That’s what you’ll likely hear at your local McDonald‘s restuarant, starting Monday.

Beginning Feb. 26, participating McDonald’s locations around the world will transform into “WcDonald’s,” a fictional McDonald’s spinoff seen in dozens of iconic anime movies and TV shows.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan, said in the release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

The temporary transformation will take place at participating locations across 30 markets, officials said. It will last through March 18.

For those not familiar with anime, a WcDonald’s takeover may come as a surprise. For others, it’s an epic throwback.

“McDonald’s embracing anime and manga brings a tear to my 90s child eyes,” one Twitter user said.

As part of the transformation, McDonald’s teamed up with Japanese magna artist/illustrator Acky Bright, to create and design custom WcDonald’s packaging on menu items. For a limited time, customers will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself, the release said.

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

WcDonald’s new menu items and an ‘immersive dining experience’

Some new menu items will be part of the pop-up, including “Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce,” meant to be paired with WcNuggets (also known as Chicken McNuggets), the release said.

At one McDonald’s location, an “immersive dining experience” will be held, the release said, inspired by the “isekai anime subgenre.”

According to officials, the “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” will be held March 9 and 10 in Los Angeles. The dining experience will be “multi-sensory,” and “a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food,” the release added.

“Guests will be transported into the WcDonald’s universe through 360 projection mapping and immersive tabletop projections inspired by the four WcDonald’s anime episodic shorts – all while enjoying a set menu of WcDonald’s items,” the release said. Reservations can be made on OpenTable, beginning Feb. 28.

McDonald's Feb 4

McDonald's is promising its ‘Best Burger.' Now the chain will see if diners buy more of them

McDonald's Dec 8, 2023

New McDonald's spinoff restaurant CosMc's officially opens in a Chicago

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Beginning Monday, participating McDonald’s locations around the world will be getting a mini-makeover inspired by anime lovers. The manga-inspired takeover, cheekily called “WcDonalds” — with upside-golden arches — alludes to how the chain is seen in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, according to a release from the Chicago-based burger giant.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan, said in the release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

The temporary transformation will last through March 18.

While some folks might be skeptical, a number of anime enthusiasts are ecstatic, as evidenced on social media.

One user on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, said, “Idk ab y’all, but I’m so excited for this WcDonalds anime.”

Another said the anime packaging was “on point.”

For a third user, the transformation appeared to bring them back to childhood.

“McDonald’s embracing anime and manga brings a tear to my 90s child eyes,” the user commented.

As part of the transformation, McDonald’s teamed up with Japanese magna artist/illustrator Acky Bright, to create and design custom WcDonald’s packaging on menu items. For a limited time, customers will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself, the release said.

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

Along with the change in packaging will come a few new menu items.

One is “Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce,” which is meant to be paired with WcNuggets (also known as Chicken McNuggets), the release said.

At one McDonald’s location, an “immersive dining experience” will be held, the release said, inspired by the “isekai anime subgenre.”

According to officials, the “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” will be held March 9 and 10 in Los Angeles. The dining experience will be “multi-sensory,” and “a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food,” the release added.

McDonald's Feb 4

McDonald's is promising its ‘Best Burger.' Now the chain will see if diners buy more of them

McDonald's Dec 8, 2023

New McDonald's spinoff restaurant CosMc's officially opens in a Chicago

Starting Feb. 26, the fast-food chain will be getting a manga-inspired makeover, embracing the upside-down golden arches featured in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, where it is cheekily known as “WcDonald’s.”

McDonald’s is collaborating with some of the biggest names in anime to pluck the manga version of the chain out of the screen and into real life.

Starting Feb. 26, WcDonald’s will be launching in more than 30 global markets with a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts and more.

What is WcDonald’s?

WcDonald’s is a fictional version of McDonald’s that has appeared in over 100 different anime films and shows. The concept, with its flipped first letter, originates from a 1983 episode of “Cat’s Eye,” a manga and anime franchise.

In the time since, many beloved anime characters have been shown eating, ordering or simply walking past a WcDonald’s location, and its fictional menu includes burgers, french fries, nuggets and even hot dogs. The alternate universe chain has appeared in well-known anime like “Sally the Witch,” “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” “InuYasha”  and so many more.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA’s chief marketing and customer experience officer in a press release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

Here’s what to expect at WcDonald’s:

Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce

As part of this new, animated world, McDonald’s is dropping a new Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce which will be available for a limited time. The sauce combines ginger, garlic, soy and little heat from chili flakes.

WcDonald’s suggests pairing the sauce with a 10-piece “WcNuggets” (aka Chicken McNuggets) or any other menu item that calls for dipping.

WcDonald’s manga packaging and fan art initiative

The chain has teamed up with Acky Bright, a Japanese manga artist and illustrator who has worked with DC Comics, Warner Brothers and more, to design custom WcDonald’s packaging. For a limited time, customers can score Bright’s manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters.

Customers can also scan a code on the packaging to access weekly digital manga drops that star a full cast of WcDonald’s Customers and Crew, including Hashirune, a WcDonald’s regular, Mr. Bev, the Crew jokester, and many more.

“I had a great time partnering with McDonald’s to help make WcDonald’s a reality for manga fans who have a genuine love for the brand,” said Bright in a press release. “From the details of the diverse Crew characters to the manga plot itself, I loved being able to use my artwork to bring to life the dynamic, vibrant world of WcDonald’s for people around the world.”

The first-ever official WcDonald’s anime

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

• The Race to WcDonald’s: Dropping Feb. 26, this short covers a rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald’s.
• Love from Across the Booth: Dropping March 4, the two protagonists discover that WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets aren’t the only perfect pairing.
• WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000: Dropping March 11, this short covers a team of WcDonald’s pilots who must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
• The Wisdom of the Sauce: Dropping March 18, this short is about three women who are transported to a distant land to unravel a mystery surrounding WcDonald’s elusive sauce before it’s gone forever.

Immersive dining at the first real WcDonald’s 

The WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience, which will be the first real-life WcDonald’s, will be open from March 9 — 10. Located in Los Angeles, California, it will be a multi-sensory dining experience in which guests can enter the WcDonald’s universe through 360 projection mapping and tabletop projections inspired by the four WcDonald’s anime episodic shorts while snacking on WcDonald’s menu items. 

Interested folks can reserve a spot exclusively on OpenTable starting Feb. 28 by searching “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” on the OpenTable app or website.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Dan + Shay reveal why their double chair on ‘The Voice’ is a ‘disadvantage’
• American mom praises ‘European parenting’ … and people have thoughts
• Kylie Kelce heads to Milan Fashion Week! See her gorgeous grey suit

Prices have risen at fast food restaurants across the country as climbing food and labor costs result in higher totals for customers. But the backlash has been visible in more ways than one.

McDonald’s reported underwhelming results in the fourth quarter, according to NBC News, and Yum Brands showed weaker-than-expected growth in top brands like KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said there were fewer visits and lower spending by customers earning $45,000 per year or less. Kempczinski said that as grocery inflation has retreated, those customers are more likely to eat at home.

As a result, Kempczinski promised the company affordability would be a focus this year.

McDonald’s hopes to get those customers back into its stores with marketing that emphasizes low-cost options.

“We certainly know consumers are more wary — and weary — of pricing and we’re going to continue to be consumer-led in our pricing decisions as we look forward to 2024,” Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said.

Details on what those affordable options might be, or if price cuts are in the works, remain unclear.

The comments come after the world’s largest hamburger chain, based in Chicago, was targeted online for a Connecticut restaurant’s $18 Big Mac combo meals and $7 Egg McMuffin. Users on TikTok also started sharing their complaints

McDonald’s told NBC News that pricing is up to franchisees and can vary by location but that the company strives to strike a balance for value.

The news comes as the company has touted several recent changes, including a new concept restaurant in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook called CosMc’s and a promise to open nearly 10,000 new restaurants over the next four years.

The company also recently introduced a new menu item, the “Double Big Mac,” with four beef patties and more Big Mac sauce when compared to its original counterpart. The chain previously said it was making tweaks to its burgers to include meltier cheese and softer, freshly toasted buns.

In 2025, it expects to bring back its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

McDonald’s has upgraded its burgers — but it’s unclear if its sales will get the same boost.

The fast-food giant has outperformed its rivals in recent quarters, helped by price hikes across its menu and higher-income customers trading down to its McNuggets and Big Macs. Still, McDonald’s U.S. traffic dipped in the third quarter as low-income diners cut back their visits.

The company’s same-store sales in the U.S. grew just 4.3% in the fourth quarter, it said Monday. That’s an obvious lag compared with the third quarter’s 8.1% U.S. same-store sales growth.

McDonald’s and rival fast-food chains will face pressure to grow traffic this year. Diners won’t stomach the double-digit price hikes that fueled last year’s sales. Instead, chains have to convince their customers that their food and drinks are worth their prices — and more frequent visits.

Enter McDonald’s “Best Burger” initiative: small tweaks to the chain’s burgers that create a noticeably more flavorful product.

“Our goal was to enhance the quality and the flavor and the overall eating experience of our core burgers, but we wanted to stay true to the tastes that everyone loves,” McDonald’s U.S. Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot said at a media event on Monday.

McDonald’s didn’t change the beef patty itself, but rather the cooking and assembly processes. The grills give the patties a little more breathing room as they cook. For more flavor, only six are cooked at a time, down from eight.

Onions, too, are added before the patties are cooked so they can soak up the patty’s juices. The cooked patties are kept hotter, so the overall burger is still warm by the time it reaches the customer. The cheese is melted better, the buns are upgraded and Big Macs receive more of their special sauce.

“This is a step in the right direction for improving some of their very core products, but staying very true to who they are as well,” said analyst Mark Kalinowski, CEO of Kalinowski Equity Research.

McDonald’s started rolling out the better-tasting burgers roughly a year ago, but it has finally launched them at all locations nationwide.

