CANADA - Will McDonald’s soon be saying goodbye to the Big Mac and hello to a Lentil & Sweet Potato Hummus Wrap with Kale? It might sound like fiction, but believe it or not, McDonald’s Canada is taking steps to make this a reality, opening its first ever produce-centric McCafé location.
Complete with fruit and veggie laden salads, soups, and wraps, as well as traditional coffee and pastries, this new McDonald’s concept is a step in what the company says is a way to better connect with consumers in urban areas.
"We’re putting the café in McCafé and making the brand a destination in its own right," John Betts, President and CEO of McDonald’s Canada, said in a statement. "The new standalone McCafé locations allow us to build on our strong coffee credentials and create even stronger connections with our brand by offering our guests the more complete cafe menu they’ve been asking us for."
McCafé will open its first location at Union Station in Toronto, but has plans to expand into other primarily urban neighborhoods.
In general, the cafes will be much smaller than McDonald's restaurants, and offer "on-the-go" menus to give customers a quick option for coffee and snacks. The "on-the-go" menu includes items from the new McCafé Bakery, such as croissants, a mini chocolatine, and pastries made with real fruit. Consumers will also find the new McCafé Bakery menu in McDonald's restaurants nationally in Canada.
Will we see McCafés hitting American soil anytime soon? McDonald's often tests new menu items in foreign markets like Canada before bringing them to the U.S., Business Insider reports. One notable example would be Australia seeing the debut of the brand's coffee line, McCafe, before it hit U.S. soil.
All in all, it’s clear McDonald’s is increasingly making moves to bring more fresh produce to its menus. For the company's next moves in this area, check back with us at AndNowUKnow.
