
About this episode
Yes, this is a very real story. In the 80s, A&W released a third-pound burger to compete with the quarter-pounder from McDonald's. It was bigger, fresher, and cheaper. But it would fail because of the public's inability to understand fractions.
This is a look back on this baffling story, and what turned into a critical marketing lesson for future companies.
Show Notes: The A&W Third Pounder
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