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McDonald’s is the latest fast food chain to offer fancier drinks
The chain is targeting a $100 billion beverage market with refreshers, crafted sodas and new employee roles to boost afternoon sales and margins.
- On May 6, McDonald's USA will launch six new crafted beverages across its restaurants, including dirty sodas, refreshers, and cloud iced coffees designed to transform the chain into a beverage destination.
- Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski stated the company is targeting the $100 billion beverage category, which grows faster than casual dining and offers superior profit margins compared to standard fountain drinks.
- To support this shift, McDonald's is adding a "beverage specialist" role across its 14,000 U.S. restaurants, with employees working in dedicated behind-the-counter spaces focusing exclusively on drink preparation.
- Searchlight Marketing founder Cindy Syracuse notes high-margin drinks allow franchisees to subsidize value meals. "Now the franchisees will say, 'OK, I can offer my $5 value meal because I've just picked up this incremental profit from the dirty sodas,'" Syracuse said.
- This pivot follows the closure of eight CosMc's locations last spring, where complex drink recipes proved operationally difficult. The chain is now integrating refined versions of those customizable beverage concepts into its main menu.
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23 Articles
The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)McDonald’s leads fast-food drinks war with new crafted menu
Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings
·London, United Kingdom
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Associated Press News+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
McDonald's is the latest fast food chain to offer fancier drinks
Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings. McDonald’s said Tuesday it will launch six handcrafted beverages in U.S. restaurants on May 6.
·United States
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Washington Top News+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
McDonald’s is the latest fast food chain to offer fancier drinks
Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings. McDonald’s said Tuesday it will launch six crafted beverages in U.S.
·Washington, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left8Leaning Right2Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 38%
C 52%
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