Some of the company’s most important international markets, such as Australia and Canada, have already implemented “Best Burger.” Australia and Canada have outperformed some of McDonald’s other big international markets, which can be at least partially chalked up to the burger improvements, Kalinowski said.

At McDonald’s investor day in December, CEO Chris Kempczinski said “Best Burger” was on track to hit 70 markets by the end of 2023. By the time 2026 wraps up, the company expects nearly all of its markets to serve the upgraded burgers.

“With initiatives like Best Burger, we are making small changes that are adding up to big differences that our customers are really noticing,” he told investors.

McDonald’s is promoting the changes through a familiar frenemy — the Hamburglar, a McDonaldland character used in its ads dating back to the 1970s. In markets with the “Better Burger,” the chain aired a TV commercial where the mascot touted the improved taste of the burgers. McDonald’s own website now splashes an endorsement from the Hamburglar across the homepage.

The changes affect all of McDonald’s burgers except the quarter pounder. The chain already gave that menu staple its own makeover in 2018, when it switched over from frozen to fresh beef for those patties. That change resulted in McDonald’s gaining market share in the burger category for the first time in five years.

But Wall Street has mixed opinions on whether the “Best Burger” can fuel significant growth.

In a research note last month, Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem named “Best Burger” as an “upside driver” for McDonald’s in 2024. However, it’s still unclear how much of a lift the company expects to see from the initiative.

Kalinowski estimates the changes could raise 2024’s overall sales 0.5%.

“I do think the net effect of this will be positive, but it’s somewhat subtle,” Kalinowski said.

Others are more skeptical.

“I’m doubtful that this drives traffic,” BTIG analyst Peter Saleh said. “I think this is probably just part of the process of upping your game over time. A lot of these concepts have to improve the quality of their food over time.”

But there are some promising early signs that customers want to try the improved burgers for themselves.

“Despite receiving no advertising at the local level until just this week, our contacts indicated Better Burger drove a 10% lift on average to burger transactions to date,” Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump wrote in a note to clients in May.

Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO:

• Forget the ‘Magnificent 7,’ these Nasdaq stocks are next in line to lead the rally, according to the charts
• Nvidia is now ‘deeply overbought’ and due for ‘consolidation,’ says chart analyst
• Eli Lilly’s Zepbound is off to a strong start, but here’s what needs to happen to push shares higher
• Investors are shifting into this type of bond fund at the fastest pace in three years

The Chicago-based burger chain is introducing the “Double Big Mac,” coming with four beef patties and more Big Mac sauce when compared to its original counterpart.

The larger sandwich will still contain all of the standard Big Mac fix-ins: shredded lettuce, chopped onions, pickles, a slice of American cheese and a sesame seed bun.

The Double Big Mac is making a return to participating restaurants nationwide after first making a brief appearance on menus in 2020.

The sandwich is the latest in a slew of changes McDonald’s has made over the past few months, including vowing to open nearly 10,000 new restaurants over the next four years.

The chain also previously said it was making tweaks to its burgers to include meltier cheese and softer, freshly toasted buns.

In 2025, it expects to bring back its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets.

McDonald’s is working to phase some things out.

Earlier this year, the chain announced it was eliminating items from the McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll. The chain is also transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country and replacing them with “crew managed” beverage stations.

By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, a spokesperson said.

After months of anticipation, Squishmallows have finally made their debut as McDonald’s Happy Meals toys, with some of the toys already appearing for sale on eBay.

The toys became available at participating restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, giving customers the opportunity to come home with up to 12 Squishmallow characters with Happy Meal purchases.

In addition to classic Squishmallow favorites like Cam and Fifi, a unique Grimace Squishmallow is also part of the Happy Meals lineup, for those lucky enough to encounter the purple fan-favorite.

Squishmallows will be available at participating restaurants for just a limited time, the Chicago-based burger chain said, meaning that the race is on for many to get their hands on their favorite toy.

news Dec 7, 2023

Here's what's on the menu at McDonald's new CosMc's spinoff restaurant

McDonald's Dec 6, 2023

McDonald's burger empire set for unprecedented growth over the next 4 years with 10,000 new stores

Dec 1, 2023

Changes to McDonald's burgers soon to take effect in all US restaurants

“We’re all about connecting our fans to culture and Squishmallows are some of the hottest toys out there right now,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA chief marketing and customer experience officer, in a written release. “This collaboration welcomes McDonald’s and Squishmallow fans alike to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience with the first McDonald’s Squishmallows Squad.”

Additionally, lucky fans may even encounter a special mystery character when opening their Happy Meal toy.

To help fans get to know their Squishmallows better, McDonald’s included a playlist unique to each character that can be accessed via the QR code on the Happy Meal box.

McDonald’s said that each playlist has been “carefully curated based off their united and fun personalities.”

Six months after announcing that Squishmallows — one of the most popular selling toys in the U.S. — would be inserted into McDonald’s Happy Meals nationwide, the Chicago-based burger chain has revealed when customers would finally be able to get their hands on a soft, squishy character.

“The wait is over and it’s time to get your squish on as the Squishmallows Happy Meal makes its debut at McDonald’s restaurants nationwide,” a press release posted to McDonald’s said Tuesday.

According to the release, the toys launched in select global markets earlier this year. They will be part of Happy Meals at participating restaurants beginning Dec. 26 — the day after Christmas, the release said.

According to the release, 12 Squishmallows characters will be available to collect, including “iconic” Squishmallow characters Cam and Fifi.

A Grimace Squishmallow will also be a part of the bunch, as will a “surprise mystery character,” the release said.

“We’re all about connecting our fans to culture and Squishmallows are some of the hottest toys out there right now,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan said in the release. “This collaboration welcomes McDonald’s and Squishmallow fans alike to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience with the first McDonald’s Squishmallows Squad.”

Each of the Squishmallows will also come with a “unique” playlist that customers can access by scanning the QR code on the Happy Meal box, the release said, adding that the playlists have been “carefully curated based off their united and fun personalities.”

According to officials, Squishmallows will be available at participating McDonald’s restaurants for a limited time while supplies last.

news Dec 7, 2023

Here's what's on the menu at McDonald's new CosMc's spinoff restaurant

McDonald's Dec 6, 2023

McDonald's burger empire set for unprecedented growth over the next 4 years with 10,000 new stores

Dec 1, 2023

Changes to McDonald's burgers soon to take effect in all US restaurants

CosMc’s, a mysterious new spinoff restaurant from the world’s largest hamburger chain that has caused quite a stir on social media and across the Chicago area, quietly opened in Bolingbrook for some customers Thursday, though the chain said it would officially launch on Friday. Chopper footage from NBC’s Sky 5 showed rows of cars lining up for multiple drive-thru windows Thursday.

The restaurant began serving its new menu items once again at 6 a.m. Friday and will remain open through 8 p.m.

According to a spokesperson, CosMc’s is McDonald’s new “small-format, beverage-led” concept restaurant that is as part of a “limited test.”

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.

CosMc’s Food Menu

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

Although the menu is set to contain some McDonald’s staples — like Egg McMuffins sandwiches and M&M McFlurry — other items on the menu include the Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites, Pretzel Bites and a charcuterie-style Snack Box. On the sweet side, the menu includes a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies, the Chicago-based chain said.

CosMc’s Beverage Menu

The restaurant touts CosMc’s drink menu as “brand-new, otherworldly, beverage creations.” A sneak peek of the beverage menu shows it includes specialty lemonades and tea, espresso drinks, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew.

There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more, the restaurant said.

Why is it called CosMc’s?

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

When is it opening and where?

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro area, the chain said.

The Bolingbrook location was set for a soft-opening Friday, with celebrations planned over the weekend, a spokesperson said.

news Nov 29, 2023

McDonald's is bringing back iconic McNugget Buddies as limited-edition collectibles

McDonald's Nov 17, 2023

Popular holiday dessert returns to McDonald's for limited time

McDonald's Nov 13, 2023

McDonald's and Crocs are releasing a line of $75 shoes inspired by Grimace and the Hamburglar

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

According to the world’s largest hamburger chain, its new concept restaurant will open this week in Bolingbrook as part of a “limited test.”

Described as a “new small-format, beverage-led concept,” the restaurant is the first of only a handful being opened in the U.S., McDonald’s said.

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

The new location is set for a “soft open” on Friday, with celebrations planned this weekend.

Among the menu will be options like specialty lemonades and tea, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew. There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more.

Food options will include things like a Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites and Pretzel Bites, along with sweeter items like a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies.

McDonald’s said customers can also “even expect to find a few McDonald’s classics on the menu,” including the Egg McMuffin and M&M’s McFlurry.

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

See the full menu below:

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro areas.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

CNBC reported the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

news Nov 29, 2023

McDonald's is bringing back iconic McNugget Buddies as limited-edition collectibles

McDonald's Nov 17, 2023

Popular holiday dessert returns to McDonald's for limited time

McDonald's Nov 13, 2023

McDonald's and Crocs are releasing a line of $75 shoes inspired by Grimace and the Hamburglar

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Ahead of a day-long event for investors, the Chicago burger giant said Wednesday that it aims to have 50,000 restaurants in operation worldwide by the end of 2027. McDonald’s had 40,275 restaurants at the start of this year.

Other national chains are expanding at a rapid clip as well. Starbucks said last month it expects to have 55,000 stores globally by 2030, up from 38,000 today.

More details are expected Wednesday during McDonald’s investor event, including where store growth will be concentrated.

McDonald's Nov 30, 2023

A secret McDonald's spinoff is being built in a Chicago suburb. Here's what it looks like

The company also announced a partnership with Google Cloud, which it said Wednesday will help it accelerate automated services and reduce complexity for its employees.

McDonald’s same-store sales rose nearly 9% worldwide in the third quarter, even as U.S. traffic fell slightly.

The company is focused on core menu items like Quarter Pounders and fries which, according to McDonald’s, make up 65% of sales systemwide.

Burgers with softer, freshly toasted buns, meltier cheese and more Big Mac sauce are coming to U.S. restaurants by the end of 2024 and most other markets by the end of 2025. McDonald’s said chicken sales are now on par with beef, and it plans to bring its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets by 2025.

