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McDonald's introduces sandwiches made with Angus beef. Food chain tries to broaden its menu beyond value meals
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Friday, Jul 03, 2009
McDonald's restaurants nationwide on Thursday introduced the first new line of hamburgers since 2001.
Sal Baglieri, owner/operator of three Akron-area McDonald's, said the new Angus burgers that he began offering this week at his Hudson and Stow stores were selling well.
''This is probably one of the most explosive products we've had since the Big Mac. It's outstanding and I've got 30-plus years in with McDonald's. I've eaten a lot of burgers,'' Baglieri said. His Munroe Falls store on Thursday joined others in the nation in the debut.
The food chain is trying to broaden its menu beyond the value meals and $1 fries that have attracted customers in the recession.
The three new Angus burgers are one-third of a pound each and priced at about $4, Dan Coudreaut, executive chef for the Oak Brook, Ill., company, said. The burgers will be available nationwide for several months, said Marta Fearon, director of marketing.
McDonald's more expensive burgers will have to overcome the slowdown in U.S. consumer spending as people eat at home more often, said Tom Forte, an analyst with Telsey Advisory Group in New York. Meals that combine sandwiches, fries and a drink, as well as $1 menu items, have helped drive McDonald's monthly sales growth.
''Given the recession, it's harder to sell a premium item,'' Forte said. ''It's important that they have a menu that offers both premium and value.''
The company began developing the Angus burger about two years ago after franchisees in Southern California asked for a premium offering to compete with regional burger chains, Coudreaut said. The company has been adding chicken sandwiches as poultry gained popularity with diners, as well as less expensive items, such as the McDouble.
The franchisees ''thought there was a gap at the top end of the menu,'' Coudreaut said. ''We realized we needed to consider this as a category.''
The burgers could pull sales away from McDonald's core menu of Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, said Darren Tristano, an executive vice president at Technomic Inc., a Chicago restaurant consulting firm.
But Salieri, the Akron-area franchise owner, disagrees.
''It's always a trial situation. People are interested in new stuff. They try it and it all goes by their taste buds,'' said Salieri, who has owned his Hudson store for 21 years and worked for McDonald's international division for 15 years.
''Each of those sandwiches has its own characteristics. It just goes by what people are looking for. That's how it's always been with McDonald's. That's why we come out with new stuff,'' he said.
Salieri said he also liked the fast-food chain's new Chocolate Melt, which is like a cinnamon roll with melted chocolate.
The new burgers are made with beef from Angus cows, compared with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified beef used in Big Macs and Quarter Pounders. Those sandwiches cost about $3 each, although prices vary by region.
The new burgers feature a braided sesame seed bun, a thicker tomato slice and red onion, Coudreaut said. One of the burgers is topped with hickory-smoked bacon.
The Big N' Tasty was the last burger McDonald's introduced, in 2001.
Burger King Holdings Inc., the second-largest burger seller in the United States, is upgrading the broilers in its restaurants to make premium beef sandwiches this year. Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. also is testing a new signature burger.
Bloomberg News contributed to this story.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.
McDonald's restaurants nationwide on Thursday introduced the first new line of hamburgers since 2001.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:11 AM, 07/03/2009
Wasn't the article about the Fattest states in the paper yesterday - and Obesity on the rise -
wonder why!
Posted 09:07 AM, 07/03/2009
Great ... More cholesterol ... More high B/P and more stokes!
Independence, OH
Posted 09:08 AM, 07/03/2009
Hey recessioneers, McDonald's calorie/$ ratio is only rivaled by White Castle's calorie/$ ratio.
That said, changing the way we shop and eat and avoiding McWorld all-together is a much better solution. You can go to Acme today and get
1lb ground beef, 1Gal Milk, 1pk hamburger buns for $4.25. Can feed a family of four for the price of a single extra-value meal.
Always In Akron, OH
Posted 09:25 AM, 07/03/2009
Fat is as fat does.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 10:51 AM, 07/03/2009
Is McD's still buying their beef from Mexico?
There are plenty of cattle ranchers in the U.S., and I'll stop at other restaurants which support the American economy. No McDonald's for me.
Roy Kroc must be rolling in his grave by now... His company is stabbing America in the back. Shame on McDonald's.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:00 AM, 07/03/2009
akronlaw, ground beef at maybe 1.79lbs.at 73%lean,
buns at maybe.99,but its the milk I'm havin' trouble
with,I'm sure milks more then 1.47 a gal.
but I could be wrong, as I don't buy milk,
I don't use it fast enough and it goes to waste..
Posted 11:28 AM, 07/03/2009
Amen AkronLaw!
