McDonald's to announce Georgie Pie's return
By Christopher Adams
5:27 PM Wednesday May 8, 2013
McDonald's says it will make announcement tomorrow regarding a return of Georgie Pie.
The company's New Zealand managing director, Patrick Wilson, will give details - including where and when the product will be available - at a press conference scheduled for 11am.
McDonald's acquired the pie chain from supermarket operator Progressive Enterprises in 1996, largely to get hold of its real estate.
Georgie Pie closed in 1999, but McDonald's still holds the trademark and intellectual property rights.
Nostalgic former customers have accused McDonald's of killing the Georgie Pie brand and a "Bring Back Georgie Pie" Facebook page has more than 54,000 members.
McDonald's NZ's former managing director, Mark Hawthorne, told the Business Herald in 2011 that the company had been conducting consumer research to find out "how, when or if" Georgie Pie could make a 21st century comeback.
"What we do know is there's love for the brand, but part of that love was based on the fact that the pies were [sold for] $1, 15 years ago," he said.
Hawthorne said it was possible that Georgie Pie products could be sold in McDonald's stores.
Wilson said last year that the company was putting more resources into evaluating what it could do with Georgie Pie, but was also wary of being accused of "bastardising" one of the country's best-loved brands.作者: adang 时间: 2013-5-8 22:29:40
