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McDonald's has quietly launched a new, bigger burger - but there's a catch
McDonald's much-anticipated new, bigger burger has already hit selected restaurants as part of a trial.
The Big Arch is being lined up as the fast-food giant's first new permanent, worldwide product since Chicken McNuggets in 1983.
CEO Chris Kempczinski unveiled details of the Big Arch on Monday. The new burger will feature two patties, melted cheese, 'crispy toppings,' and a 'tangy McDonald's sauce.'
'It's a quintessential McDonald's burger with a twist on our iconic, familiar flavors,' he told analysts as the company revealed its first fall in sales since Covid.
The burger includes crispy and sliced fresh onions, three slices of white processed cheese, pickles and lettuce - and a brand new Big Arch sauce.
But there is a big catch for Americans - it is yet to go on sale here.
McDonald's Big Arch burger has finally been unveiled
The Big Arch is being tested in three countries including Canada and Portugal - but not yet America, in a blow to fast food fans in by far McDonald's biggest market.This test will run through the end of next month.
It is understood McDonald's will try it in different markets too over the next year before deciding for sure to roll it out globally.
Based on feedback, they may tweak the size, recipe and price if needed.
But experts said the fact that company bosses were happy to talk about it to analysts on Monday showed they were happy with the initial response.
Bosses had already said they think customers want better value - so they are pushing the new larger burger that they promise will offer 'superior value' to anything at rivals.
In Canada, a Big Arch meal - with a drink and fries - was $12.59 at one of the selection test locations in Ontario. That is about $9 in the US.
Currently, McDonald's most substantial single-patty burger is the Quarter Pounder, which competes roughly with Burger King's Whopper.
In December, the company's CEO Chris Kempczinski said the planned bigger burger won't break the bank: 'We think we're going to be able to deliver a great tasting large burger at a superior value to what customers can get anywhere else.'
Currently, McDonald's most substantial single-patty burger is the Quarter Pounder, which competes roughly with Burger King's Whopper.
Although both are made up of patties that are claimed to weigh four ounces before they are cooked, the Whopper has 670 calories while the McDonald's Quarter Pounder with cheese contains just 520 calories.
Fast food restaurants in California have been raising menu prices in recent months after a state-mandated rise in the minimum wage to $20-an-hour for those working in the sector.
McDonald's has experimented with bigger burgers before - but by offering larger versions of what it has on offer.
In January, the Double Big Mac - which has four beef patties instead of two and extra sauce - returned for a limited time. It cost around $7 and was a hit while on sale for a month.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said the burger will break the bank
McDonald's is bringing back the Double Big Mac on January 24 - but it could just be for a limited time
McDonald's is opening CosMc - a spinoff which focuses more on coffee and drinks than food
McDonald's has also started rolling out CosMc - a spinoff which focuses more on coffee and drinks than food and which is said to be Starbucks-inspired. It was so busy that cars lined up for hours when it first opened.
The first is in Bolingbrook, Illinois. A further nine are set to launch by the end of 2024, with one located in Dallas-Fort Worth and another in San Antonio.
McDonald's new bigger burger is part of its plan to attract customers back.
The chain on Monday had reported a surprise fall in sales in the April to June quarter - as customers cut down on trips to the fast food giant.
Americans placed fewer orders than a year ago - meaning sales were down by nearly one per cent. Globally, sales fell by a similar amount.
The Chicago burger giant introduced a $5 meal deal at US restaurants - either a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink - on June 25 as part of its plan to lure back value-conscious customers.
That offer was only live for about a week of the financial reporting period - so its effects will be seen in the next quarter.
Across the board, chains are reeling from falling customer numbers as Americans fed up with two years of price rises stay away - so are rolling out all these offers.
Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal - offering four items like McDonald's - was the first to hit restaurants in June.
Wendy's has a $3 breakfast offer and also a four-item $5 meal similar to McDonald's and BK's.
Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5.