McDonald’s confirms ‘menu innovation’ is coming as CEO promises customers will see ‘affordable’ food options
MCDONALD'S has confirmed that American customers will see significant changes to its menu soon.
The fast food giant noted its focus on price management and expanded offerings during an earnings call on Tuesday morning.
Chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski explained that the brand has only recently returned to profit margins consistent with levels before the height of the pandemic in 2020.
He noted on the call that, as a result, McDonald's has "the ability to be thinking about what we do from a value proposition going forward."
That means considering the pricing of core menu items, according to Kempczinski.
The CEO said that the McDonald's USA team would be specifically comparing and evaluating the menu to find "affordable price points that will be attractive to consumers."
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Kempczinski noted further that McDonald's has seen its customers be more choosey with their cash, and along with the price changes, the brand would be adjusting to provide diverse offerings on the menu to continue bringing fans back.
The "menu innovation," as the CEO called it, would be kept secret for now.
"We're seeing our satisfaction scores increase in the US, and then we will, of course, have menu innovation that happens throughout the year," he told investors.
"It's part of what we do."
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Still, he wouldn't reveal the specifics of the menu changes just yet.
"I'm not going to get into detailing exactly what the menu innovation is going to be and when it comes, but certainly you can expect that we will use menu innovation as well as to find ways to engage our customers," Kempczinski added.
McDonald's chief financial officer Ian Borden also echoed Kempczinski's comments about the company's focus moving forward.
Borden said it would be important for the chain to be consistently "getting value and affordability right."
He noted that "entry-level" menu items would need to remain affordable to all McDonald's fans.
"It's making sure that we've got an entry-level meal bundle that's at an affordable — compelling affordable price point and doing that generally with products that consumers know and that we've got strong equity behind," the CFO explained on Tuesday's earnings call.
The comments from executives are likely music to some customers' ears, as several have been calling out alleged price hikes and size reductions of some McDonald's menu offerings.
MENU MADNESS
As The U.S. Sun previously reported, selections like the Filet-O-Fish and McDonald's signature hash browns have come under fire from fans on TikTok this year.
Foodies like Neily Bob (@neilybob) and Paul Desosa (@pauldesosa) made videos showing fellow McDonald's customers the supposed "shrinking" of the Filet-O-Fish.
"It is comically small," Neily claimed.
"What have they done to this iconic sandwich?" Paul asked in his clip.
"This is like a fish slider."
Despite the influencers' claims, a former McDonald's chef backed the brand and noted the size hasn't changed since its inception in the early 1960s.
McDonald's also denied claims of the shrinking Filet-O-Fish.
Other fans claimed a single hash brown at McDonald's cost them $3 in comparison to when it used to be offered for less than $1.
Some also called out a viral McNugget bundle in California that cost $25, dubbing it the "going broke meal."
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For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of why a McDonald's owner is seeking to "fight" a law sparking price increases.
The U.S. Sun also has the story on the drink McDonald's quietly added back to its menu.