Posted 12:53 PM, 07/03/2009
Wolf,
Besides that, even if you could get all those items for $4.25 as Akron Law states, is a hamburger patty on a bun with a glass of milk a meal? What about some vegetables other than ketchup.
I am always amused and surprised when fast food chains try to add PREMIUM items to their menu. If I want a good premium hamburger, McD is not where I'm going. I only eat at these places when I'm traveling and can't find a real restaurant, or at least a small town diner.
Posted 04:27 PM, 07/03/2009
What do you call a cow with no legs?
ground beef.
AK, Oh
Posted 04:38 PM, 07/03/2009
I have been hearing about this tasty burger for 2 years now.
My brother had 1 in Columbus when Mc D's did a test.
He said the best he ever had. I can't wait to try it....
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 05:49 PM, 07/03/2009
I had one of these the other day....they suck.
cuyahoga falls, OH
Posted 06:01 PM, 07/03/2009
I had their Swiss and Mushroom burger today. I don't know what Dragonsuck is talking about it was pretty good. Better than their burger's have been in 30 years.
cuyahoga falls, OH
Posted 06:14 PM, 07/03/2009
Karbunkie there is an article on Snoops about this. It states that while they do buy beef from Mexico most of the beef comes from America. Of all the McDonald's in America they cannot service(farmer's) all the demand so yes they do import some but most is pure USA cattle.
cuyahoga falls, OH
Posted 06:16 PM, 07/03/2009
So Karbunkie do your homework before you go talking out a certain orafice.
akron, oh
Posted 07:43 PM, 07/03/2009
Milk at Acme is $1.77 thu today-new sale will start Sat. I don't see this being a big seller-most people see McD as cheaper, fast food, If you want a delux burger your probably going to go to a Max and Ermas or that type of place. Only thing still good about Mc D is the fries-when FRESH and some breakfast items-the rest is garbage and they are the slowest people on earth.
akron, oh
Posted 08:23 PM, 07/03/2009
Ronald McDonald is only slightly creepier than the Burger King. I dislike clowns.
Green, Oh
Posted 10:10 PM, 07/03/2009
McDonalds equals either lazy or a desperate move to eat when on the road food choices are limited.
Dietary habits need go back to basics.
Pack a lunch the night before.
Eat breakfast at home or take something simple if on the run to make it to work on time.
And try eating at home. Making dinner is not difficult, will save you money and possibly bring the family together.
(Sorry for the sermon)
Akron, OH
Posted 10:35 PM, 07/03/2009
It doesn't matter the size of their burgers - it all tastes the same anyway - greasy!
Canton, OH
Posted 11:08 PM, 07/03/2009
I can't wait to Mctry one !!!!!!!!!!!!
cuy.falls, oh
Posted 11:20 PM, 07/03/2009
wow more fun for me to deal with at work i work at the one in Munroe Falls come see us we the best
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:18 AM, 07/04/2009
@vv_dragonbyt3_vv...RITE ON, I tried the same mushrm and cheese that Kojak tried and it sucked, he liked it but mine was not greasy but had absolutely no flavor and the sauce was just fat mayo to the 10th power; this is too much money to be wasted on a burger I can fix at home and besides Angus beef is overrated!
Independence, OH
Posted 02:52 AM, 07/04/2009
Wolf
I had Acme's ad on my desk when I typed my prices. And of course I cherry-picked my products to the deepest discounts.
I guess I could have picked a dozen eggs, a pound of broccoli, a 2-liter or pepsi, a loaf of bread, 2 cans of Tuna, and a small jar of food club mayo for $7.25. Less than the cost of a double cheeseburger and fries for a fam of 4.
Then a family of four could have a tuna sandwich and pepsi for lunch, and 2 egg salad sandwiches, broccoli, and pepsi for dinner. That's a consumption of 4,628 calories total with some bread, eggs, and mayo left over for the kids lunch on Monday.
Not saying it's a healthy diet, but it's no worse than McDonald's and can be had on a much cheaper scale. Even the Double Cheeseburger, McDonald's best Cal/$ value only rakes in 3k calories at the same price.
Yeah, just say no to fast food.
, OH
Posted 09:39 AM, 07/04/2009
They need to find a way to grind up that McDonalds food into a powder, put it in a capsule and sell it as a laxative, because it works every time for me! I recommend eating this bigger burger only while actually sitting on the toilet.
akron, oh
Posted 02:05 PM, 07/04/2009
I'll have to try the MF one if they are fast, cuz Tallmadge, Hartville and N.Canton are the slowest on earth- N canton 7.5 minutes for 2 plain cheesburgs-yes I timed it. No sorry for the wait or anything.
