Latest news with #McPlant
Mint
23-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
McDonald's takes Indians in US down memory lane with veg burger, adds ‘nostalgic value' to fast food
In Chicago's West Loop, there's a unique McDonald's called the Global Menu Restaurant. It is located right under the company's headquarters and training centre. Since 2018, it has served popular items from McDonald's menus around the world. Right now, plant-based eaters are excited about the McAloo Tikki burger. The spicy potato and pea patty with tomato and tangy mayo. It's a rare vegetarian-friendly option that's not just fries or ice cream. Vegans can skip the mayo to enjoy it too. This restaurant isn't just special, it's experimental. Open to the public, it changes its international offerings every 12 weeks. One visit might offer a Chicken McSpicy from Singapore or a Banana Tart McFlurry from Japan. But, don't expect the same items next time. It's a place where McDonald's tests global favourites. It is a fun and tasty stop for food lovers looking for something different from the usual Big Macs. Tanmay Dhuri tasted the veg burger, which reminded him of his younger days in India. "It has nostalgic value to it. It's not like something that's unique like in a flavour way, but it's just that everybody had it for so long," he told Axios. The McAloo Tikki burger was launched in India in 1998 and quickly became a hit. It combined Indian flavours with a crispy potato and peas patty, spiced with Indian spices. Its success made it McDonald's most iconic local menu innovation. Over time, the recipe has been improved. Now, there is less salt. The company claims there are no artificial colours or preservatives. McDonald's tried selling a plant-based burger called the McPlant in the United States. It used a Beyond Meat patty in 2022. But, it didn't become popular. According to the company's US head, American customers are not really interested in plant-based options. However, the McPlant is still available in some countries like Ireland and Switzerland, where it's doing better. First Published: 23 Apr 2025, 01:46 PM IST
Axios
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
McDonald's brings Indian classic to Chicago for a limited time
I don't eat McDonald's often, so when I learned a new plant-based burger at the international McD's in West Loop was causing a stir, I — as the team vegetarian — had to check it out. Driving the news: The restaurant connected to Hamburger University is serving the McAloo Tikki burger ($5.99) through June 23 as part of its Global Favorites menu. It's the only place in the U.S. to try the veggie patty. Why it matters: To Indian customers, the burger offers a taste of home — the McAloo debuted there in 1998 and is one of the most popular menu items. For vegetarians (and vegans if you order without the sauce), it's something we can actually eat besides French fries and soft serve. Dig in: The crispy patty, made of potatoes, peas and Indian spices, is topped with tomato and a tangy and somewhat sweet tomato mayo and served on the standard flat burger bun. I ordered a side of Deluxe Potatoes ($3.49) from France and a Banana Tart McFlurry ($2.99) from Japan, two more of the six items on the current global menu. What they're saying: Tanmay Dhuri, who was visiting from the Bay Area, said he had to get the burger that reminded him of growing up in India."It has nostalgic value to it. It's not like something that's unique like in a flavor way, but it's just that everybody had it for so long," Dhuri said. The intrigue: One of the cashiers told me it's the item people ask about the most and since they started serving it earlier this month, she's seen people order up to 30 at one time. Flashback: The global McD's also offered the McAloo Tikki in 2018 and 2023. State of play: McDonald's has tried to make a plant-based burger a regular thing in the U.S., but it hasn't quite caught on. They experimented with the McPlant, which was a Beyond Meat patty, in 2022 at restaurants in Dallas and the Bay Area, but McDonald's USA president Joe Erlinger told WSJ last year it wasn't popular and he doesn't think "the U.S. consumer is … looking for McPlant or other plant-based proteins from McDonald's now." McPlant is still available in other countries, including Ireland and Switzerland, according to Food and Wine. The verdict: The McAloo is tasty but not very filling, so I'd recommend getting two and stacking the patties on one bun. It's always nice to have a veggie burger that's actually vegetables and not heavy on the soy, which isn't as tasty and will give you a tummyache.
