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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Could Gen Z Kill Off the American Hamburger?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The hamburger could be on its way out as its spotlight seems to be being taken over by the rise of chicken sandwiches. Experts who spoke to Newsweek attribute this shift in consumer demand in part to Gen Z's growing interest in sustainability and health. Between 2019 and 2024, approximately 2,800 chicken restaurants opened in the United States, while about 1,200 burger joints shut down, according to The Sunday Times, citing Circana's 2025 trends report. During the same time frame, the consumption of fried chicken sandwiches in restaurants increased by 19 percent nationwide, while the consumption of hamburgers declined by 3 percent. Visits to chicken restaurants have also been outpacing consumer trips to other fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, increasing by 4.3 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024, according to the trends research firm Chicken chains also outperformed other restaurants in 2024 in the hamburger category, according to Circana's 2025 Definitive U.S. Restaurant Ranking Report. To qualify for Circana's Top 50 ranking, a restaurant must have an annual consumer spending of more than $1.35 billion, and McDonald's and Chick-fil-A, both of which sell chicken sandwiches, were two of the restaurants leading the way, generating over $100 billion. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Commenting on the shifting preferences, McDonald's told Newsweek that "chicken remains a major priority for McDonald's." The fast-food chain also pointed Newsweek to CEO Chris Kempczinski's recent message that McDonald's was "excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio and see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026." Kempczinski spoke about the success of the McCrispy, one of the company's chicken sandwiches, which he said is "now in over 70 markets." McDonald's also recently launched the new McCrispy Strips, stating, "We've been listening to our fans on social and beyond, and they have made one thing clear: they want more chicken." The company told Newsweek that it is "exploring exciting chicken LTOs - like the popular Chicken Big Mac that hit U.S. restaurants for a limited time in 2024." Major chicken chains have also noticed this growing demand for chicken burgers, and Amy Alarcon, vice president of Culinary Innovations at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, told Newsweek: "Our chicken sandwiches continue to be a standout menu item for us, they've truly become a cornerstone of the Popeyes line up." She said that since Popeyes launched its chicken sandwich in 2019, they have seen "consistent demand and strong guest loyalty." Alarcon added that they've also expanded the category with "flavor innovations like our Pickle Glazed Chicken Sandwich, which brought a bold flavor twist and drove a lot of excitement." "The appetite for high-quality chicken sandwiches hasn't slowed down, it's only growing," Alarcon said. She added that she thought the growing demand for chicken sandwiches was because flavors can be more creative compared to traditional beef burgers. "The rise of global flavors and premium ingredients has opened up creative territory in the chicken space that's harder to achieve with traditional hamburgers," she said. Given consumers' increasing appetite for chicken sandwiches over burgers, Alarcon said this trend has "reinforced our commitment to continuing innovation in this space. "We're exploring new formats, flavors and builds that stay true to our Louisiana roots but also push boundaries in craveable, exciting and unexpected ways." More broadly, the consumption of chicken has been increasing in the United States, while consumption of beef has declined, as illustrated in the graph below. Discussing the reasons behind the growing consumer demand for chicken over beef, Harry M. Kaiser, a professor of applied economics and management at Cornell University, told Newsweek that, firstly, "chicken is a lot less expensive than beef." "In 2024, the average price of beef was a little over $8 per pound, while the average price of chicken was just under $2 per pound," he said. Secondly, chicken is considered "healthier than beef, and people have become more health-conscious over time," Kaiser said. He added that this could be why a switch to chicken is happening among products like hamburgers, "which have a higher fat content." As the country becomes increasingly weight-conscious, with the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, more Americans seem to be choosing chicken over beef, Jill J. McCluskey, director of the School of Economic Sciences at Washington State University, told Newsweek. She said that she is currently researching "how consumers' grocery store purchases change after starting GLP-1 drugs, for example Ozempic, and chicken purchases increase after the consumer starts these drugs." There also appears to be a sustainability factor behind America's changing consumer demands, as there is "a perception that burgers are unhealthy and bad for the environment," McCluskey said, adding that "chicken is perceived as more sustainable and healthier." This is particularly relevant for Gen Z, she added, as "Gen Z consumers care more about sustainability than past generations." In a 2020 study by First Insight, Inc., 73 percent of Gen Z participants surveyed indicated that they would pay more for sustainable items, with the majority also willing to pay a 10 percent price premium. Gen Z's passion for sustainability was also highlighted in a 2024 report by Innova Market Insights, which found that 34 percent of Gen Z reported being concerned about the planet's health, the highest percentage among any generation surveyed in the report. Kaiser also noted that Gen Z tends to prefer chicken over beef, adding that "younger people eat less meat, and a lot less beef than older generations." According to findings from Technomic's Q4 2023 North American Meat Institute Protein PACT consumer report, cited by National Hog Farmer, 51 percent of Gen Z respondents reported eating more chicken in the past year, which was higher than the average of 41 percent. High-protein diets are a growing preference in the U.S. and were the most followed diet in the country in 2024, according to data from Statista. Given Gen Z's concern for the environment and animal welfare, most people in America who identify as vegetarians fall within that age range, the data said. It suggests that Gen Z generally tends to opt for environmentally friendly meat sources, such as poultry, or refrain from eating meat altogether. McCluskey said that she expected the demand for chicken "to continue to expand, capitalizing on the perception that it is healthier and better for the environment."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hungry after 9 p.m.? McDonald's expanding late night hours in Ohio
