McDonald’s dumps frozen patties in switch to fresh beef for its burgers
Fresh food movement prompts fast food giant to make the switch
In a move that appears aimed at taking on the quality movement sweeping fast food, McDonald’s announced Thursday that it will start making one of its signature hamburgers, the Quarter Pounder, with fresh beef patties.
The changeover from frozen beef will begin starting mid-next year in a majority of its US restaurants. McDonald’s is the nation’s largest fast-food chain.
In making the move, McDonald’s provides push back to chains like Wendy’s and In-N-Out which have been promoting their use of fresh beef for better-tasting burgers. Even though fresh beef will make its burgers more premium, McDonald’s vows to hold the line on price.
“We don’t anticipate any significant increase in price,” said spokeswoman Becca Hary. “Individual franchisees set their own price.”
“Let’s start making moves customers want us to, but by no means are we done. This is a first step,” said McDonald’s USA president Chris Kempczinski, explaining that the Quarter Pounder was selected as the first burger line to make the switch, because it “is right up there with the Big Mac as we think of iconic products. The Quarter Pounder is a premium burger for us. It’s where we have our most demanding customers.”
He declined to give a time line for the other McDonald’s burgers.