McDonald’s is working to phase some things out.

Earlier this year, the chain announced it was eliminating items from the McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll. The chain is also transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country and replacing them with “crew managed” beverage stations.

By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, a spokesperson said.

The restaurant, named CosMc’s, has been taking shape in the suburb of Bolingbrook.

Images on social media appear to show the new restaurant being constructed.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s requests for comment, but CNBC reported McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

Further details about the restaurant have not been released, including an opening date, though Kempczinski reportedly indicated an early 2024 opening plan during his earlier remarks.

The chain apparently plans to test the restaurants in “a limited geography,” but more details were expected to be released in December.

news Nov 29, 2023

McDonald's is bringing back iconic McNugget Buddies as limited-edition collectibles

McDonald's Nov 17, 2023

Popular holiday dessert returns to McDonald's for limited time

McDonald's Nov 13, 2023

McDonald's and Crocs are releasing a line of $75 shoes inspired by Grimace and the Hamburglar

The restaurant appeared to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

As for McDonald’s one holiday-themed dessert is already back on the menu at some locations.

The “holiday pie,” filled with custard and glazed with sugar and rainbow sprinkles, returned to menus at select McDonald’s locations on Wednesday.

Originally debuting in 1999, the seasonal dessert has sporadically popped back onto menus during the wintertime since then, including last year.

Similar to 2022, the holiday pie will not be available at all McDonald’s, with the chain specifying that it can be found “at participating locations while supplies last.”

Due to the pie’s limited availability, be sure to check the menu for your local restaurant by calling ahead or visiting the McDonald’s app to avoid disappointment at the drive-thru.

The home of the McNugget this week is rolling out a line of custom-designed clogs in collaboration with Crocs. 

The fast food-inspired lineup will feature three classic Crocs and one Crocs sandal based on McDonald’s mascots Grimace, Hamburglar and Birdie, as well as the chain’s classic red and yellow color scheme. 

Also for sale will be a number of McDonald’s-themed charms that can be attached to the clogs, including french fries, the Big Mac and the iconic Golden Arches logo.

The shoes will be released on November 14, retailing for between $70 and $75. Matching socks for each pair of shoes will retail for $20. Customers will be able to buy them at Crocs retail locations and wholesale partners. 

In its press release, McDonald’s recommended that fans who want to snag a pair of the clogs follow McDonalds and Crocs on social media, adding only that the drop will happen at “midday” central time. 

The partnership with Crocs is McDonald’s second fashion collab in recent months. Back in August, McDonald’s partnered with British skate brand PALACE to release limited-edition branded merch. 

Crocs, meanwhile, has been on a hot streak with its collectible collabs. It recently made waves in September with a Shrek-inspired clog, and sent Pixar fans into a frenzy when it released a pair of Crocs designed to look like “Cars” character Lightning McQueen over the summer.

DON’T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter!

Get CNBC’s free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire’s No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do’s and don’ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.

At least according to Paul Hendel. He started working at the newly opened McDonald’s in Merrick, New York, on the south shore of Long Island in 1973 when he was just 16 years old, excited to snack on unlimited french fries and hang out with his friends between shifts. The gig paid $1.85 an hour.

“Believe it or not, you needed to have an in to get a job at McDonald’s back then, so my brother, who was working in the kitchen, recommended me for the job,” Hendel, 66, tells CNBC Make It. “Everybody wanted to work there.”

Hendel didn’t see a future at his high school job past graduation. He was accepted to C.W. Post University (now Long Island University), and planned to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing and join his dad, Hank, who worked for a brokerage firm on Wall Street.

Fifty years later, Hendel owns and operates 31 McDonald’s locations across Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, including the flagship restaurant in Times Square.

“I never thought it would be my forever job,” says Hendel. “But I also can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

The conversation that changed the trajectory of his career

In 1975, Hendel was about to quit his job at the Merrick McDonald’s ahead of his first semester of college when his then-boss offered him a promotion: McDonald’s was opening a new location 30 minutes away in Glen Cove and desperately needed an assistant manager. 

Hendel accepted the job, figuring he could use the money to help pay for tuition and books.

“There were a couple of parties that I missed, and I wasn’t happy about that, but it really paid off when I graduated, because I had zero debt and was really ahead of the pack in terms of work experience and networking with that job,” says Hendel. “Plus, being trusted to open a new restaurant when you’re an 18-year-old kid is pretty exciting.”

Hendel quickly proved himself to be a valuable asset to the team, volunteering for late-night shifts and improving the onboarding process for new crew members. Within three years, he was promoted to general manager.

In 1980, once he graduated college, Hendel found himself again at a crossroads: Should he join his dad on Wall Street, where he could potentially make more money, or keep working at McDonald’s, in a job he was good at and enjoyed? 

“I was seriously considering putting my two-week notice in and the owner/operator of the restaurant, Peter Hunt, must have read my mind because he goes, ‘Paul, I don’t want you to leave. I’m going to make you a supervisor of five McDonald’s locations in Nassau County, and it’ll come with a raise and a company car,'” Hendel recalls.

After talking with friends and reading some job listings, Hendel realized the offer came with a much higher salary than he would have made his first year working at a firm on Wall Street (Hendel declined to share his previous and current salary with CNBC Make It). 

Still, he felt conflicted. Hendel asked his dad for advice before accepting the offer at McDonald’s. That conversation, he says, “changed the trajectory of my career.” 

“We were out to dinner, and I mentioned the offer from Hunt, and my dad’s first question — I’ll never forget it — was, ‘Do you like what you do?'” says Hendel. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I really love it.’ And he goes, ‘Do you think you’re good at it?’ And I said, ‘Well I just got promoted!'” 

He continues: “Then he said, ‘Paul, if that’s what you like to do, and you’re good at it, stick with it because I’m not crazy about my job or commuting into Manhattan every day.’ I realized, then, that work isn’t just about getting a paycheck every week. I’m so glad he gave me the advice he did, because I still love what I do.”

‘I don’t want to have the word ‘retired’ fully next to my name’

Another aspect of working at McDonald’s that excited Hendel in his 20s was the opportunity to become an owner/operator, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a restaurant and managing his own staff. It’s also a lucrative gig: ZipRecruiter estimates that owner/operators at McDonald’s earn up to $400,000 per year.

“The opportunities that McDonald’s presents really are limitless,” says Hendel. “I’ve worked with people who started as crew members, then promoted to owner/operators in a few years and became millionaires.”

In 1990, Hendel became the owner/operator of his first McDonald’s restaurant in Brooklyn. “From there, I’ve gotten another restaurant almost every year.” 

Hendel says working in Brooklyn taught him the importance of time management, compassion and handling issues “quickly and calmly” in a fast-paced environment. “You have to be really good with people when you’re managing a staff and serving over 1,000 customers a day at each restaurant,” he adds. 

Hendel still works five days a week and spends most of his time in the restaurants he owns, checking in on employees and any ongoing construction or renovations at the properties.

The skills Hendel relies on to do his job haven’t changed in decades, Hendel jokes, and neither has his McDonald’s order. “My favorite is still a quarter pounder with cheese,” he says.

Hendel hasn’t given retirement much thought. “Is it really working as long as you’re doing something you love?” he says. 

Eventually, Hendel expects that he will gradually phase out of his role, passing on more responsibilities to his son, Mark, and daughter, Lauren, who became owner/operators of McDonald’s franchises in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

“I’d like to have the flexibility to wind down at work, so I have more time for golf, going out on my boat and spending time with my family,” says Hendel. “But I don’t want to have the word ‘retired’ fully next to my name.”

DON’T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter!

Get CNBC’s free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire’s No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do’s and don’ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.

Check out:

68-year-old engineer spent 50 years at one company and ‘always’ told his bosses to ‘leave me alone’: ‘Let me learn the job’

The fast food chain is giving away free medium fries each Friday for McDonald’s app users with a minimum purchase of $1. The salty deal will last until Dec. 31.

Rewards members can visit any participating location and receive free medium fries while using the app. The offer can be used once every Friday. 

To be eligible for the freebie, download the McDonald’s mobile app, follow instructions for creating an account and opt into the restaurant’s rewards program.

McDonald's Oct 4, 2023

Are McDonald's ‘Boo Buckets' returning to Happy Meals in 2023? Here's what we know

McDonald's Sep 29, 2023

McDonald's McRib had a ‘Farewell Tour' last year. Is it returning?

Here’s a full list of dates:

• Oct. 27
• Nov. 3
• Nov. 10
• Nov. 17
• Nov. 24
• Dec. 1
• Dec. 8
• Dec. 15
• Dec. 22
• Dec. 29

Other 2023 freebies

McDonald’s is not the only restaurant with end-of-year food offers. Here’s a roundup of recent food deals and rewards to take advantage of in the next few weeks and months.

At Burger King, Royal Perks Members (with purchase) can receive one free fry order per week until Dec. 31. The offer started April 25, 2022, and was extended until the end of 2023.

Taco Bell fanatics can also head to the mobile app to celebrate Taco Tuesday one morning a week with free Toasted Breakfast Tacos. The deal is available for Taco Bell Rewards members until Oct. 31 with no purchase necessary. 

Dunkin’ has coffee lovers covered on Mondays. Reward members can get one free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase until Oct. 30.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Mariska Hargitay delivers touching speech about Jane Fonda: ‘You invoked my mother’
• Blake Shelton moves Gwen Stefani to tears as he recalls the first time they met
• Must-have cozy fall favorites, from suede slippers to chai tea latte kits, starting at $9

On Oct. 11, McDonald’s announced a project based on a surprising statistic: 1 in 8 Americans have worked at a McDonald’s restaurant. McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that it surveyed a representative sample of American adults and found that 1 in 8 (just over, actually, at 13.7%) reported that they currently or formerly worked at a McDonald’s restaurant.

