Luckey vs. Creed: Fast Food Execs Trade Barbs Over McDonald's New Beverages

Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril Industries (ANIN.PVT), engaged in a public feud with Greg Creed, former CEO of Yum! Brands (YUM), over comments about McDonald's (MCD) new beverage line-up.

Luckey responded to Creed's LinkedIn post criticizing McDonald's Refresher drinks and Red Bull collaboration by calling him 'a bitter, used-up old man' who takes 'pot shots at people still doing something with their lives.'

Creed had questioned the distinctiveness of McDonald's new beverages, suggesting that any brand could have come up with similar flavors. He added that if he were McDonald's, he would rename the drinks to make them more distinctive, such as calling it the McEnergizer.

Luckey defended McDonald's decision to ride the 'fruit+caffeine fad' by pointing out that other fast-food chains have already launched similar products under the name 'Refresher.'