**Related Video Above: The fastest fast food drive-thrus of 2024 CLEVELAND (WJW) — It's not always easy finding restaurants serving food past 9 p.m. But for the night owls and second-shift workers among us, McDonald's is listening. The fast food giant recently announced plans to expand hours to midnight and possibly into the early morning hours this summer. The Big Mac was nearly called something entirely different The late-night menu is being offered nationally, including in Northeast Ohio, but every location still is in charge of its own hours. 'While many McDonald's locations in Northeast Ohio may choose to extend their hours during the summer to meet customer demand, hours may vary, and we recommend checking with your local McDonald's to confirm current operating hours,' a spokesperson for Northeast Ohio McDonald's said in a statement to FOX 8 News. Ohio woman wins $80K a year for 25 years: Here's how much she really gets The company continues to hire to keep up with seasonal demand and has also unveiled new menu items, like McCrispy Strips. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- 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
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's extending hours at most US locations this summer amid hiring surge
McDonald's is extending its operating hours at most U.S. locations starting this summer amid an earlier decision to hire more than 300,000 workers. The fast food chain will keep stores open until midnight or later, although restaurants in airports, shopping malls or other areas that prohibit extended operating hours are excluded from the change. "Our fans know there's no better way to end an unforgettable night than by feasting on your favorite McDonald's order," the company said in a statement to USA TODAY. "That's why, as the summer season kicks off, we're excited to offer up more ways for customers to satisfy their late-night cravings with more choices and expanded hours at more restaurants." Mcdonald's To Hire Up To 375,000 Workers This Summer Most signature menu items will be available during the late-night hours, but the individual franchisees will ultimately make those decisions, the company said. McDonald's is celebrating the extended hours by offering 1,000 free virtual gift cards for free McCrispy Strips on Saturday. Anyone who posts #DipforMcCrispyStripsGiveaway on their Instagram story and tags the company @GoFooji will be entered for a chance to win. Read On The Fox Business App Also on Saturday, merchandise and gift cards for free McCrispy Strips will be handed out to concert-goers in Los Angeles, New York City and Detroit, the company told The Independent. The extended hours come after McDonald's announced earlier this month that it plans to hire up to 375,000 workers across the country this summer, a move described as "one of its biggest hiring pushes in years." McDonald's has more than 2 million employees globally working in its franchised restaurants, including more than 150,000 employees working in the company's corporate offices and company-owned and operated restaurants. Mcdonald's Adding Brand-new Menu Item: Mccrispy Strips The fast-food giant said the upcoming U.S. hiring push comes as it "prepares to serve more customers over the summer months" and looks to increase the number of restaurants across the country in the next couple of years. It said it is aiming for 50,000 new locations by 2027, an increase of 900 restaurants over the next two article source: McDonald's extending hours at most US locations this summer amid hiring surge 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
23-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
McDonald's is extending its late-night hours this summer. Here's what to know
McDonald's is looking to satiate customers' late-night cravings by staying open later this summer, reports say. The fast-food giant said it is extending its late-night hours, offering service until midnight or later at most U.S. locations, USA Today reported, citing a company spokesperson. Non-traditional locations, including malls and airports, are excluded, according to the outlet. Much of the menu will be available during these hours, though offerings will vary based on decisions of individual franchisees, according to Nation's Restaurant News. 'Our fans know there's no better way to end an unforgettable night than by feasting on your favorite McDonald's order,' the company told McClatchy News on May 23 in a statement. 'That's why, as the summer season kicks off, we're excited to offer up more ways for customers to satisfy their late-night cravings with more choices and expanded hours at more restaurants.' To celebrate, McDonald's is giving away 1,000 virtual gift cards for free orders of its new McCrispy Strips on May 24. Fans can enter for a chance to win by posting #DipforMcCrispyStripsGiveaway on their Instagram story and tagging @GoFooji, the restaurant said. McCrispy Strips rolled out on menus this month, marking the first new item to join McDonald's permanent menu in four years, McClatchy News reported. The fast-food giant has served similar offerings in the past, including Chicken Selects and its successor, Buttermilk Crispy Tenders. By expanding its hours, McDonald's is looking to boost sales after a 3.6% drop in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2025, marking 'its worst performance since the pandemic,' GlobalData reported. 'McDonald's has a 70-year legacy of innovation, leadership, and proven agility, all of which give us confidence in our ability to navigate even the toughest of market conditions and gain market share,' Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said at the time. The push also comes as McDonald's plans to hire up to 350,000 new workers and serve more customers at its restaurants this summer, the company said May 12. Additionally, the chain said it will add 900 U.S. locations by 2027. Find your nearest McDonald's here.