According to the U.S. Census, the population in 2022 was more than 333,287,000 people, meaning that walking among us are more than 41,000,000 current or past McDonald’s employees.

From astronauts like Katya Echazarreta to teachers, executives to small business owners, millions upon millions of folks got their start at the Golden Arches — including at least award-winning playwright.

In 2017, Tony, Emmy and Grammy-award winning Broadway composer Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted about his inspiration for one of his many catchy tunes on the Great White Way: the song “Delivery” from “Working” is based on his days working delivery for McDonald’s. 

Whether they continued their career within the Golden Arches or left the company for other venues, McDonald’s is celebrating both former and current crew members who make up that expansive and diverse community with the launch of its new “1 in 8” initiative.  

McDonald’s says that members of the 1 in 8 — which means anyone who has ever worked for the company in its history — will have access to special programming, opportunities to attend exclusive events, mentorships with notable alumni who’ve gone on to make an impact in their respective fields, reunions with former team members and more.  

“For 1 in 8 Americans, the McDonald’s restaurant experience offers critical life skills and creates opportunities for meaningful work and connections,” said Tiffanie Boyd, senior vice president & chief people officer at McDonald’s in a press release. “Formally bringing this group together will give past and present crew members alike the chance to continue growing, building their networks and celebrating the special community they represent.”     

On Oct. 11. McDonald’s also honored the 1 in 8 with its first-ever Homecoming celebration in New York City. The event kicked off with a performance by the Brooklyn United marching band before welcoming a star-studded slate of former and current employees who shared their own personal stories and career advice. 

This panel included Peloton’s Cody Rigsby, TV host, actress and entrepreneur Alejandra Espinoza, creative entrepreneur Kendall Hurns, McDonald’s franchise owner Paul Hendel, who started as a crew member when he was 16 years old and now owns 31 restaurants and a Michelin-star chef.

Last on the list is Harold Villarosa, who hilariously recounted that his first job at McDonald’s was a directive from his mother when he asked for sneakers at 15-years-old. (And yes, he did eventually buy them himself.)

Rigsby said his job at McDonald’s was a lifetime for his family.

“I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and me and my mom experienced homelessness many times in our lives,” Rigsby said during the event to an audience filled with current and former employees of McDonald’s. He added that he was a 12-year-old the first time he and his mom faced homelessness together.

“As we got into more permanent homes, we were without a car. So on my 16th birthday, I went to the McDonald’s on Highpoint Road in Greensboro, North Carolina, and I put in my application and I got a job spot on that day,” Rigsby said.

At the event, Rigsby details that for six months, he saved as much money as he could so he could buy his first car, adding that the job taught him punctuality, compassion and kindness while he saved up.

“For most 16-year-olds that’s something they’re just super proud of because they’re buying their first car but that was a lifeline for me and my family,” Rigsby said, acknowledging his mom as a single parent who didn’t have transportation to work herself. “Some people might look at a job at McDonald’s as just a job, but that was a literal lifeline for me and my family so I’m always grateful for that first opportunity.”

At the event, Espinoza describes her 1 in 8 experience. Born in Mexico, she was 16 when her family moved to the San Diego area.  

“I think we have a lot in common. We all didn’t have a lot of money so we needed to get a job in order to pay the bills,” Espinoza said to the crowd. “I remember the first thing I did was I gave my mom $200 with my first check … one of the most amazing things that I could have felt at that moment to know that I was able to help my family with something.”

At the event, Robotic Minds Concept’s designer and 1 in 8 member Kendall Hurns debuted his collaboration with McDonald’s, a limited-edition 1 in 8 letterman jacket. To get their own, eligible folks can visit McDonald’s 1 in 8 website to snag a jacket while supplies last starting Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. ET.  

McDonald’s notes that while many members of the 1 in 8 use the skills learned at McDonald’s to succeed in different fields, others apply them to grow within the company as franchisees, management or corporate positions, including Myra Doria, U.S. national field president at McDonald’s, who has been with the company for almost four decades.

“Reflecting back on my beginnings as a McDonald’s restaurant employee 38 years ago, I’m proud to be a part of an organization that roots for and supports its people,” she said. “It’s special to have experienced first-hand the doors that the Golden Arches can open for a person.” 

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Woman’s baby name warning reminds parents to think of their kids’ future emails
• Jenna’s 4-year-old isn’t leaving his crib anytime soon: ‘It’s normal, right?’
• Here’s everything you missed at Taylor Swift’s premiere of her ‘Eras Tour’ concert film

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

After months of mums the word, McDonald’s on Friday finally confirmed that beginning Oct.17, four different “Boo Buckets” — a monster, a skeleton, a mummy and a vampire — will be part of McDonald’s Happy Meals.

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement from the Chicago-based fast-food chain said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

Meanwhile, Burger King has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Earlier this week, Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

According to officials, Boo Buckets will be available for 2023 “while supplies last.”

But there’s something else, too, that may spark some holiday memories: McDonald’s Boo Buckets.

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” 

Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

But will they make a comeback this year?

Many fast food blogs and TikTok accounts say yes.

According to one article, McDonald’s Halloween Boo Buckets are “rumored to return Oct. 17.” Another says as much, adding that a fourth bucket this year is expected to be introduced.

McDonald’s however, is staying mum. The Chicago-based company has not shared any information on when — or if — Boo Buckets will return.

Meanwhile, Burger King has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Earlier this week, Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

For now, we wait. This story will be updated once we learn more about the boo crew.

Despite McDonald’s best efforts to convince us that November 2022 was its “Farewell Tour,” we knew it would come back. It always does.

McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that its polarizing boneless pork sandwich, the McRib, is due to return to select restaurants in November. That’s right — just like ‘N Sync, this pop culture icon of yesteryear is back.

Rumors of its return began bubbling up on Sept. 26 when popular snack-spotting social media account Snackolator posted about it:

“Woah! Last fall the McRib went on a ‘Farewell Tour,’ but it’s coming back this November!” reads the post. “I’m still confused how a Farewell Tour can be just a year, but I don’t think fans are going to care all that much.”

In the comments section, many folks validated that hypothesis.

“Best news I’ve heard all day!” commented one Instagram user.

“Like Cher it’s back!!!! Thank the snack gods,” commented another user, referring to Cher’s habit of putting on farewell tours every few years.

The McRib, with its seasoned boneless pork dipped in Tangy BBQ Sauce and topped with chopped onions and pickles, is a favorite for some, including TODAY’s own Al Roker, who even developed his own copycat version for those who crave the elusive sandwich outside of November.

“It turns out not everyone was ready to say goodbye to the McRib after last year’s Farewell Tour,” a McDonald’s USA spokesperson tells TODAY.com. “While it won’t be available nationwide, some lucky fans may find their favorite elusive saucy sandwich at their local McDonald’s restaurants this November.”

But, like we said, no one is surprised it’s coming back. Ever since its debut in 1981, it’s been a limited-time item we can always count on to return. It’s McDonald’s pumpkin spice latte. (Sorry, Al — we know you’d hate that comparison).

McDonald’s didn’t specify when it would depart from menus again, but last year it was gone by Nov. 20.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Dylan Dreyer is every mom juggling work and a kid’s birthday
• Allison Holker and her kids visit tWitch’s gravesite for his birthday
• Dianne Feinstein, oldest senator, dies at 90: What to know about her recent health

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that it brought back a beloved menu item in select McDonald’s locations across the country: Spicy Chicken McNuggets.

The menu item, which was first introduced in 2020 as McDonald’s first new McNugget product launch since the original in 1983, was so popular that it quickly sold out in several locations. The chain then listened to pleas on social media for the piquant poultry product’s return and brought them back in February 2021. Now, two years later, they’re back, back, back again.

One of its biggest competitors, Wendy’s launched its Spicy Chicken Nuggets in 2010, then took them off its menu in 2017 (which prompted Burger King to launch its own version for a limited time), and finally brought them back for good in 2019.

McDonald's Sep 18, 2023

Woman sues McDonalds alleging ‘severe burns' from spilled coffee

entertainment news Sep 18, 2023

McDonald's unveils new Pokémon Happy Meal offerings

When McDonald’s launched its spicy nuggets in 2020, Wendy’s couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mock its rival.

“Must have scraped up all of BKs leftovers and slapped mcprice tag on it,” Wendy’s tweeted at the time.

But, all joking aside, McDonald’s says its Spicy Chicken McNuggets are breaded with the chain’s tempura coating, this time including both cayenne and chili peppers in the mix for a distinctive kick. The fan-favorite menu item comes as a meal or on its own in quantities of six, 10, 20 or as much as 40 nugs for particularly hungry, heat-seeking customers.

The Spicy Chicken McNuggets are currently available on menus in participating local markets for a limited time while supplies last, including in Seattle, Portland, Denver, New York City and more.

Early reaction on social media to the item’s return has been caps-lock-heavy excitement.

“THE SPICY NUGGETS ARE BACKKKK mcdonalds run rn,” tweeted one fan..

“GUYS MCDONALDS HAS THEIR SPICY NUGGETS AGAIN,” tweeted another.

“Shoutout 2 mcdonalds 4 adding back the spicy nuggets I’ve eaten 18 of em today,” tweeted one user, before correcting themselves, saying, “Wait holdon ive have 2 20 piece ones so ive actualy had 38 😂.” (We appreciate the transparency.)

So there really are people in the market for a 40-nugget meal, after all — this much is clear.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Virginia mom and 3 kids are missing, sheriff says; husband says he’s not ‘concerned,’ they’re ‘doing well’
• Jenna Bush Hager shares the time she almost got a back tattoo
• How do I order free at-home COVID tests kits by mail? Biden brings back program

According to court documents obtained by NBC News, the woman, Mable Childress, filed her lawsuit to the San Francisco Superior Court on Sept. 14. The legal action claims that the employees of a San Francisco location breached their “duty of care” after failing to secure a coffee cup lip that she purchased from a drive-thru.

Childress alleges that the incident caused her to suffer severe burns, scarring, emotional distress, as well as hospital and medical expenses.

