What started as a simple Twitter prank will most likely become reality thanks to unexpected consumer interest.
Earlier this week, Wayback Burgers tweeted that its Cricket Milkshake contains “premium vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and high protein cricket powder.” The tweet also said the shake would be part of the national chain’s Brake for Shakes promotion from April 1st through June 30th, and that a 22-ounce shake would sell for $4.50.
To the chain’s surprise, people on Twitter responded positively to the joke Cricket Shake. “Enough people were ready to pony up $4.50 that the chain is looking seriously at the shake,” writes BurgerBusiness.com. Wayback Burgers sent out this followup tweet on April 1:
We’re hoppin’ for joy on #AprilFools Day! Think the Cricket Shake is a hoax? Truth will be revealed on April 2nd. pic.twitter.com/jcZF17T8P9
— Wayback Burgers (@waybackburgers) April 1, 2015
Director of Marketing Gillian Maffeo tells BurgerBusiness.com,
Wayback Burgers has around 100 stores across the U.S., and one location in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While it isn’t a massive chain the size of a Burger King or McDonald’s, that’s still an awful lot of cricket protein exposure. Maybe fast-food is the optimal way to get more bug protein in our diet.
Selling crickets as a high-protein food for human consumption is an industry that’s been funded on Shark Tank and is only gaining momentum. Are crickets the next kale? René Redzepi would love that.
[via NYDN, BurgerBusiness.com]