In 1967, the Big Mac debuted on the menu of a McDonald’s franchise in Pennsylvania at a price of just $0.47. One year later, it was on McDonald’s menus all over the nation. Now, after nearly 50 years, McDonald’s has announced that they are going to be making a major change to this iconic burger.
Source: McDonald's
Beginning in 2017 and lasting for a limited time only, the world-wide fast food chain will debut the Mac Jr., a smaller version of the Big Mac - and the Grand Mac, a larger version of the Big Mac.
In case you’re not as familiar as some of the rest of us, the original Big Mac consists of two 1/10-pound all beef patties, two slices of cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, a sesame bun with an additional slice of bread separating the patties, and of course, the infamous Big Mac special sauce.
The new Mac Jr. will be comprised of essentially the same ingredients - just less of them. It will have just one single 1/6-pound beef patty, instead of the two 1/10-pounders. It will also leave out the additional slice of bread in the middle, and one of the two pieces of cheese that the original Big Mac has. The largest of the new Mac family, the Grand Mac, will contain a whopping 66% more beef than the original sandwich - still two patties, just much larger - as well as a third slice of cheese and a larger bun to hold it all together.
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McDonald’s Chef, Mike Haracz explained to the public, "The Big Mac is a legend and a great-tasting burger with hints of pickle relish, mustard, garlic and onions. We listened to our customers who told us they wanted different ways to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Big Mac taste. The classic combination of ingredients remains timeless and customers around the world continue to enjoy its signature taste."
The new variants were tested earlier this year in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Central Ohio at hundreds of McDonald’s locations. These two new versions of the Big Mac will also be tested in Florida and Pittsburgh in mid-November 2016, prior to the National debut in the beginning of 2017. These lucky customers will have the opportunity to weigh in on the changes before the masses.
Nomura analyst, Mark Kalinowski, stated that the willingness of McDonald's to try new things and make changes to their CORE menu item was a good sign for the fast food chain. "We view the new tests... as a sign of the company's evolving willingness to have no 'untouchables' on the menu," Kalinowski expressed.
In other words, if McDonald’s was willing to change the Big Mac, we can only image what other changes McDonald’s will be making to its menu in the near future!
