SHAK - McDonald's is bringing changes to its classic burger cheeseburger and Big Mac

2023-04-18 10:37:50 ET

McDonald's ( NYSE: MCD ) has introduced improvements to its signature Big Mac, McDouble, cheeseburger and hamburger menu products at some restaurants in the U.S., including locations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. The restaurant operator said the new features include softer buns, caramelized patties cooked with white onions on the grill, cheese slices that will melt more, as well as a new extra special sauce.

"We found that small changes, like tweaking our process to get hotter, meltier cheese and adjusting our grill settings for a better sear, added up to a big difference in making our burgers more flavorful than ever," noted McDonald's ( MCD ) chef Chad Schafer in a statement.

The updated menu items are expected to be available nationally by early next year.

The changes from McDonald's ( MCD ) to some of its core products are seen as an attempt to compete more directly chains like with Shake Shack ( SHAK ), In-N-Out Burger, Smashburger, and Five Guys. The burger wars also include bigger chains like Wendy's ( WEN ) and Burger King ( QSR ).

For investors, Wall Street analysts have a consensus Buy rating on McDonald's ( MCD ), while the Seeking Alpha Quant Rating on the restaurant stock is Hold due to low marks for valuation and growth. Read the most recent breakdowns on McDonald's ( MCD ) from Seeking Alpha analysts.

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