Latest news with #CosMc
News.com.au
06-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
CosMc's: McDonald's wild burgerless new concept baffling customers
A McDonald's without burgers seems a ludicrous idea. Like Bondi Beach without backpackers; or a Melbourne day with fewer than four seasons. And yet, on the outskirts of Chicago, there is exactly that: a Macca's without a pattie in sight. No Quarter Pounders, no McChickens, not even a hint of a fry, French or otherwise. This is CosMc's: a bold experiment by McDonald's to capture consumers who are less into Happy Meals and more into the sugary desserts masquerading as drinks that you might find at Starbucks. Selflessly, here at we've tried some of this espresso slushies and neon cordials as well as the decidedly un-Macca's like bites, so you know what they're actually like. And some of the food items in particular are so fast-food fab, after trying one you wouldn't mind if you never ate a Big Mac again. Not everyone is convinced though, with one Macca's lover telling they 'drove off' when they saw it wasn't the real deal. 'The premium beverage space has been growing, and McDonald's wants to play in the arena,' a retail analyst told But, he warned, success will be 'hard to accomplish' and, so far, the signs for McDonald's new chain are patchy at best. There are growing signs that CosMc's could end up being a failed experiment. CosMc's first outpost On the side of a highway in Bolingbrook, Illinois, an hour west of Chicago deep in suburbia, is a very standard McDonald's. Its drive-through and kids playground wouldn't look out of place on the side of any main road in Australia. Next to it though is something notable. On the site of a former rotisserie chicken restaurant is a mutant Macca's: CosMc's. The famous golden arches logo is there, but it's subtle. The store is not painted red and yellow, but vibrant purple and yellow. It has a kind of 1950s Jetson's space age quality about it. The name is derived from 'CosMc's' a McDonald's mascot from TV commercials in the late 1980s, a robot with eight arms and a weakness for stealing hamburgers. It's here that the burger king wants in on coffee. While Macca's sells some basic beverages, people don't make a beeline for McDonald's when they want a sugary slushie espresso. Indeed, Starbucks has around 16,000 outlets in the US outnumbering McDonald's 13,500. CosMc's, McDonald's hopes, could change all that. 'McDonald's core business in the US is a mature and saturated business and that limits growth,' Neil Saunders, the managing director, retail, of US research from Global Data, told 'CosMc's operates in a completely different segment – the popular and fast-growing beverage space – and McDonald's wants to see if it can grab some share of that market'. Drinks are very sweet, food is spicy When the first CosMc's opened, just over a year ago, McDonalds's said the new sub-brand was 'rooted in beverage exploration, with bold and unexpected flavour combinations, vibrant colours and functional boosts'. What that manifests itself on the menu is an eclectic range of slightly bonkers drinks. Perhaps an Iced French Toast Galaxy Latte? An Iced Turmeric Spiced Latte? Too normal sounding for you? CosMc's also offers the Sea Salted Caramelactic Shaken Espresso. Dazzling in an orangey pink hue is the Island Pick-Me-Up Punch, consisting of 'punched up' berry flavoured 'powered' lemonade with dried strawberries? All 'natural,' the description assures. Then there's Sprite Moonsplash and Pomegranate Hibiscus Slush. tried the bright purple Tropical Spiceade. Tropical is a vague flavour. In reality it was a not very spice berry cordial. Sweet was the overwhelming taste. The Churro Cold Brew Frappe was a cold creamy – and very sweet – Frappuccino adjacent brew which doesn't taste of churros so much but does have a hint of cinnamon Many of the drinks simply seemed to exist to be colourful and sweet – there was little to differentiate them aside from the hue. You'll give up Big Macs for this The food was more interesting. Apple cinnamon pops were little doughnut balls which were, no surprise, sweet, but they had nice tangy burst of viscous apple sauce. The closet you'll get to classic Macca's fare is a creamy avocado tomatillo sandwich. Tomatillos are a Mexican fruit used in salsas. And it turns a bite that could have a passing resemblance to a bland bacon and egg McMuffin into a spicy delight within a brioche bun. It's got a kick and I'd happily kick a Big Mac to the kerb for good if these were readily available. Other choices are less successful. The pretzel bites are bland – warmed dough with chunky salt crystals. But, then, that's pretzels for you. But a spicy, creamy queso dip livens it up. 'I drove off' But customers appear to be confused as to whether it's a Macca's or not. 'I thought it was McDonald's,' one CosMc's customer remarked. 'But then I saw the menu and drove off.' This could be an issue, said Global Data's Mr Saunders. 'CosMc's needs to stand on its own and not be compared to McDonald's as it's a completely separate proposition. 'The market is saturated with choice, so CosMc's will need to establish itself. 'It needs to become a part of people's routines and that can be hard to accomplish. 