Burger King CEO Tom Curtis appears to have no problem being candid about the chain’s menu — even when that means admitting there is room for improvement.
After spending years with the fast-food giant, Curtis acknowledged that not every item currently lives up to the company’s ambitions, pointing to one product he believes could use an upgrade.
“We can do better, and we will,” he told the New York Post. “I want a meatier, crispier nugget and sauces that make my taste buds dance. The team is on it.”
The comments come as Burger King has already been refreshing its chicken lineup, including the recent return of its signature crown-shaped nuggets for the first time since 2011.
Recognized for their playful crown design, the nuggets have long been positioned as a “dippable snack” and were previously offered on both the standard menu and the children’s menu.
Burger King’s chicken nuggets are typically sold in four-, eight- or 16-piece orders.
Earlier this month, the chain teamed up with Crayola on a new kids meal featuring the chicken crowns, along with a co-branded four-pack of Crayola crayons, a colorable crown and a themed meal bag.
Burger King has also leaned on other chicken favorites, including its popular Chicken Fries — a thin, breaded, fry-shaped take on chicken snacks. The item was discontinued in the U.S. in 2012, though it remained available in international markets before returning stateside as a limited-time offering in 2014.
Burger King president Tom Curtis said the company ‘can do better’ when it comes to their chicken nuggets
Burger King president Tom Curtis shared his love for the chain’s signature sandwich the Whopper
When it comes to Curtis’s go-to Burger King order, the CEO said a classic Whopper with all the toppings, including lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup and mayo, is his favorite.
‘The flame-grilled taste can’t be beat, and it’s the perfect burger just how it comes,’ Curtis said.
The Whopper has been around for decades, becoming one of the chain’s most recognizable menu items.
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However, Burger King already rolled out what they described as an ‘elevated’ version of its iconic Whopper for the first time in almost ten years, prompted by ‘direct guest feedback.’
‘The Whopper is an icon, so we didn’t set out to reinvent it,’ the company said at the time.
The upgraded burger features a more premium bun and is now served in a box instead of the chain’s traditional paper wrapping. It still includes freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce and pickles – along with what the company describes as a ‘better tasting’ mayonnaise.
Burger King’s president posted a video of himself taking a giant bite of the new and improved Whopper – and delivering a one-line punchline.
‘Only one thing missing,’ Tom Curtis said. ‘A napkin.’
Burger King recently added chicken crowns to its menu, replacing the nugget shape with the breaded alternative
Burger King remains one of the world’s largest fast food chains, with over 6,000 locations in the US alone
Todd Graves, the founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, disclosed in a recent social media interview that he always skips the chain’s coleslaw, opting instead for Texas toast and an extra Cane’s sauce.
Asked about his go-to order, Graves said he chooses a box combo with ‘no slaw, extra toast and extra sauce.’ When asked why, he added, ‘I don’t like the coleslaw.’
Many customers were confused, especially because Graves was the one who originally added the side dish to the menu.
According to Graves, his decision wasn’t based on personal taste – he wanted a vegetable option to tag along with Raising Cane’s beloved lineup of fried chicken fingers, fries, toast and sauce.
