Introduction
McDonald’s recently released a new burger, but unfortunately, sales have been underwhelming. According to an expert from Eat This Not That, the burger is not living up to expectations. In this article, we will explore why the burger has not been selling well and what McDonald’s can do to improve its sales. We will also look at what other fast food restaurants are doing to make their burgers more appealing to customers.
Sales of This New Burger at McDonald’s Have Been Underwhelming, Says Expert — Eat This Not That
McDonald’s recently released a new burger, but according to one expert, the sales have been underwhelming. The fast-food giant has been trying to keep up with the changing tastes of consumers, but this new burger may not be the answer.
The burger in question is the McPlant, a plant-based patty that was released in select markets in the United States. The burger is made with a vegan patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions, and is served on a sesame seed bun. It is meant to be a healthier alternative to the traditional beef patty.
However, according to Darren Tristano, executive vice president of foodservice insights at Technomic, the sales of the McPlant have been underwhelming. Tristano said that the burger has not been as popular as McDonald’s had hoped, and that the chain needs to do more to promote the product.
Tristano believes that McDonald’s needs to focus on marketing the McPlant as a healthier alternative to its traditional burgers. He also suggested that the chain should offer more plant-based options, such as salads and wraps, to appeal to a wider range of customers.
McDonald’s has been trying to keep up with the changing tastes of consumers, but it appears that the McPlant may not be the answer. If the chain wants to stay competitive, it needs to focus on marketing the McPlant as a healthier alternative and offer more plant-based options.
Vegetarians may have to continue avoiding McDonald’s in the United States—at least for now.
After disappointing sales during test runs, the McPlant burger will likely not have its chance to shine on national menus this year, a BTIG analyst says.
Surprising? Perhaps not. A note from BTGI’s Peter Saleh says the McPlant burger—which launched in small markets in the United States, as well as Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, and the U.K. since its introduction in 2020—is not garnishing the fame lavished upon the McRib, the Egg McMuffin, or the crispy chicken sandwich during their first debut.
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On average, only about 13 McPlant burgers ($5.49 each, compared with the $4.69 Big Mac in that market) were ordered daily in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (the goal was 40 to 60), while sales in San Francisco fell in the low end of the 125-300 sandwiches per week prediction.
“Demand was practically non-existent in more rural East Texas at a few sandwiches per day,” Saleh wrote in the report.
While it did well in early testing, with sales of 70 per day in eight locations, the plant-based burger hasn’t lived up to expectations, especially outside urban areas.
The McPlant is made with Beyond Meat and consists of a bun (most likely cooked on the same griddle as the regular meat burgers), cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and mayo sauce. Starting in January, McDonald’s will be offering a slightly different version of the sandwich: A 100% vegan McPlant, which has a vegan bun cooked on its own grill and comes sans cheese.
Still, plant-based options are far from totally written off at Mickey D’s, and customers can always hop over the pond if they’re craving a McPlant or head to rival Burger King, the home of the Impossible Whopper (the patty is cooked on the same broiler as its beef counterparts).
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Danielle Braff