Introduction
In recent years, fast-food restaurants have been trying to keep up with the ever-changing tastes of their customers. Unfortunately, not all of these attempts have been successful. In this article, we will take a look at four recent fast-food launches that flopped, according to customers. We will examine why these products failed to meet customer expectations and what lessons can be learned from these experiences. We will also provide some tips on how to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. So, let’s get started!
4 Recent Fast-Food Launches That Flopped, According to Customers — Eat This Not That
Fast-food restaurants are constantly trying to come up with new menu items to keep customers interested. But not all of these new items are a hit with customers. Here are four recent fast-food launches that flopped, according to customers.
1. McDonald’s McPick 2 for $5
McDonald’s McPick 2 for $5 was a promotion that allowed customers to choose two menu items for just $5. However, customers found the selection of items to be too limited and the prices to be too high. As a result, the promotion was quickly discontinued.
2. Burger King’s Satisfries
Burger King’s Satisfries were an attempt to offer a healthier alternative to traditional french fries. The fries were made with a different batter that was supposed to make them lower in fat and calories. Unfortunately, customers found the fries to be too dry and flavorless, and the promotion was quickly discontinued.
3. Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger
Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger was an attempt to offer a unique twist on the classic cheeseburger. The burger featured a pretzel bun, bacon, and cheese. Unfortunately, customers found the burger to be too dry and the pretzel bun to be too hard. As a result, the burger was quickly discontinued.
4. Taco Bell’s Quesalupa
Taco Bell’s Quesalupa was an attempt to offer a unique twist on the classic taco. The taco featured a cheese-filled shell and was filled with beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Unfortunately, customers found the taco to be too greasy and the cheese-filled shell to be too soggy. As a result, the taco was quickly discontinued.
These are just a few of the recent fast-food launches that flopped, according to customers. It’s important to remember that not all new menu items will be a hit with customers. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, it’s best to do your research first.
With summer nearly here, fast-food chains have been kicking menu innovation into high gear. In the past four weeks (or so) alone: McDonald’s debuted a new pretzel-flavored McFlurry, Chipotle added Pollo Asado to its menu, Chick-fil-A launched its limited-time Cloudberry Sunjoy drink, and Starbucks announced a new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew.
But not all product launches are created equal, and the past month or two has seen just as many flops as successes in the quick-service industry. Here’s a look at four of the biggest “swing-and-a-miss” fast-food launches, according to customers.
And don’t miss 5 Outdated Burger Chains Attempting to Make a Comeback.
Arby’s new Wagyu Steakhouse Burger debuted on Monday, pitched to consumers as a higher quality alternative to “mediocre fast-food burgers.” In its 58 years of business, Arby’s has never attempted a burger before, so the release of the Wagyu Steakhouse was a historical moment for the brand.
The premium burger’s patty is 52% American Wagyu and 48% ground beef, and is cooked using a Sous Vide technique, giving it a “slightly pink center.”
Early reviews have taken issue with the patty, however, with customers complaining of an “odd” and “slimy” texture. The Washington Post described the beef as “gummy” and “too compact,” while The Takeout found that the Wagyu lacked the promised pink interior.
Issues with the beef’s consistency and color may be due to the sous vide cooking technique, which involves cooking the beef at a controlled temperature. As the Washington Post points out, Arby’s kitchens aren’t equipped with grills, so the much-hyped sous vide preparation is really more of a workaround than anything else—and a disappointing one at that!
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Taco Bell brought back its fan-favorite Mexican Pizza earlier this month following a two-year hiatus, and hype for the re-release couldn’t have been greater. Taco Bell fans have been demanding Mexican Pizza’s return almost non-stop since its retirement, flooding the “Save The Mexican Pizza” Change.org petition with over 170 thousand signatures and heckling Taco Bell on Twitter. Along the way, celebrities like Doja Cat and Dolly Parton have lent their support to the cause.
But when the fan-favorite item finally returned on May 19, it wasn’t exactly how fans remembered it. Many found the crust to be different: not as savory or flaky as it used to be, but soggy and lacking crunch.
A reviewer for The Street observed that the new shell has “less of the lip-smacking flavor of the original” and is “a bit more flour heavy.” A disappointing conclusion to a two-year wait, but them’s the beans.
For the release of its Whopper Melt line, Burger King took its cue from Taco Bell’s Chicken Taco campaign, inviting customers to debate whether the Whopper Melt—a handheld sandwich—was “really a Whopper.”
The Whopper Melt is served on toast and straddles the line between a patty melt and a classic BK Whopper—so in theory, there’s plenty of room for debate as to its correct categorization.
But the gimmick backfired, with many customers feeling that the Whopper Melt was smaller than marketed and had been falsely advertised as equal in size to a standard Whopper.
There were also complaints about the “toast”: customers shared photos of Whopper Melts served on what looks like straight-out-of-the-bag Wonder Bread, and others took issue with the bread’s slice size and flavor (which The Washington Post found to be too sweet). Overall, the Whopper Melt failed to melt customers’ hearts.
Almost three years after the debut of its Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Popeyes surprised fans with an update of the classic menu item: the new Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich. The limited-time release offers a spicy take on the chain’s most famous sandwich, bringing the same crispy chicken filet customers love but coating it with a creamy herb buttermilk ranch and buffalo sauce.
Three weeks into its release, customers are still divided on the new sandwich. Some have given it high praise, calling it “delicious,” “fire emojii” and “a good choice for lunch.” But others have pointed out that the LTO is little more than a sauce swap—a lazy re-release of the standard sandwich, dressed up with a few tablespoons of Buffalo Ranch.
In fact, according to some, the new sandwich is indistinguishable from Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Thrillist’s Janae Price offered a similar review, admitting that, if asked to differentiate between the two sandwiches in a blindfold taste test, she would not be able to.
Owen Duff