McDonald's testing a bigger burger

With the recent focus on healthy eating by many Americans -- and now, many fast food chains offering salads and such -- world food service leader McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is testing a new bigger burger that will cater to the consumer who likes burgers tall, wide and with plenty of calories.

The new burger will be part of the Angus family of McDonald's burgers and will come with an enhanced price for the extra weight and girth it has. So forget that quarter pounder -- the new burger will be a third-pounder as it finds its way into more McDonald's locations after being available now only in 600 locations in California. The burger is the most expensive single sandwich on the McDonald's menu at $3.99.

With competitors now offering "premium burgers" that pack in as many calories as some complete meals, a McDonald's franchise owner told corporate headquarters a few years ago that a premium burger was needed so that McDonald's could remain competitive in the market (for huge burgers, I suppose). With CKE Restaurants' (NYSE: CKR) Carl's Jr. having all kinds of premium burgers on its menu (Restaurant Style, it calls them), I guess it was about time for McDonald's to respond. But while it's new $3.99 will be its most expensive, there are still some burgers at Carl's Jr. that retail for about $6. Maybe that price difference will help McDonald's gain some market share in the battle of the big burger.