'At the moment it is still seen as something of a novelty; it needs to move beyond that.' Mr Saunders added that 'constrained consumer finances' likely 'will not be good for discretionary spending on expensive beverages'. Just look at Starbucks. In the first three months of 2025, its sales fell 2 per cent in the US. It's put in place a turnaround plan. Awkwardly for CosMc's that has actually seen it axe the number of sweet, creamy drinks after customers who simply wanted, you know, a coffee complained they were awaiting while sugar caffeine cocktails were whipped up. Worrying signs for CosMc's McDonald's, if anything, is doing it worst. Its US sales fell 3.6 per cent during the same period as consumers slowed down their splurging – even on fast food. In January, it said it would close three of its larger CosMc's locations. There were only eight in total to begin with. Aside from the Illinois outpost, they are all now in Texas in and around Dallas and San Antonino. The fast food firm said the smaller branches allowed it to 'test new, unique circumstances that are reflective of our customer base'. Just this month, CosMc's said the CosMc's Club loyalty program would shutter – hardly a sign that brand is thriving. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski has now revealed that some of CosMc's beverages will be added to the main Macca's menu in the US. The Sour Energy Burst and Sprite Moonshine could be sold alongside Fanta and Coke. So is CosMc's just a test bed of its big brother after all? A mini Macca's of bonkers beverages and intriguing eats to see what customers really want? Mr Saunders wasn't so sure saying he saw 'little mileage' in having a small, expensive, chain simply as a testing ground for new drinks. 'McDonald's is still in the experimental phase of CosMc's. 'Over the next few years, they will either scale it (up),' he said. 'Or they will drop it.'
News.com.au
06-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
McDonald's launches new outlet without burgers
Macca's is playing down the significance of CosMc's insisting it's just a 10 store trial. But, the Chicago based firm has hinted that if it works, it could go global – including to Australia which is one of McDonald's leading markets.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's Is Discontinuing These Menu Items—but It's Not All Bad
McDonald's just announced a big change that'll impact several of its store locations. The news follows insights shared earlier this year by McDonald's CEO about plans to introduce CosMc's-inspired beverages to its 2023, McDonald's debuted a new spin-off restaurant focused on specialty beverages in Illinois. Although customers reported hours-long wait times, bribes, and what seemed like an endless line of cars, that didn't dampen the mood—fans were overall very excited to be at the world's very first CosMc's. Named after a long-forgotten mascot from McDonaldland, CosMc's opening signaled a new turn for the Golden Arches. With a vibrant menu that featured several first-of-their-kind drinks, like the Churro Cold Brew Frappé, CosMc's debut solidified McDonald's position as a worthwhile competitor to beverage giants like Starbucks and Dunkin'. But now, that's all about to change. McDonald's has announced it will be closing all five of its CosMc's locations—but there is a silver lining to all this. According to a statement by McDonald's, CosMc's locations will start closing on a rolling basis beginning late June, and it will also discontinue service on the CosMc's app. With an extensive beverage menu that ranges from iced tea to coffee, lemonade, smoothies, and frappés, CosMc's offerings are bold, eclectic, and, to no surprise, quickly became fan favorites. If you aren't able to try any of its innovative drinks like the Popping Pear Slush, a prickly pear-flavored slushie topped with popping candy, before it closes, there is some good news. Although CosMc's stores are closing, McDonald's said that the concept behind CosMc's was as a "launchpad for learning" that was developed to "test new, bold flavors" and explore McDonald's potential in the specialty beverages sector. "Building on the insights gained from the pilot standalone locations," the announcement reads. "CosMc's-inspired flavors will be landing at McDonald's as part of the upcoming US beverage test, seamlessly blending out of this world tastes into the McDonald's experience." The news confirms what McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski had revealed during the fast food giant's 2025 Q1 Earnings Call earlier this year, when Kempczinski briefly mentioned that McDonald's will be expanding its beverage menu. It's hard to tell whether McDonald's will roll out CosMc's beverages one-to-one in its stores, but the announcement signals a new beginning for the Golden Arches. Here's hoping we'll soon be able to grab otherworldly sips like the Iced French Toast Galaxy Latte alongside the new McCrispy Strips, all from one place. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's is killing its Starbucks and Dunkin' competitor CosMc
