McDonald’s Promises More Chicken Offerings Amidst Slumping Sales

McDonald’s is doing everything it can to attract customers back, including promising more chicken offerings despite slumping sales.

FOX Business is reporting that during McDonald’s fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Chris Kempczinski expressed confidence in the company’s chicken portfolio and discussed some upcoming items.

“This year, there is incredible energy for the return of Snack Wraps in the U.S. along with a few other markets,” he told analysts and investors.

According to Kempczinksi, the fast-food chain also aims to release a “new chicken strip offering” in the United States. He also noted, “We’ll continue to pulse in the Chicken Big Mac as a limited-time-only offering over time. In 2024, the Chicken Big Mac helped generate chicken market share growth in France and the U.S. with positive incrementality.”

The fast-food behemoth announced late last year that it would reintroduce the Snack Wrap to its menu. It’s been around eight years since McDonald’s introduced the fan favorite in the U.S.

Kempczinksi, however, wouldn’t reveal when the Snack Wrap would hit the proverbial shelves. “We do have, I think, some very exciting food news, food innovation coming in the U.S., but my U.S. team would kill me if I gave any more details about the when and the exact specifics of how we’re going to plan on doing that, but certainly expect that to come online later in the year,” he said.

The chain also plans to continue rolling out the McCrispy, which is “now in over 70 markets and will be available in nearly all markets by the end of 2025.”

McDonald’s Blames Slumping Sales on E. Coli Outbreak

But the call wasn’t all about good news. McDonald’s fourth-quarter earnings release indicated some dismal results. The fast-food behemoth reported lower-than-expected earnings as an E. coli infection harmed sales and low margins on promotional menu offers reduced profitability.

According to CNBC, McDonald’s sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 reached $6.39 billion, whereas analysts expected $6.44 billion. Income for the three months ending Dec. 31 fell to $2.02 billion, compared to $2.04 billion in Q4 2023. Net sales were roughly the same year over year, coming in at $6.39 billion.

In the United States, same-store sales, a revenue measure from McDonald’s outlets open for at least a year, dropped 1.4%. The decrease was worse than projected, with analysts forecasting a 0.6% loss. Globally, same-store sales rose 0.4%.

Customer traffic increased over the quarter, though the average amount spent on each order decreased. Last year’s debut of the $5 Meal Deal was successful in luring diners, but it failed to raise overall sales since customers did not add more expensive items to their orders as expected.