Peter Ou, the owner and operator of the San Francisco franchise in question, responded to TODAY.com’s request for comment via email.

“My restaurants have strict food safety protocols in place, including training crew to ensure lids on hot beverages are secure,” his statement reads. “We take every customer complaint seriously — and when Ms. Childress reported her experience to us later that day, our employees and management team spoke to her within a few minutes and offered assistance. We’re reviewing this new legal claim in detail.” 

According to Childress’ lawsuit, the incident occurred earlier this year on June 13 at 1100 Fillmore Street in San Francisco. The lawsuit claims that the coffee cup lid opened when Childress attempted to drink from the cup and that “scalding coffee poured out of the cup,” causing severe burns and scars to her groin.

Washington DC Aug 28, 2023

16-year-old girl fatally stabbed in argument over sweet and sour sauce at DC McDonald's

McDonald's Aug 11, 2023

Toddler, 3, sneaks out of crib and takes himself on a solo date to McDonald's

Childress says in her lawsuit that she attempted to report the incident to three employees at the McDonald’s location, including managers. The lawsuit claims that all three “ignored” and “refused to help her” until she ultimately left to seek treatment for her injuries.

Childress’ attorney did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment. In a statement to local outlet SFGate, her lawyer, Dylan Hackett, said the coffee cup had not been “properly” covered and the coffee itself was “scalding.”

“She’s an elderly lady, and she was waiting for over an hour to speak to a manager, and a manager never spoke to her,” Hackett told SFGate. “They didn’t give her the time of day. … Nobody helped her whatsoever. She had to get to the hospital herself.”

Childress’ court filing lists the action as an unlimited civil case that could exceed $25,000.

What is the most famous McDonald’s coffee lawsuit?

This is not the first time McDonald’s has been sued over coffee. Stella Liebeck v. McDonald’s is one of the most famous McDonald’s lawsuits.

According to NBC News, in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck sustained third-degree burns when a hot coffee from a New Mexico-based McDonald’s spilled onto her lap. She was severely burned on her groin and legs and spent more than a week in the hospital. Liebeck initially requested $20,000 from McDonald’s for her hospital expenses. When McDonald’s refused, the case went to trial and a jury awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages.

The American Museum of Tort Law notes that the jury found that McDonald’s coffee was served nearly 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other restaurants at the time.

Ultimately, a judge reduced Liebeck’s $2.7 million award to $480,000 and then the two parties later settled for a confidential amount. 

Did McDonald’s get sued over a hot chicken nugget?

In July, the Florida family of a 4-year-old girl was awarded $800,000 in a lawsuit after she allegedly sustained severe burns from a hot Chicken McNugget at a McDonald’s franchise.

The 4-year-old Olivia Caraballo’s parents — Philana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez —sued McDonald’s and the franchise owner, Upchurch Food. The family alleged that Olivia sustained second-degree burns to her leg after an “unreasonably and dangerously” nugget got stuck in her car seat.

McDonald’s and Upchurch denied being responsible for the burns.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• More than 58K pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli contamination
• From storage solutions to a crossbody bag, 6 must-haves for September with thousands of reviews
• What Drew Barrymore’s show controversy says about celebrity apologies, according to PR pros

On Sept. 14, McDonald’s announced that it is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18 by selling its Double Cheeseburger at less than half its usual price: 50 cents, to be precise.

“For one day only, fans can snag a Double Cheeseburger for only $0.50 from any participating location nationwide when they order exclusively through the McDonald’s App,” a McDonald’s spokesperson tells TODAY.com.

The offer is limited to one per customer at participating McDonald’s and app registration is required. However, no purchase is necessary to secure the discounted burger.

McDonald’s is coming into the autumn season after having a very active and extremely purple summer season, welcoming its viral phenom the berry-flavored Grimace Birthday Shake in June in honor of the iconic McDonaldland character.

McDonald's Sep 11, 2023

McDonald's is phasing out self-serve soda stations — here's why

Food & Drink Sep 7, 2023

Oreo brings back fans' most-requested flavor

Then, in July, the chain ended the McCafe Bakery, taking away three menu items, to fans’ dismay, but then, to turn things around, it added a brand-new McFlurry to its dessert lineup — the Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry — to rave reviews.

Things were pretty quiet for the home of the Hamburglar until news broke earlier this week that the chain will be phasing out self-serve soda fountain stations by 2032, meaning that you’ll have to ask a McDonald’s worker to get your spicy Sprite in the future. But now, with the Double Cheeseburger deal available on the McDonald’s app, we’re back to positively beefy news.

McDonald’s isn’t the only burger chain offering a National Cheeseburger Day deal. Wendy’s, not to be outdone by another ginger-mopped fast-food mascot, is giving Ronald McDonald a run for his money by offering Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 cent in honor of the holiday, from Sept. 18 to 22.

Which means that you can really load up on burger goodness at more than one chain and ring the holiday in style.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Demi Lovato says ‘Cool for the Summer’ is about a relationship she had with a famous woman
• Carrie Underwood’s TODAY concert was a multigenerational swarm of denim and rhinestones
• ‘A Million Miles Away’ true story: Where is José M. Hernández now?

McDonald’s USA has confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be phasing out what has become a signature part of the McDonald’s experience: self-serve beverage stations. This means no longer will customers be handed an empty cup by an employee then add ice and their beverage of choice away from the point of sale.

McDonald’s says it will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by the year 2032. The chain says the change is intended to create a consistent experience for both McDonald’s workers and their customers at all ordering points — meaning that whether you order your Big Mac Meal via McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant, you’ll get your grub the same exact way.

The news was first reported on Sept. 8 by the State Journal-Register, who spoke to Illinois-area franchise holders about the new strategy.

While this means that McDonald’s won’t be fully transitioned to staff-poured sodas for nearly a decade, some of these locations, at least, have already begun to change the way sodas are served to customers.

“It’s an evolution towards convenience and (the result of) the growth of digital service,” Mikel Petro, an Illinois McDonald’s operator, told the State Journal-Register.

Other franchise owners interviewed by the newspaper mentioned theft prevention, food safety and fewer dine-in customers as contributing factors for getting rid of the stations.

“The crew pour system — which actually will use automated beverage systems to mechanically fill drink orders — minimizes human contact,” reported the State-Journal. “Crew pour also eliminates theft and emphasizes the brand’s new focus on creating a more relaxed dine-in experience complete with servers delivering meals to the table.”

Petro, who operates 15 McDonald’s throughout central Illinois with his family, said one of his locations in Lincoln has already started the transition by having staff fill initial beverage orders when customers dine-in, having these drinks delivered to tables along with each meal.

For now, customers who place takeout orders at this location’s counter still receive an empty cup to fill at the self-serve drink station. And customers can still get their own refills, but that will change by 2024, when a remodeling of the store’s front counter will move plumbing behind the counter, allowing the self-serve drink stations to be removed for good.

Other franchise owners say they’ve either started the transition already or are planning to implement them in the next year or so. One franchise owner stated that late 2024 would be the earliest any of her restaurants would fully become crew-poured-only.

Which means you still have some time to find the perfect ratio of Sprite to lemonade before you’ll have to ask someone else to do it.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Coco Gauff says her parents are the reason she plays tennis. Everything to know about the Gauffs
• 3 pregnant women were stuck in the hospital on bedrest. They bonded over a scary diagnosis
• FDA clears new COVID boosters: 5 things to know

In a now-viral video, Marissa Phiffer, who is mom of 3-year-old twins, Aiden and Aleiya, shares a story about a family nap that took a scary turn.

“I was sleeping on the floor right next to their cribs,” Phiffer, 23, tells TODAY.com. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot. When Phiffer woke up, Aiden was gone — and so were his shoes.

“He was not in the house. He was not in the basement. He was not in the front yard or the backyard,” Phiffer says in her TikTok clip. At this point she was starting to panic. Where could Aiden be?

With shaking hands, Phiffer dialed 911 to report a missing child.

“I really started to get nervous when he wasn’t in our neighbor’s yard. I thought that’s where I’d find him. They have a bunch of rocks and he likes to line them up and play with them,” Phiffer shares.

Phiffer says the police arrived in “two seconds,” and showed her a photograph. She exhaled. It was Aiden and he was safe and sound at a McDonald’s across the street from their Wisconsin home. 

According to Phiffer, a Good Samaritan alerted authorities to a child, who was wandering by himself. Though the restaurant is only 0.4 miles from Phiffer’s residence, she drove there with Aiden’s sister.

“We run in, and he goes, ‘Hi, Mom!’”

Phiffer was too relieved to be angry.  

When Phiffer asked Aiden why he did it, she says the little boy replied, “I was hungry.”

“I almost bought him a Happy Meal, but I was embarrassed,” she says. “I just wanted to get out of there.”

Aiden is a big fan of McDonald’s, and will wake up from a deep slumber when his mom pulls up to a drive-thru window. He can just sense where they are.

“Fries, nuggets and apple slices — he’d eat that every day,” she says. “But that was actually his first time going to the PlayLand there.”

Phiffer has since installed child proof safety locks and latches on the doors so that it won’t happen again. 

Meanwhile, comments continue to pour in on Phiffer’s video. And it turns out she’s in good company.

“Happened to me with my oldest. Now I just don’t sleep lol,” one person wrote.

Added another,”My son found a penny and walk to the store when he was 2 yrs old scared the hell out of me too lol.”

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• I tried 17 bottled waters and they are definitely not all created equal
• Target is adding Starbucks to its curbside delivery at 1,700 stores
• No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

CLB Investments LLC in Metairie employed 72 workers who are 14 and 15 years old — allowing them to work longer and later than federal law permits at 12 restaurants in New Orleans, Kenner, Jefferson and Metairie, the department said.

Investigators with the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division also determined the employer allowed three children to operate manual deep fryers, which is prohibited for employees under age 16.

The franchise received a $56,106 civil penalty for the violations, according to the news release.