McDonald's announced over the holiday weekend that the five stand-alone CosMc's locations it operates will shut their doors starting in late June as part of what the company called the 'next testing phase.' 'Building on the insights gained from the pilot standalone locations, CosMc's-inspired flavors will be landing at McDonald's as part of the upcoming US beverage test,' McDonald's also said. Still, when the chain launched with fanfare in late 2023, some predicted it was trying to bring the fight to Starbucks (SBUX) and Dunkin by offering more customizable coffee options. And even as recently as January, McDonald's teased that two new locations were planned for Texas. In the opening month of operations, data found that the first location in Bolingbrook, Illinois, doubled the visits typical for a McDonald's location. 'It was immediately apparent how much interest CosMc's was drawing, as the drive-thru lane spanned roughly 80 vehicles upon arrival,' according to The Anchor, content hub, upon visiting the store in January of 2024. Brand strategist Reilly Newman told Quartz that he was a fan of the CosMc concept but that the already saturated marketplace doomed the attempt at a new entry. 'The brand was very iconic and well done, but I believe the attempt to enter the beverage market was simply too tight with strong brands like Starbucks, Dunkin', Dutch Bros (BROS), and even 7-Eleven making strides on all fronts,' Newman said. Newman also said that with five locations the concept was clearly still just in the 'testing' phase, but the chain will be able to use what it learned and incorporate it into the main brand. 'The CosMc's brand may not be worth its own store, but the 'mode' that CosMc's can capture would be worth wrapping within the McDonald's offering,' Newman noted. 'Allowing CosMc's to be the beverage arm of the McDonald's experience could help elevate beverage perceptions because of the 'niche' to which it would be dedicated. The power here is leveraging sub-brands similar to the strategy Costco (COST), Trader Joe's, and Target (TGT) have proven effective,' Newman said, adding that the experience may also help the concept gain more traction to then roll out smaller footprint storefronts like Dutch Bros and other brands have deployed. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
McDonald's Closes Restaurants, Scraps Starbucks Rival
McDonald's has announced it is closing its CosMc's restaurants, which had been described as an attempt to rival Starbucks, with "CosMc's-inspired flavors" instead being deployed to conventional McDonald's sites as part of an "upcoming U.S. beverage test." Newsweek contacted McDonald's for comment on Monday via email outside of regular office hours. McDonald's announced it was launching standalone CosMc sites, named after a McDonaldland alien mascot, in 2023 with restaurants planned in Illinois and Texas. CosMc focused heavily on hot and cold drinks in a move the BBC suggested was aimed at competing in the "fast-coffee space" with companies such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. Closing its CosMc sites suggests McDonald's has failed to build a competitive rival to these big hitters in the beverage market, though the company insists it will be applying lessons learned to its other restaurants. In a statement released on May 23, McDonald's said that from late June it would be "closing all standalone pilot CosMc's locations on a rolling basis and discontinuing the CosMc's app." However, the company also said that, "building on the insights" it gained from the CosMc pilot, "CosMc's-inspired flavors will be landing at McDonald's as part of the upcoming U.S. beverage test." According to ABC News, McDonald's ended up opening eight CosMc's restaurants or drive-through sites, one near its Chicago headquarters and the other seven in Texas, with an initial plan to open 10 in the Lone Star State. However only five of the CosMc's branches were still open when Friday's announcement was made. The locations focused heavily on drinks such as churro frappé and boba drinks, with a smaller selection of food including McDonald's classics like the McFlurry and McMuffin. However, the launch in December 2023 coincided with a boycott campaign targeted at McDonald's after a franchise in Israel said it would donate meals to the Israel Defense Forces following the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks. In its statement, McDonald's said: "What started as a belief that McDonald's had the right to win in the fast-growing beverage space quickly came to life as a multi-location, small format, beverage-focused concept. It allowed us to test new, bold flavors and different technologies and processes without impacting the existing McDonald's experience for customers and crew. On X, formerly Twitter, David Henkes, a food and beverage industry expert, wrote: "Some of the least surprising news, particularly since they're now rolling many of the innovations into the broad McD system. But that's what an innovation incubator is for." The remaining CosMc's restaurants will now close down. It remains to be seen how many of their products will be introduced to mainstream McDonald's branches as part of the company's upcoming "beverage test." Earlier this month, McDonald's announced it was seeking to recruit "up to 375,000 restaurant employees" across the United States over the summer of 2025. Related Articles Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Custom Mobile McDonald's for Trump VisitMcDonald's Announces Major Hiring BlitzMother's Day 2025: See List of Restaurants With Free Food and DiscountsTeacher Appreciation Week 2025: Few Days Remain to Get Deals, Freebies 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
