A McDonald’s, $MCD, test of its plant-based burger in San Francisco and Dallas “was not successful in either market,” per CNBC.
A test of its McPlant burger in San Francisco and Dallas "was not successful in either market," said Joe Erlinger, the chain’s US chief, at the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum in Chicago. That test concluded in 2022, according to the company following Erlinger's remarks.
US consumers aren’t interested in "McPlant or other plant-based proteins from McDonald’s," he added. The company has noted that plant-based food has performed better in European markets.
Erlinger also mentioned that "if people really want salads from McDonald’s, we will gladly relaunch salads. But our experience has shown that’s not what the consumer is looking for."
Shares of Beyond Meat Inc., which has partnered with McDonald’s to produce the McPlant burger, recovered from an earlier decline and were relatively unchanged as of 1:38 p.m. in New York trading on Wednesday. McDonald’s shares also remained relatively stable.
Instead of plant-based options, McDonald’s is focusing on its chicken offerings as consumers show a preference for that protein. The company now sells more chicken than beef, Erlinger added.
"Some of it’s driven by affordability," he said. "Chicken is less expensive to produce, and for consumers seeking more affordable food, chicken is a great option right now."
