Salads Disappear from US McDonald's... Focusing on Popular Menu Items Amid Profitability Decline

Eliminate Unprofitable Healthy Menus and Restore Fast Food Identity

McDonald's [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] McDonald's, a leading fast-food chain in the United States, is discontinuing the sale of its healthy menu items.

According to Bloomberg on the 10th (local time), McDonald's made this decision to increase service speed and improve profitability.

As a result of this decision, about 10 menu items such as salads, grilled chicken burgers, and fruit yogurt parfaits will be removed from 14,000 McDonald's locations across the U.S. Instead, McDonald's plans to focus on selling traditional popular menu items like hamburgers, fried chicken, and McFlurry.

The main purpose of McDonald's policy is to resolve labor shortages caused by the aftermath of COVID-19 and improve profits. They aim to increase operational efficiency by eliminating healthy menu items that require long preparation times but have low demand.

However, the removal of healthy menu items will only apply within the United States. Salads will continue to be sold at stores in Italy and the Netherlands, and oyster sticks will remain available at stores in the United Kingdom.

McDonald's stated, "Removing unpopular products from the menu will greatly help simplify store operations and improve the customer experience."

Franchise owners of McDonald's welcome the company's new strategy. The National Owners Association (NOA) said, "Healthy menu items require more effort and longer preparation times but have low demand," adding, "Simplifying the menu will improve service quality and speed."

Local media also evaluated that removing poorly selling healthy menu items from McDonald's will enhance profitability, and McDonald's stock investors will be pleased.

Tom Cook, CEO of restaurant consulting firm King-KC, said, "McDonald's healthy menu items were effective in improving corporate image but did not significantly help sales performance." Peter Sale, an analyst at financial services firm BTIG LLC, stated, "It is highly likely that healthy menu items will not return to McDonald's for the time being, which will strengthen the company's profitability."

The discontinued menu items also included products high in calories and salt content. McDonald's reiterated, "Removing unpopular products from the menu will greatly help simplify store operations and improve the customer experience."

Meanwhile, Burger King also removed salad menus from its U.S. stores last December, and other restaurants in the U.S. have been reducing the number of menu items offered since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to market research firm Datasensial, the number of menu items at restaurants has decreased by an average of more than 10% since COVID-19, and last year, 6 out of 10 restaurants reduced the number of items in appetizers, desserts, and beverages by an average of 37%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.