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Another burger, fast-food chain closing all locations
Launching a successful fast food chain is nearly impossible. That's because the incumbents have such a massive advantage. McDonald's and Burger King not only have a huge name recognition advantage over any rival, they also have a pricing and supply chain edge. They can buy potatoes, ground beef, produce, chicken, and anything else they need at far superior prices. Related: Another discount retailer closing over 1,000 stores Since they are buying so much, they can literally dictate the terms and, in some cases, control a huge part of the global supply. But even without pricing issues, it's a real challenge to get people to try something new. Traditionally, the most successful rivals in traditional fast food spaces have been companies that do something familiar with a twist. Five Guys, for example, offers a fairly familiar menu but does a fancier take on it. Consumers will theoretically pay more because it's a better product. More closings: Another struggling mall retail chain closing more storesStruggling supermarket chain closes more locationsPopular bank closing dozens of branches (locations revealed) This has worked in that one particular example, but history is littered with burger chains that tried to be better than McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. People like what they like, and a big part of fast food is familiarity. That makes it an incredibly difficult market to break into, and one company that seemed to have an interesting take on the space has hit a bit of a roadblock. One of the hardest things to sell in the fast food space is healthy food. People like the idea of healthy, which is something that's certainly helped Chipotle. It does offer higher-quality foods, although not necessarily healthy ones. In the burger space, however, consumers have largely rejected healthy. McDonald's failed mightily with the McPlant plant-based burger and literally no longer offers salads. Wendy's has done a bit better, as some of its seasonal salads are popular. But it's fair to say that nobody goes to Burger King, McDonald's, or Wendy's as their first choice because they're trying to be healthy. Some people who find themselves, often through no choice of their own, at these restaurants will make the healthiest possible choices. So a burger and hotdog chain that sells healthier versions of those two American classics seems like a reasonable proposition. It's easy to see how it could work. Evos had a noble mission. "There are a lot of food options out there. But none as unique as Evos. Evos is delicious all-American food, but without the guilt and regret. Because EVOS airbakes instead of deep-frying, sealing in flavor without the excess fat and calories," it shared on on its website. "We select only humanely and naturally raised beef and chicken because we know you'll taste the difference." The chain has been very successful, but it appears to have hit a bump in the road. Locations in three Florida cities - Carrollwood, St. Petersburg, and South Tampa - all closed abruptly. Related: Pepsi quietly discontinued a fan-favorite soda flavor No reason was given, but co-owner Michael Jeffers shared a statement. "We've enjoyed this chapter of our lives immensely, but all good things come to an end. We have no regrets and we leave having taken steps to secure jobs and futures for our valued team. We're thankful for the opportunity to serve our community, which has rewarded us many times over," he wrote. Those three locations comprise the entire chain, according to its website. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forget the McPlant: McDonald's Menu Tries New Meatless Burger
McDonald's is once again experimenting with its meatless menu options, this time focusing on a new vegetarian offering called the McVeggie. Following previous plant-based trials featuring the P.L.T. (Plant, Lettuce, Tomato) Burger and the McPlant, the fast-food giant is introducing this new option in select locations across Canada as consumer demand for vegetarian alternatives continues to grow. But will the McVeggie succeed where the P.L.T. Burger and the McPlant struggled? McDonald's Canada is spicing up its menu with the McVeggie, a meatless burger featuring a crispy, breaded veggie patty crafted from a blend of carrots, green beans, zucchini, peas, soybeans, broccoli, and corn. Seasoned to perfection, the patty is topped with shredded lettuce and a creamy mayo-style sauce, all nestled in a toasted sesame bun. For those craving a bolder kick, select test locations are also serving the Spicy Habanero McVeggie, which swaps the classic sauce for a fiery, creamy habanero alternative. Francesca Cardarelli, McDonald's Canada Chief Marketing Officer, highlighted the company's commitment to innovation, stating, 'Our goal is to continue to offer new and exciting choices to meet these needs. And the McVeggie does just that.' According to Nation's Restaurant News, the McVeggie is available for a limited time at select McDonald's Canada locations across British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick. The test run will continue through April 14th, giving customers a chance to try this new plant-based offering. McDonald's Canada tried its hand at a meatless option before, launching the PLT (plant, lettuce, tomato) burger with a plant-based Beyond Meat patty in September 2019. That trial was expanded in January 2020 before ending in June 2020. A year later, McDonald's started testing the McPlant. Also co-developed with Beyond Meat, the McPlant features a patty made from plant-based ingredients like peas, rice, and potatoes. While the patty itself is meatless, it is cooked on the same grill used for meat products and eggs. The patty is served on a sesame seed bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard, as well as non-plant-based ingredients such as American cheese and mayonnaise. But as always, guests can customize and request to hold the cheese and mayonnaise for a healthier version. The restaurant chain also tested the McPlant burger in several European markets, including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria. In September 2021, a fully vegan version of the McPlant, complete with plant-based cheese and a plant-based sauce, was introduced in the U.K. and Ireland. In the same year, the McPlant was also tested in select U.S. markets for a limited time, but that trial ended due to lack of demand. At last year's Wall Street Journal's Global Food Forum, McDonald's U.S. president Joe Erlinger said, 'I don't think the U.S. consumer is coming to McDonald's looking for the McPlant or other plant-based proteins.' Despite not having a nationwide rollout in the U.S., the McPlant remains available in some European markets. 'While our guests may have tried similar sandwiches at McDonald's globally, our McVeggie is uniquely Canadian,' senior manager of culinary innovation Jeff Anderson said in a statement. 'We're always looking for new opportunities to innovate and build on our menu, and the McVeggie will give even more guests the opportunity to enjoy that delicious McDonald's flavor Canadians know and love.' It's hard to say for sure, but the McVeggie has a few advantages that could improve its chances of success compared to the P.L.T. (Plant, Lettuce, Tomato) Burger and the McPlant. Unlike its predecessors, which featured Beyond Meat patties designed to mimic beef, the McVeggie takes a different approach with a breaded vegetable patty made from real vegetables like carrots, green beans, and zucchini. This could appeal more to customers looking for a true veggie burger rather than a plant-based meat substitute. Another factor in the McVeggie's favor is the introduction of a Spicy Habanero McVeggie, giving customers a bolder, more flavorful option. The P.L.T. and McPlant did not offer much variety beyond their standard versions, so this added choice could attract those who enjoy a bit of spice in their meals. Additionally, market trends may work in favor of the McVeggie. The demand for vegetarian and flexitarian options continues to grow, and consumers today may be more open to veggie-based burgers than they were when McDonald's previously tested the P.L.T. and McPlant. However, challenges remain. The P.L.T. and McPlant struggled due to pricing, supply chain limitations, and consumer hesitation, and the McVeggie could face similar hurdles. Its success will ultimately depend on taste, pricing, and how well McDonald's markets it to Canadian customers. Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.
