The fallout from McDonald’s consolidating its US shops continues. In July, we reported that the quick serve restaurant was seeking to reduce its agency roster after moving all of its national business to We Are Unlimited.
Earlier this week, multiple sources reported that Quebec-based agency, Cossette, was a casualty of that reduction, saying it would close its offices at the end of September. Sadly, the Reel has confirmed the agency is indeed closing but it will happen at the end of October. This will reportedly result in the laying off of approximately fifteen employees.
Cossette’s Managing Director Alyssa Huggins confirmed the rumors today.
“We are sad to have to say goodbye to our talented Chicago team members,” she said. “We are proud of all of the work we created with and for our local clients, including the McDonald’s Owner Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Although the RFP process did not turn out the way we had hoped, our relationship with the brand is strong and we will continue to serve McDonald’s across Canada.”
Since opening their office in 2014 after winning a review for the McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and NW Indiana, the agency actually did some nice work as you can see below from this integrated work for its “McDonald’s Burger Build Off”:
The cooperative represented nearly 500 McDonald’s locations in the Midwest, ending a relationship with Leo Burnett that extended back to into the eighties.
Apparently, Cossette’s board of directors made the decision to close the Chicago office after learning of McDonald’s plans to consolidate its local advertising accounts. Much of their creative was fully integrated touch-points, and included both promoting core menu items and new product launches.
Losing an agency in the Chicago community is always sad news. The Reel wishes The Cossette team the best of luck.
