McDonald’s is set to make “big” changes to its classic burgers in an effort to boost sales and enhance the flavor of their iconic menu items.
The fast-food giant, headquartered in Chicago, plans to introduce softer, pillowy golden-brown buns, gooier cheese, and a juicier, caramelized taste by placing onions on the patties while they’re still on the grill.
“We found that small changes, like tweaking our process to get hotter, meltier cheese and adjusting our grill settings for a better sear, added up to a big difference in making our burgers more flavorful than ever,” said McDonald’s senior director of culinary innovation, chef Chad Schafer, in a statement.
The famous Big Mac is also getting a saucier makeover, as it will come smothered in more Big Mac Sauce, adding to the mouthwatering appeal of the classic burger.
These enhancements were initially introduced in international markets, including Australia, Belgium, and Canada, and have been tested in select American markets, such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Portland, and Sacramento.
This move follows McDonald’s previous announcement in 2018 that it was switching to fresh beef for its Quarter Pounders, and the launch of its crispy chicken sandwich in 2021, aimed at competing with the growing popularity of Chick-fil-A.
Despite recent corporate restructuring, including layoffs of hundreds of employees and the closure of field offices, McDonald’s most recent earnings report beat analyst estimates.
In the fourth quarter of the previous year, McDonald’s reported net income of $1.9 billion, or $2.59 per share, which was up from $1.64 billion, or $2.18 per share, year over year.
Shares of McDonald’s remained largely unchanged, closing up 33 cents at $289.31 on Monday.
The fast food chain, known for its iconic Golden Arches, currently employs over 150,000 workers globally, with approximately 70% based outside of the United States in company-owned restaurants.
It’s worth noting that the recent layoffs do not impact the more than 2 million workers in franchised McDonald’s restaurants worldwide.
With these changes to its classic menu items, McDonald’s aims to continue its commitment to enhancing the taste and quality of its offerings, catering to the evolving preferences of its customers and staying competitive in the fast-food industry.