New Orleans Owner/Operator Chris Bardell said he’s committed to the safety of his people. “Since learning of these violations, I’ve introduced mandatory child labor law trainings for my restaurant managers and conducted regular audits to ensure we’re in compliance with labor regulations,” Bardell said in a statement.

The division also found similar violations at four McDonald’s locations operated in Texas by Marwen & Son LLC in Cedar Park, Georgetown and Leander.

Investigators found that in Texas, the company employed 10 minors, 14- to 15-years-old, to work hours longer shifts than is permitted by law. They also learned the employer allowed seven children to operate a manual fryer and oven, and two of the seven to also operate a trash compactor. Marwen & Son was assessed $21,466 in civil penalties for its violations.

“Employers must never jeopardize the safety and well-being of young workers or interfere with their education,” explained Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Betty Campbell in Dallas. “While learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, an employer’s first obligation is to make sure minor-aged children are protected from potential workplace hazards.”

These findings follow a May announcement of federal investigations that found three McDonald’s franchise operators violating child labor laws, involving more than 300 children, some as young as 10, at 62 locations in four states.

“We take this issue seriously and are committed to ensuring our franchisees have the resources they need to maintain compliance with all U.S. labor laws,” Tiffanie Boyd, Chief People Officer, McDonald’s USA, said in a statement.

According to a spokesperson for the Chicago-based fast-food chain, the McCafé Bakery line-up is in the process of being “phased out.”

“We’re always listening to our fans and adjusting our menu based on what they crave,” an emailed statement to NBC Chicago from McDonald’s USA read Friday. “Starting this month, we’ll be phasing out our McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll.”

The statement goes on to say that these changes will not impact McDonald’s “iconic” Chocolate Chip Cookies, Baked Apple Pies, or frozen desserts like shakes, sundaes and McFlurries, which will remain available at restaurants nationwide.

McDonald’s did not provide an exact date for when the trio of baked goods would be leaving menus. However, a report from TODAY.com indicated the items could leave as early as July 15.

McDonald’s added the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Menu and Cinnamon Roll to the McCafé lineup in the fall of 2020, TODAY.com says, after a taste test in several markets was “overwhelmingly positive.”

And while the plump breakfast pastries are leaving, some new squishy items are set to arrive on menus later this year, when McDonald’s Happy Meals will be accompanied by Squishmallow toys.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s rolled out the milkshake in a nostalgia-driven campaign honoring one of the franchises characters often seen at children’s birthday parties hosted at a restaurant.

As many across the country have rushed to their local McDonald’s to try the shake out, some on social media have shared a rather “grim” interpretation of the shake’s supposed effects.

Several users on TikTok have shown them drinking the purple-tinted milkshake before showing them appear to be dead in the next sequence.

The trend has picked up enough to catch the attention of McDonald’s themselves, even if McDonald’s maybe wishes otherwise.

The shake became available at participating McDonald’s locations on June 12, and will remain while supplies last.

As far as what the milkshake actually tastes like, a sweet vanilla-forward berry flavor was described by some who tried it.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Birthday treat or not, the shake has found both lovers and haters on social media.

“Happy birthday, Grimace,” one tweet reads. “Your long overdue signature shake tastes chemically purple, and I kind of love it.”

“My daughter just got one, thinking it would be too overwhelmingly berry & sweet and she wouldn’t like it. I tasted it,” a comment on NBC’s Facebook post read. “It’s actually really good. More vanilla than berry. Of course it’s sweet, bc it’s a shake. But it’s tasty, too.”

Others, however, got more descriptive.

“Mine said Children’s grape Claritin,” someone wrote in response.

Those looking to purchase the meal can expect to spend around $15, however, price is determined by “each individual restaurant and may vary based on location,” McDonald’s says.

And while the shake is meant to be served with the rest of Grimace’s special birthday menu, “requests for just the shake can be accommodated by speaking with a member of our crew,” in-person, at participating restaurants, the chain adds.

Although Grimace’s exact date of birth remains unknown, what is clear is that the creature was first introduced as a McDonaldland character in June of 1971, and is said to be thriving as a young, spry 52-year-old.

“Our fans have amazing childhood memories of their birthdays at McDonald’s…and Grimace’s Birthday is all about paying homage to the amazing, fun moments we all share,” said Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA Tariq Hassan, in a release.

According to officials, the “Grimace Birthday Meal and Shake” will be available at participating restaurants for a limited time, while supplies last.

But Grimace isn’t the only pillow-shaped item hitting McDonald’s Meals this year.

Beginning in late 2023, McDonald’s will start inserting popular plus Squishmallows into Happy Meals across the country.

According to toymaker Jazwares, Happy Meals later this year will feature one of 24 exclusive Squishmallows, with each participating Mcdonald’s location offering between 10 and 12 designs. Additionally, 14 of the Squishmallows will also include a themed digital playlist, which can be accessed via QR code and is meant to “capture the excitement and energy of each Squishmallow’s personality.”

“This Happy Meal campaign brings the worlds of McDonald’s, Squishmallows and music together to elevate the fan experience and evolve our iconic Happy Meal brand in culture,” a statement from Jennifer DelVecchio, Senior Director Global Campaigns and Alliances at McDonald’s said in a release.

According to officials, Squishmallows will be available at participating locations while supplies last. A specific start date was not provided.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“In partnering with McDonald’s we are able to bring fans a 360-degree Squishmallows experience,” said Gerhard Runken, Senior Vice President of Brand & Marketing at Jazwares. “That includes exclusive digital playlists, and special edition Squishmallows that will create one of the most elevated Happy Meal programs to date.

“Happy Meals have featured so many iconic brands throughout the years, and this is a tremendous milestone for Squishmallows as we join forces with McDonald’s, one of the world’s most trusted and recognized brands.”

The adorable plush critters, winner of seven Toy of the Year Awards, have been around since 2017 but rose to popularity in 2020. The partnership with McDonald’s will include 24 collectible Squishmallows, according to the Jazwares release.

“This Happy Meal campaign brings the worlds of McDonald’s, Squishmallows and music together to elevate the fan experience and evolve our iconic Happy Meal brand in culture. Adding exclusive music playlists to our toys is a first for Happy Meal and we are extremely proud to collaborate with Jazwares’ Squishmallows, the #1 plush brand worldwide, and Universal Music Group on this initiative,” said Jennifer DelVecchio, Senior Director of Global Campaigns and Alliances at McDonald’s.

Squishmallows are typically sold at retail stores such as Walgreens, Kroger, Walmart, Target, Five Below and much more. The stuffed animals each have a name – that can be found on their tags – and personality, which includes different hobbies and interests.

Each participating McDonald’s location will have 10-12 of the Squishmallows.

Beginning this month, McDonald’s will honor fan-favorite character Grimace’s birthday in true Grimace fashion, an announcement from the fast food chain says. Hint: it includes the color purple.

“McDonald’s birthdays give major nostalgia for so many of our fans,” the Chicago-based restaurant says, adding that this month Grimace will “finally get his moment in the McD’s birthday spotlight.”

Starting June 12, McDonald’s will officially launch a “Grimace Birthday Meal and Shake,” which includes a choice of Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, a medium French fry, and McD’s first-ever purple shake, “inspired by the iconic color and sweetness of our purple pal,” the announcement says.

“Our fans have amazing childhood memories of their birthdays at McDonald’s…and Grimace’s Birthday is all about paying homage to the amazing, fun moments we all share,” said Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA Tariq Hassan, in a release.

For those curious to learn Grimace’s origin story, McDonald’s in the announcement reveals that the purple creature hails from “Grimace Island,” and comes from a “huge family,” including his Grandma Winky, aunts Millie and Tillie and his Uncle O’Grimacey.

“Our timeless bestie has become a fan-favorite known for his signature fuzzy purple look, friendly and playful personality, love for shakes, and of course – ambiguous nature,” McDonald’s says.

Still, the mystery surrounding the beast — and what’s inside those new purple shakes — remains.

“What exactly is Grimace?” McDonald’s adds. “Perhaps we’ll never know.”

According to officials, the “Grimace Birthday Meal and Shake” will be available at participating restaurants nationwide beginning June 12, while supplies last.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Disney’s live-action adaption of “The Little Mermaid” will soon hit the big screen, and as part of the celebration of the film’s release, McDonald’s has unveiled themed-Happy Meal boxes and toys.

The new line of toys, which feature characters like Ariel, Ursula, Flounder and more, will be available at the company’s restaurants in the coming days.

“At McDonald’s, inclusivity, imagination and joy live in the DNA of every Happy Meal,” VP of US Marketing Jennifer Healan said in a statement. “’The Little Mermaid’ Happy Meal is an extension of that collaboration (with Disney) where even more fans can see themselves reflected in profound possibility and feel encouraged to dream big and make waves.”

The Happy Meal promotion also comes with a partnership between the company and the organization Black Girls Surf, which encourages children to get into the sport of surfing while protecting the oceans where events take place.

Advertisements for the Happy Meals will highlight the organization, according to a press release. The company also coordinated with Disney for special showings of the film throughout the country.

For those curious, yes, the original animated film “The Little Mermaid” was featured in a line of Happy Meal toys that was released in 1989.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Philana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez of Broward County, Florida, sued McDonald’s and Upchurch Foods, the franchise operator, for negligence and poor training and are seeking $15,000 in damages. Opening statements in the trial were read on Tuesday and testimony soon followed.

The incident occurred in 2019 after Holmes ordered her 4-year-old daughter, Olivia, a Happy Meal from a Tamarac McDonald’s drive-thru.

The lawsuit says that Holmes handed her daughter the meal in the back of the car and started driving. She soon heard a scream after one of Olivia’s nuggets got wedged between her thigh and the seatbelt for almost two minutes, creating burns that left Olivia “disfigured and scarred.”

McDonald’s and Upchurch Foods denied wrongdoing.

“Ms. Holmes purchased 32 chicken McNuggets that day,” attorney Scott Yount, representing McDonald’s, said. “The evidence will show (that for) 31 of them, there was no problem.”

