Agency

H/L Agency Launches Phased Influencer Campaign for McDonald’s McCafé All-New Drinks

Published on May 13, 2026

Independent full-service advertising and marketing agency H/L Agency has launched a phased social campaign for McDonald’s, promoting the chain’s McCafé All-New Drinks lineup under the banner “Flavor, Inspired,” per Ads of the World.

The campaign launched in May with PR boxes sent to influencers. Each box is designed to resemble a McCafé Specialty Beverage on the outside and contains a white tumbler with themed stickers, a McDonald’s logo straw topper, and a gift card for creators to purchase the new drinks during their unboxings.

A second wave in June will engage local creators to generate user-generated content (UGC). H/L will use audience and creator responses from the first two phases to inform the remainder of the rollout, which runs through fall 2026.

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The summer phase will feature a partnership with an unannounced musician, who will combine their music with the flavors of McCafé All-New Drinks to drive mass engagement. Additional regional influencers will join the campaign in later stages, with support from area McDonald’s restaurants to align retail and employee participation.

Austin Price, Social Media Director at H/L, emphasized the campaign’s focus on authentic creator content. “At H/L, especially with Influencer Marketing, we always strive for realness — you can smell a scripted moment a mile away, and audiences pick up on that,” Price said.

McCafé Brand Refresh

The campaign coincides with a broader McCafé brand refresh McDonald’s announced on May 1. The company is updating the sub-brand’s visual identity globally to reflect an expanded beverage portfolio and shifting customer preferences, particularly among Gen Z consumers.

New drink subcategories, including Refreshers, Crafted Sodas, and Energizers, will launch across the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Australia this spring and summer. The updated visual identity features a modernized wordmark, new primary colors described as refined gold and “coffee cherry,” and secondary colors reflecting the new drink lineup.

“We redesigned the new McCafé to help our customers feel the joy they are seeking from these new beverages around the world,” said Paloma Azulay, McDonald’s VP of Global Brand Marketing.