Jour 4460: Germany....meet The Cupcake

I can’t deny the sweet sensation of a delicately frosted cupcake in my mouth. The tempting smell of the tasty treat lures me to the death of my diet time after time. I gather courage to walk away from the lit-up display case, only to find myself salivating until I give in to my devilish cravings.

The cupcake phenomenon has spread from coast-to-coast, ranging from New York’s own Cupcake Café on 9th Street to Los Angeles’ Frosted Cupcakery on Park Avenue. Only within these past few years has this cupcake explosion take place, and now Germany’s McDonald’s franchises are joining the bandwagon.

With four new New York inspired flavors that hail from Chelsea, East Village, SoHo and Central Park, Berlin is no longer kept in the dark to the American cupcake-craze. McDonalds first introduced Germans to cupcakes on March 30 of this year. The question is, why did McDonalds choose to create themed cupcakes from New York and not other cities or states that create just as delicious cupcakes?

On May 16, 2008, Sex and the City premiered in Germany causing the country to go gaga for the hit sensation that swept the states from 1998 ‘til now. With the overwhelming popularity of the American show, McDonalds figured it fitting to introduce the New York branded cupcakes.

“All of New York is crazy about the cult cupcakes and McCafe brings the hip little cakes to you,” reads the paper advertisements found in McCafes in Berlin. With this genius advertising, McDonalds hit the mark. Clearly, McDonalds did their research.

From a public relations standpoint, let’s talk strategies. Introducing cupcakes that hail from a beloved city in the United States is a grand plan. By making McCafes in Germany resemble quaint cupcakeries and coffee shops, you are allowing your public to experience and take part of this glamorous life found in New York, right? It does have a nice ring to it.

Let’s also remember that as much as this sounds like paradise, it is a fast-food restaurant that can’t mirror the same tastes true bakeries have laid their life down for. I’ll be the first one to admit that I crave a Double Cheeseburger every once in a while, but surely their cupcakes can’t top the true American sensation.

One German was quoted in the New York Times saying the cupcake was “a little articificial”, and decided to stick to traditional walnut pastries called Nussbeugerl.

Surely our New York cupcakes taste better than artificial, right? C’mon McCafe, don’t sell us short!

SOURCES:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/cupcake/?hpw