The company also released a statement saying hot temperatures are required to ensure the food is fully cooked and safe to eat.

“We take every complaint seriously and certainly those that involve the safety of our food and the experiences of our guests,” McDonald’s said in its statement on Monday. “This matter was looked into thoroughly. Ensuring a high standard for food safety and quality means following strict policies and procedures for each product we cook and serve. Those policies and procedures were followed in this case and we therefore respectfully disagree with the plaintiff’s claims.”

Over 300 children were found working at the restaurants across several states, with 45 of the 62 McDonald’s restaurants located in Kentucky.

At one store in Louisville operated by Bauer Food LLC, two 10-year-olds were found to be working unpaid and as late as 2 a.m., the department said. The two children had a variety of responsibilities, including preparing and distributing orders, cleaning the store, working at the drive-thru window and operating cash registers. The department found that one of them was allowed to operate a deep fryer, which is prohibited under federal law for workers under 16 years old.

Over 300 children under the age of 16 – two that were only 10-years-old – were found working beyond federal child labor limits in 62 McDonald’s locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Maryland, according to the Department of Labor.

Click on each location below for more information.

Data: Department of Labor

Bauer Food LLC responded by saying the 10-year-olds were children of a night manager and they were just visiting their parent at work, all while not being approved by franchisee organization management.

The Labor Department’s investigation found that at least 305 children were employed in violation of federal labor laws across McDonald’s locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio. Three franchisees — Bauer Food LLC, Archways Richwood LLC and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC — own and operate the 62 locations found to be in violation.

Now, the three franchises face civil money penalties with an estimated combined total of more than $212,000.

Archways Richwood LLC will face the biggest penalty, an estimated $143,566 in civil money penalties, after it was found that 242 children between the ages of 14 and 15 worked beyond allowable hours at their locations.

You can read the full report from the U.S. Department of Labor here.

Starting Thursday, April 27, the fast food giant will begin distributing its famous Big Mac Sauce in dip cups.

Unlike other popular dips like sweet and sour, BBQ and honey mustard, Big Mac Sauce has remained behind the counter at McDonald’s restaurants, reserved only for the chain’s signature burger.

The limited time offering comes as “fans have been asking for an extra side [of Big Mac sauce] for years,” McDonald’s said in a press release.

The sauce, which has had the same recipe since 1972, is a proprietary combination of mayo, mustard, relish, vinegar and seasoning.

Customers will only be able to get their hands on the 0.78oz packets of Big Mac Sauce if they order through the McDonald’s mobile app.

The sauce will come free with any Chicken McNuggets purchase, and can also be purchased a la carte at checkout.

It’s not the first time that McDonald’s has done a limited edition Big Mac Sauce drop. In 2017, the burger giant announced that it would be giving away 10,000 bottles of the sauce to customers.

The giveaway started a frenzy for the bottles, with some being listed on eBay for as much as $10,000.

McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce giveaway comes on the heels of its announcement that it will soon roll out a series of upgrades for its most popular menu items, including the Big Mac and McDouble.

The changes will see the burgers’ buns be “softer” and more “pillowy,” while the cooking process will be adjusted to achieve a better sear on each patty as well as “hotter, meltier cheese.”

McDonald’s says that the Chicago-based fast-food giant is set to make small tweaks and changes to the way the buns, patties and cheese are cooked.

“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 chef Chad Schafer, senior director of culinary innovation of McDonald’s USA, in a statement Monday. 

The chain says the changes are expected to result in softer buns and gooier cheese. White onions will be added to patties while they sear on the grill. On Big Macs, more sauce will be added.

The latest formulations have already been introduced globally, specifically in Australia, Canada and Belgium. If you are on the West Coast, you might have already noticed the changes.

Though the new burger changes will make its official debut in the U.S. later this year, McDonald’s has started introducing it in various cities on the West Coast and in the Southwest. These cities include Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Boise, Idaho; Tucson, Arizona, and the surrounding cities.

By 2024, customers all across the country will be able to “taste the difference” at all McDonald’s locations.

The changes come after McDonald’s earlier this month was expected to close offices ahead of impending layoffs. According to the Associated Press, the company reported its global sales rose nearly 11% in 2022, while sales in the U.S. climbed almost 6%. Total restaurant margins rose 5%. In its latest annual report, it cited difficulties in adequately staffing some of its outlets.

“We’re performing at a high level, but we can do even better,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a Jan. 6 letter to employees. He said the company was divided into silos and that the approach was “outdated and self-limiting.”

In January, McDonald’s said its “Accelerating the Arches” program would focus on “deliveries, Drive Thru, digital and development.”

MORE: Wendy’s to Sell Former McDonald’s Fan Favorite

In the past year, McDonald’s has experimented with adding Krispy Kreme doughnuts to certain locations, welcomed back the McRib and Shamrock Shake, and collaborated with a famed streetwear brand to add adult happy meals to menus.

In 2021, it added three new chicken sandwiches to its list of offerings.

For the past 43 days, the 57-year-old has eaten nothing but McDonald’s — his goal is to eat only from the fast-food chain for 100 days in an effort to lose weight. And he hasn’t faltered once yet.

“If it doesn’t come through a McDonald’s, it’s not going into my body for this 100 days,” he tells TODAY.com. “A birthday cupcake is not going to cause me to not finish this.”

Maginnis’ approach is quite simple: Order three McDonald’s meals a day but only consume half of each meal to reduce caloric intake. He then saves the rest for his next meal.

Since embarking on the challenge in February, Maginnis has lost 33 pounds, and he’s lowered his cholesterol significantly, he says. He’s even convinced another person to join him on the journey: his wife, Melody, who has already dropped 3 pounds.

“She’s Mclovin’ it,” he quips.

The Nashville resident was surprised when his wife recently decided to join him on the 100-day challenge because he hadn’t suggested it.

“Not once did I bring up anything because I’m a smart man,” he says.

But gradually, Melody saw how well her husband was doing and decided to join in.

“I think she’s beautiful now so it’s just the health reasons (that are motivating us),” Maginnis says. We want to get into a better overall healthy weight.”

Since Maginnis first went viral for his unconventional approach to weight loss — which he’s been documenting on TikTok — many people have called his 100-day challenge a “diet,” but he’s quick to clarify that it’s not.

“You can’t call me eating McFlurries and Big Macs and quarter pounders a diet,” he explains.

news Apr 3, 2023

McDonald's Closes Corporate Offices as It Lays Off Hundreds of Workers

news Mar 20, 2023

Big Mac Prices Are Up: Here's How Much You'll Pay for McDonald's Signature Sandwich State by State

Instead of depriving himself of certain foods, the Nashville resident is focused on portion control and only eats when he is physically hungry.

“I wait until I have that actual heat, not my head craving foods but my body actually at that place where it’s really truly hungry,” he says.

Maginnis adds that he’s not bored with the food he’s eating, and he’s hardly been tempted to eat elsewhere since there’s plenty of variety on the McDonald’s menu.

“Hunger, it turns out, is one of the best seasonings you can add to anything,” he says.

Since he’s focused on portion control and not eliminating certain foods from his diet, Maginnis doesn’t have a need for “cheat days.”

“I’m never depriving myself. I’m eating McFurries, I’m eating cinnamon rolls, I’m hitting Big Macs, I’m eating French fries,” he says. “I’m just delaying myself because I’m going eat the whole thing. I’m just not going to eat it all in one sitting.”

Maginnis’ goal is to lose 50 pounds in 100 days, and he’s well on his way to achieving it.

Of course, he’s also aware that he has critics, particularly those in the medical field who have pointed out that eating McDonald’s for 100 days straight isn’t exactly a healthy choice. But he feels strongly that shedding the pounds first is more important for his health than changing the foods he eats.

“Eating different macronutrients that are going to help my brain function — if I’m dead, my brain function is not going to improve, so let’s get rid of this (obesity) killer first,” he says.

Registered dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth previously told TODAY.com that while you can lose weight while eating fast food, some of the ingredients aren’t ideal for a healthy diet.

“Even though Kevin is cutting his meals in half, he’s still getting well over the recommended 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily. One bacon, egg and cheese biscuit contains 1,330 milligrams of sodium, and a Big Mac has over 1,000 milligrams without ketchup or mustard,” she explained.

In addition, Largeman-Roth said Maginnis will eventually need to add physical activity to his regiment once the weight loss plateaus.

“And let’s remember that health isn’t just about the number on the scale. It’s also about cardiovascular health and other measures,” she added.

In the long term, Maginnis agrees that exercise and vitamins are important. But for the remainder of his 100-day challenge, he’s just going to focus on portion control — “and on my body, it seems to be working,” he says.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• 10 years later, magazine cover honoring Boston Marathon bombing victims gets an update
• Man, 38, thought he had a hemorrhoid. It was colon cancer
• At 100, she loves to dance the Tush Push, do yoga, eat chocolate every day

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

On Feb. 28, Bloomberg reported that some McDonald’s franchisees are alleging that the chain’s latest celebrity promotion, the Cardi B & Offset Meal, violates a set of internal rules, known as the “Golden Arches Code.” Because of this, they are calling for McDonald’s to stop selling the meal, claiming that the family-focused restaurant chain partnering with an entertainer whose songs contain profanities and explicit content “will hurt the brand.”

The meal promotion premiered just before the Super Bowl when McDonald’s dropped an ad about the partnership ahead of Valentine’s Day. In the accompanying ad, the couple, who have been married since 2017, share their go-to date-night order.

This includes Cardi B’s order of a cheeseburger paired with BBQ sauce and a large Coca-Cola, and Offset’s preference of a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a large Hi-C Orange Lavaburst. The order also includes an apple pie and a large order of fries to share.

According to a 2021 copy of the internal Golden Arches Code reviewed by Bloomberg, “partnerships with celebrities and influencers that have potential risk to damage our brand based on statements they have made or their positions on certain issues” aren’t permitted by the brand, although the franchisees that have this issue aren’t specific about which positions Cardi B or Offset hold that led them to speak out.

