There’s buzz in the burger world that McDonald’s is working on something big.
Ian Broden, CFO of the global fast-food chain, said last week that the restaurant has plans to launch a “larger satiating burger,” the food-forward website delish reported.
The move comes amid news that inflation-weary customers in big markets are opting to eat out less.
“The consumer is certainly being very discriminating in how they spend their dollar,” McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in an April conference call with investors. “It may be more pronounced with lower-income consumers, but it’s important to recognize that all income cohorts are seeking value.”
Traffic at fast-food restaurants in the first quarter of the year was either flat or down in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Japan, the Associated Press reported.
During the call to investors, Kempczinski said Mickey D’s needs a “nationwide value message,” which could be good news for consumers where the price of the soon to be launched “larger satiating burger” is concerned.
The CEO pointed out that in some markets McDonald’s is losing out to its competition on the perception of value and affordability, noting that Wendy’s currently offers free French fries to customers that buy a medium burger.
In January, the higher-ups at the Golden Arches brought back the Double Big Mac.
The bigger version of the famous Big Mac includes four beef patties, more Big Mac sauce and double portion of pickles, shredded lettuce, finely chopped onions and more house between a sesame seed bun.
The Double Big Mac originally debuted on menus in 2020, along with the Little Mac. McDonald’s has sold different versions of the Big Mac in the past.
As for this latest and yet to be seen creation, Borden said the fast-food company plans to test the offering in just a few markets later this year to ensure “it has universal appeal before scaling” it globally.
Whether Southern California will be lucky enough to be one of the test markets has yet to be determined.
What is almost certain, though, is that the name of the new McDonald’s menu item will not be “larger satiating burger.”
The AP contributed to this article.