't hear much from Molson in the United States. Can't remember the last time I saw Molson in a U.S. bar. But Molson lives in Canada. I enjoyed the Molson Canadian 67 ad for "Guyet," a diet as seen through the eyes of a guy in a beer commercial. He runs so he can eat juicy burgers with fried onion strings on top. Molson Canadian 67 is the company's lighter beer.
Boston Pizza has clever commercials though I've never eaten at one before. I love the pompous guy who does "finger cooking," going online to order food from Boston Pizza. The newest one was where a guy changes into a foodie.
The dish the guy is eating is pulled pork penne, though it looks like he's eating spaghetti. There is a significant difference between penne and spaghetti. An odd juxtaposition.
McDonald's had what seemed to be an innocent commercial about value that ends with a muffin and coffee special. The spot talks about searching for a bargain and then we see "Bridge to USA." This reflects the exodus of Canadian bargain hunters to cross into the United States thanks to the exchange rate and how much more expensive some items are in Canada.
A&W promoted its "Burger Buddies," an inexpensive burger with grilled onions. The customer keeps coming through the drive-thru to wonder why A&W was charging such a low price for such a burger."
KFC in Canada had two separate campaigns. The $4 meal featured chicken, fries, and a customer choice of popcorn chicken, a snacker, or a toasted wrap. The creepy stalker ad was the theme for an ad for KFC Favourites Bucket that featured chicken, popcorn chicken, and fries. Unlike the fries we see here in the States (thick wedges), these were shoestring fries. And they looked good.
The Rogers Sportsnet Pacific feed (Vancouver Canucks) had an ad for Triple O's White Spot fish burger. Most fast food fish sandwiches aren't that appetizing, but this one looked pretty good.
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