Representatives for Cardi B and Offset did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment.

The code outlines that “music partnerships associated with content that includes offensive language in the lyrics” are also not permitted. It’s worth noting that previous partnerships McDonald’s has had — with BTS, who have used curse words in some songs including “Cypher Pt. 3,” J Balvin, who explores sometimes controversial sexual themes in his music and videos, and “Rick and Morty,” an adult-themed cartoon that has included many instances of “offensive language” — all appear to violate this code.

“It’s kind of a culture-shock thing when you consider the McDonald’s brand over the years,” Dick Adams, a former McDonald’s restaurant owner and consultant to franchisees, told Bloomberg. “Especially if you’re a franchisee and you’re 50 or 60 years old and you don’t have any kids and haven’t been exposed to any types of these lyrics.”

According to a copy of the Golden Arches Code acquired by Business Insider in 2020, the global set of marketing, advertising, legal and trademark policies has quite a few interesting rules. One rule states that Ronald McDonald “cannot be shown in or visit a nightclub or lounge,” and another bans the use of the nickname “Ronnie,” but many other rules cover trademarks, logo colors and more. 

When reached for comment, a rep for McDonald’s USA confirmed that the negative feedback is coming from a small group of franchisees and is not representative of the widespread support and excitement it’s seen among franchisees across the country.

“McDonald’s stands behind our partnership with Cardi B and Offset. They have been incredible partners and we support them as a family,” the rep told TODAY.com in a statement.

The brand also noted that safety is a top priority, adding that it is always thoughtful in what it posts on McDonald’s channels and careful to avoid language that might offend.

“Across our marketing, we’re focused on putting McDonald’s at the center of culture. Artist collabs have helped reignite fans’ love for our food and fueled significant business momentum, both for the company and our restaurant owner/operators,” Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA’s chief marketing and customer experience officer tells TODAY.com in an emailed statement. “And the reason they’ve been so successful is that our partners are real fans of the brand themselves — that authenticity is our secret sauce.” 

The company also said that it partnered with Cardi & Offset because it believes they’ll help drive excitement for the brand, adding that it has seen significant buzz around the new campaign. 

Previous “famous tray” partnerhips have driven major business to the company. In fact, the Travis Scott Meal, which included a Quarter Pounder with bacon and cheese, fries and a Sprite, was so popular it caused burger shortages in 2020.

In 2021, the BTS Meal resulted in significant increases in Chicken McNuggets sales. And in 2022, the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box (aka the Adult Happy Meal) helped drive the highest weekly digital transactions ever for McDonald’s in the States. That partnership even led some customers to list the free toys included in the meal on eBay for exorbitant sums of money after the meal swiftly sold out.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Margaret Atwood said she’d never write a memoir. Why she changed her mind
• Chance the Rapper shares a hot fact about famous red chairs on ‘The Voice’
• Ms. Rachel returns to social media with honest message about ‘boundaries’

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

For the fiscal fourth quarter, McDonald’s reported earnings per share of $2.59 on $5.93 billion in revenue. That compares with earnings per share of $2.45 on $5.68 billion of revenue Wall Street expected, according to Refinitiv.

The fast-food giant also reported an increase in customer visits to its domestic restaurants and a 10.3% uptick in U.S. sales, driven by higher menu prices and increased demand. Global same-store sales rose 12.6% in the quarter.

“Overall, the consumer, whether it’s in Europe or in the U.S., is actually holding up better than what we would have probably expected a year ago or six months ago,” said CEO Chris Kempczinski on the company’s conference call Tuesday morning.

What this means for investors

Despite the fast-food chain beating analysts’ expectations, Kempczinski gave a cautious outlook for 2023. The company expects short-term inflation to continue this year, but executives believe that inflation has likely peaked in the U.S.

Looking further into 2023, McDonald’s is planning to open 1,900 new restaurants, including more than 400 located in the U.S.

On Jan. 31, McDonald’s shares dipped slightly after it reported its latest quarterly earnings. Shares closed lower by about 1.3%, ending the session at $267.40 per share.

Here’s how much money you’d have as of Feb. 1, 2023 if you had invested $1,000 into the company one, five and 10 years ago.

If you had invested $1,000 into McDonald’s a year ago, you’d have about $1,066 as of Feb. 1, according to CNBC’s calculations.

If you had invested $1,000 into McDonald’s five years ago, you’d see a slightly higher return on your investment and have about $1,695 as of Feb. 1, according to CNBC’s calculations.

And if you had given your $1,000 investment into McDonald’s a decade to grow, it would be worth about $3,270 as of Feb. 1, according to CNBC’s calculations.

Investors should do their research

Whether you’re investing $1,000 in Target, Apple or other individual stocks, it’s important to remember that a stock’s past performance doesn’t necessarily predict how well it may perform in the future.

Rather than attempting to select individual stocks, a passive investment strategy tends to make sense for most investors. Experts generally recommend investing in low-cost index funds, which are automatically diversified.

The S&P 500, a market index that tracks the stock performance of large American publicly traded companies, can be a great way to get started.

As of Feb. 1, the S&P 500 declined by more than 9% compared to 12 months ago, according to CNBC’s calculations. However, the index has increased by about 44% since 2018, and grown by about 170% since 2013.

Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter

Don’t miss: ‘Your Rich BFF’ shares 3 ways to be smarter and more successful with money in 2023

The Chicago-based fast-food chain just launched a superhero-inspired Happy Meal collaboration with Marvel Studios.

Each meal is bundled with one of 10 toys based on a range of characters from the film.

McDonald’s even dropped new boxes for the occasion.

“The first ‘Black Panther’ movie inspired a new generation of Marvel lovers — and that’s because of the powerful story it told … .” Jennifer Healan, vice president of U.S. marketing, brand content and engagement at McDonald’s, said in a statement released Tuesday. “It set a whole new standard for representation on the big screen. And now, we’re excited to bring that experience to our restaurants and help fans see and celebrate their inner hero with this new Happy Meal — because seeing is believing.”

The meal is available now for a limited time while supplies last at participating restaurants nationwide.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, the movie starring Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright will premiere in theaters on Nov. 11.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

A boneless pork patty dipped in tangy BBQ sauce, the sandwich debuted 40 years ago in 1982. Referred to as “BBQ pork sandwich perfection” on the McDonald’s website, the McRib is served with slivered onion and dill pickles on a toasted homestyle bun.

If you’ve thought about trying one, but maybe didn’t get around to it, this could possibly be your last chance.

On its website, McDonald’s encouraged people to “get one while you can,” explaining “this is the McRib Farewell Tour.” Whether that means the McRib is not coming back ever remains unclear.

You can order the McRib in the McDonald’s app for delivery or pick-up through Nov. 20.

The fast food chain’s iconic Halloween pails will return to its restaurants Tuesday – just in time for trick-or-treating. The pails, also known to many as “Boo Buckets,” come in either white, orange or green.

The festive buckets will be available at participating McDonald’s locations through Oct. 31 while supplies last.

If you’re looking to get one – whether for yourself, children or grandchildren – it’s pretty easy.

All you’ll have to do is purchase a Happy Meal and choose from either a hamburger, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets. Your meal will be delivered in the pail, which you’ll get instead of a typical Happy Meal toy.

Even after Halloween comes and goes, your pail can still serve a purpose.

McDonald’s shared a photo showing some of the creative ways you can put your pail to good use and “keep their spooky spirit alive” long past October.

Suggestions include creating planters, turning the pails into drums and even using them as home décor.

The world’s largest hamburger chain revealed the collectible buckets will be available nationwide starting Oct. 18 and will continue until the haunted holiday or while supplies lasts.

The Halloween trio known as McBoo, McPunk’n and McGoblin was first introduced in 1986 and continued for roughly 30 years before the tradition was buried.

Despite whispers in the lead-up to October, McDonald’s has avoided confirming the buckets’ resurrection — until now.

The Chicago-based chain also announced it is “serving up five fan-inspired ways to reuse your Halloween Pail after you’ve enjoyed the delicious eats inside,” revealing that fans have used them to pot plants or to accessorize.

It marks the second Happy Meal announcement in recent weeks for McDonald’s.

Last week, the chain started serving Happy Meals for adults.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Beginning Oct. 3, McDonald’s will launch a new Happy Meal — geared toward adults — as part of a collaboration with streetwear fashion label Cactus Plant Flea Market, according to a press release.

“We’re taking one of the most nostalgic McDonald’s experiences and literally repackaging it in a new way that’s hyper-relevant for our adult fans,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer.

The new-yet-nostalgic meal, dubbed the Cactus Plant Flea Box, will be available for a limited time and gives a more mature McDonald’s fan the option of ordering either a Big Mac or a 10-piece Chicken McNugget, complete with fries and a drink.

And, of course, there’s a treat.

Each meal will contain one of four collectible figurines “made just for the Cactus Plant Flea Market box,” McDonald’s says. While three of the toys may be more recognizable — Grimace, the Hamburglar and Birdie — a new one, named Cactus Buddy! will also make an appearance.

According to McDonald’s, those who purchase a Cactus Plant Flea Box via the McDonald’s app will be automatically entered into a weekly sweepstakes to win exclusive collaboration merchandise, including T-shirts, other apparel, and a piece of furniture called the “Grimace Chair.”

Cactus Plant Flea Market boxes will be available for a limited time only, while supplies last, the release says.

Starting on Sept. 14, McDonald’s will begin serving a cheese Danish as a limited-time offering. The flaky pastry, originally served by the chain in the 1980s, will feature a sweet cream cheese filling with a buttery streusel and light vanilla drizzle.

The treat joins other bakery items at McDonald’s, including cinnamon rolls, apple fritters and blueberry muffins that were initially introduced in 2020.

The addition comes as other fast food chains have revamped their breakfast options. Wendy’s recently added French toast sticks to their breakfast menu, tapping into nostalgia with kids heading back to school.

It’s currently unknown how long the cheese Danish will stick around on the menu.