And 2023 has been no different.
The result was a focus on elevating crucial menu items and refining digital offerings to make ordering a breeze.
Here are 10 of the big changes McDonald’s ushered in this year.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Goodbye, self-serve drink stations
McDonald’s is officiallyphasing outself-serve drink stations nationwide.
Some stores in the Midwestern states have reportedly already started phasing out self-serve drink stations.
One franchisee owner in IllinoistoldtheState Journal-Registerthat the change is to make room for the growth of digital service.
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Don’t worry about saying goodbye to free refills anytime soon, however.
The country-wide transition won’t be completed until 2032nine years from nowso there’s lots of time to adjust.
By then, maybe robots will serve up the drinks.
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According toBusiness Insider, the company announced it would raise menu prices by around 10% in 2023.
That’s on top of a roughly 10% increase the year before.
These price bumps don’t sit well with low-income diners.
Mohd Syis Zulkipli / Shutterstock
Meanwhile, McDonald’s banked $6.69 billion in revenue in just three months.
That revenue bump was directly attributed to “strategic menu prices,” according to theNew York Post.
The irony was not lost on internet users.
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The chain is ditching the famous hollowed-out spoon, instead opting for a more eco-friendly alternative.
“That’s a win-win in our book.”
The change is part of a larger goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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The McCrispy is born
What’s in a name?
It turns out, a lot.
That simple change even boosted the sandwich’s success.
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One month after the McCrispy came to be, the chainreported “double-digit sales growth"for the sandwich.
Burgers got an upgrade
Why reinvent the wheel?
Big Macs, McDoubles, classic cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers, and hamburgers will all get this special treatment.
Photo: Shutterstock
Meanwhile, the beloved Big Mac will arrive with even more creamy and tangy Mac sauce.
In total, McDonald’s plans to makemore than 50 different burger upgradesby early 2024.
Though there were fans of the sweet breakfast treats, perhaps sales weren’t that great after all.
McDonald’s
Digital ordering got a glow-up
This year, the fast food chain made a big investment in digital strategies.
The chain reported that digital sales account for 40% of systemwide sales across its top six markets.
That means huge investments in kiosks, mobile apps, and new tech for drive-thru customers.
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McDonald’s unique marketing approach paid offwho wouldn’t want to eat like a fave celebrity?
In February 2023, McDonald’s revisited the celebrity meal after skipping it in 2022.
The date-night deal featured each of the married rappers' signature orders.
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(The collab wasnot without controversy.)
The collabs didn’t stop there.
The restructuring was aimed at making operationsmore efficientand streamlined.
Other unfortunate changes included cutting pay and benefits for those who kept their jobs.
If 2023 is any indication, expect more limited edition launches hitting McDonald’s restaurants in 2024.
