Food videos are incredibly popular on TikTok. Clips with the hashtag #TikTokFood have collectively racked up more than 44 billion views, a number that’ll make any marketer blush.
TikTok Creator Elise Ofasa and the Jala-Bac Burger are one of several new items for Denny's 'Social Stars Influenced Menu'
Courtesy of Denny's
Knowing that, it's easy to understand why Denny’s is collaborating with TikTok creators to produce a dozen menu items that have rolled out these past couple of weeks. The first wave includes Get That Cookie Dough Pancakes with Jenny Solares and The EnkyBoys, a Jala-Bac Burger with Jonathan Chavez and Elise Osafo, and Clearly Very Fruity Pancakes with CallMeBelly and Matt Taylor.
This latest project with Denny’s is among a growing trend of large food brands teaming with TikTok stars in an effort to use social media to make more money. Denny’s is well-known for its breakfast offerings like the Original Grand Slam and hearty burgers, but it’s not the kind of place you imagine airy 20-something social media influencers would gather at for a hangout.
In January, McDonald’s unveiled “menu hacks” about existing products that social-media influencers used in creative ways. Last September, TikTok creator Chase "Lil Huddy" Hudson collaborated with Burger King to introduce his signature burger as part of its “Keep It Real Meals” campaign.
TikTok has changed how we consume and create food. Just look at the statistics: According to a study from marketing agency MGH in 2021, 36% of TikTok users have ordered from a restaurant after seeing a video about it on the platform. That same study also found that 65% of creators on the platform said they have ordered food after seeing it on TikTok.
It's not content from the brands themselves that appear to be swaying users. The 701 TikTok-ers surveyed by MGH said their restaurant behavior is most heavily influenced by users they know personally, while videos from food bloggers and influencers ranked second.
This is why brand collaborations are so creator-focused. For example, Dunkin' last year partnered with influencer Charli D'Amelio to launch a special cold brew in her name — and saw cold-brew sales rise by 45% within two days. Chipotle leveraged the app for a hiring push and its collaborations with influencer David Dobrik have made them the most followed food brand on the platform.According to a study from marketing agency MGH in 2021, 36% of TikTok users have ordered from a restaurant after seeing a video about it on the platform.
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Can it be a bit weird seeing your favorite TikTok creator being leveraged as advertising to get you to eat out and spend money? Yes. Will it ever stop? Absolutely not. More than 65 million Americans actively use TikTok every month, so expect to see more TikTok-inspired menus at your favorite local spots.
Oh — and btw — here's our TikTok page.
