Fast food giant McDonald’s has made more than 50 changes to its menu, including many tweaks to the Big Mac amid increased competition from higher-end, fast-casual chains like Five Guys, reports The Wall Street Journal.
“We can do it quick, fast, and safe, but it doesn’t necessarily taste great. So, we want to incorporate quality into where we’re at,” said Chris Young, McDonald’s senior director of global menu strategy. Some changes to the Big Mac include small-batch-cooked beef patties, fresher lettuce, and pickles, “meltier” cheese, and a brioche bun with scattered sesame seeds placed to look more artisanal.
McDonald’s tested the new Big Mac in Australia and is now updating the offering in 13,460 locations in the U.S., with plans to complete the rollout by early 2024. The company shared that it doesn’t expect the changes to result in menu cost increases, however, individual franchisees set their prices.
The U.S. burger market brings in roughly $136 billion in annual foodservice sales, according to market research company Euromonitor. McDonald’s is still outpacing its direct competitors Burger King and Wendy’s according to 2022 sales data; however, competition from higher-end retailers is growing, and the economy is threatening to slow, according to the Wall Street Journal. Full Story (Subscription Required)
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Image: McDonald’s