Some People Don't Know What IHOP Stands For In The First Place
As marketing campaigns go, it looks like the "B" in IHOP's recent switch to IHOB stood not for breakfast, but for bust. Or bomb. Turning the "International House Of Pancakes" into the "International House Of Burgers" not only seems anticlimactic, it also inspired some online shade from the chain's competitors, like frequently snarky Wendy's and the newly dubbed "Pancake King."
Can't wait to try a burger from the place that decided pancakes were too hard.
— Wendy's (@Wendys) June 11, 2018
As much as we love our pancakes, we'd never change our name to Whatapancake
— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) June 11, 2018
BRAND WARS: Burger King trolls IHOB by calling itself the Pancake King. pic.twitter.com/CONYjjxNMd
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) June 11, 2018
(Note: Burger King has since changed its Twitter name back.)
What's possibly even wore, as The Wall Street Journal points out this week, is that many people didn't know what IHOP stood for in the first place. Granted, this is based on a very unscientific poll, more of a "person-on-the-street" thing, asking questions in front of IHOP restaurants of people who have just eaten there. Despite the fact that the chain touts 24-hour breakfast, "pancakes" didn't immediately come to mind for many of these people when asked what IHOP stood for. (Said one, "I'm drawing a blank.") Although International House Of Pancakes was established in 1958, it changed its logo to IHOP in 1973 (adding a kangaroo), helping to kick off many years of misidentified acronyms.
So the "burgers" switch now probably only seems even more confusing. WSJ points out that "international" part is sketchy too, as "there are only two "international" pancakes on the menu: the Belgian Dark Chocolate Mousse Pancakes and the Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes. The Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity is of unknown provenance." Sick burn, WSJ. Takeout editor Kevin Pang also noted that the new "international" burgers were decidedly on the domestic side.
In a subhead, WSJ also notes that this name change is temporary, so hopefully this IHOB madness will end shortly. But we wouldn't be surprised if IHOP then redesigned its logo again to bring to mind fewer tampons, more actual pancakes.