McDonald’s is making headlines with its latest announcement – CosMc’s, a new restaurant from the chain that will be serving up specialty drinks and unique snacks.
The name comes from a Mcdonaldland character that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, CosMc. “CosMc loved experimenting and creating flavors for friends in Mcdonaldland, which we’re proud to bring Earth-side for all to enjoy,” the CosMc’s website explains.
What will the menu look like?
With the new restaurant, customers can expect unique beverage creations and flavor combinations, as well as an assortment of sweet and salty snacks – both familiar and new to McDonald’s regulars.
An early look at the menu has a wide range of food and beverage options including:
Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich
Spicy Queso Sandwich
M&Ms McFlurry
Pretzel Bites
Savory Hash Brown Bites
Churro Frappe
Sour Cherry Energy Burst
Blueberry Ginger Boost
Sour Tango Lemonade
Blackberry Mint Green Tea
On top of that, customers will have a great deal of freedom when it comes to customizing their drinks. For iced and frozen drinks, there are options to add things like energy shots, pre-workout shots, vitamin C shots, different flavors of fruit syrups, dried fruits, and boba. You can even tell them how much ice you want – or don’t want – in your drink.
For hot drinks, the customizations include different types of milk and sweeteners, flavor syrups, hot foam, added espresso shots, temperature preferences, and more.
What will the restaurants look like?
The first CosMc’s is set to open this month in Bolingbrook, Illinois. After that, the company has plans to open 10 more locations in Texas throughout 2024 to further test the concept.
McDonald’s says that next year will put CosMc’s to the test, and should they find success, more locations are likely to start popping up across the country.
CosMc’s locations aren’t expected to be as big as traditional McDonald’s restaurants, but customers can expect the same features they’re used to: drive-thrus, cashless payments, dynamic menu boards, mobile ordering, and more.
The dynamic menu boards will help guide customers through each step of the process, streamlining ordering, paying, and receiving food. After ordering, customers will pay, and move on to a designated drive-thru window where their order will be assigned and ready for them.
Get your afternoon boost at CosMc’s
The launch of CosMc’s and its focus on specialty beverages is geared toward consumers looking for an afternoon pick-me-up. With energy drinks and new coffees, cold brews, frappes, and lattes, McDonald’s is setting itself up to compete with some of the bigger coffee chains.
“McDonald’s is operating from a point of strength,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said during a recent investors call. “Customer love for the brand is stronger than at any time in our history. That gives us permission to stretch the reach of the brand into new areas to grow the business.
“One area of focus is identifying new ways to participate in attractive and fast-growing categories. We homed in on specialty beverages and coffee. It’s a space we believe we have the right to win.”