After striking out with its test of stand-alone McCafe coffee shops in the U.S. in 2001, McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD) has taken the concept offshore, and apparently with growing success. This week, the Japanese branch of the family announced it will open 15 McCafe outlets in Tokyo and other cities, with plans to expand to other venues.Other McCafe sites in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom offer a Starbucks Corp.-like (NASDAQ: SBUX) lineup of cappuccino, espresso and latte, along with baked goods and light meal items. The items are, in the McDonald's tradition, priced below its competitors.
I talked with Danya Proud, spokesperson for McDonald's Corp., about the possibility of such a program relaunching in the U.S. She told me that there are currently 19 test McCafes in the U.S., but they all are umbrellaed areas within McDonald's restaurants, not stand-alone locations. While the company recognizes coffee's growth potential, she said that its development of the product needs to fit within its core brand.
My conclusion? Look for more McCafe-type products on the McDonald's menu, but don't expect a spate of new, separate McCafes in this country.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-18-2007 @ 6:15AM
freebird said...
If the coffee is anything like it is at McDonalds they should send it to all the countrys we are at war with it .taste like crap i will never order another cop of coffee from any McDonalds
7-18-2007 @ 7:51AM
Lynn said...
McDonald's has the largest share of fast foods and now is trying to be the biggest in the Coffee industry. They made people twice as big with there food, can only wonder what they will do with there coffee. I will stay with Starbuck's for my coffee and will stay away from McDonalds
thank you
7-18-2007 @ 7:52AM
bob callahan said...
after seeing your ads of having beter coffee than starbucks or dunkin donuts, i have a complaint about store on atlantic blv. in margate fl. the last three cups i bought,i threw away, it was so bitter i could not drink it. i told a manager he said all coffee was the same.
a unsatisfied customer
7-18-2007 @ 8:18AM
norshallwedie said...
Wow, the writer's got it a bit wrong here. I lived in Autralia a few months ago and McCafe's are all over the place- in fact, they weren't bad at all. They served better food than the normal McDonalds and the expresso coffee was cheaper than Starbucks down there- not to mention better quality (at least the one I had). But...America's a bit overrun with the coffee circuto it. We're used going to SB for their overpriced/watered down coffee.
7-18-2007 @ 8:30AM
janice said...
Mcdonld's will never serve a cup of coffee as good as Starbuck's because McDonld's is never as clean and the employees are never as polite as Starbuck's. Starbucks's puts a lot more into thier cup of coffee than just coffee.
Janice
7-18-2007 @ 9:15AM
kelly said...
i recently bought a large cup of iced coffee at McDonalds. i had to throw it away it was bitter, like old coffee. i wont waste my money there again. ill go to Dukin Donuts. they have the BEST coffee, at the BEST price.... yummmmm....
10-06-2007 @ 5:14AM
Anders said...
I agree with you guys about Starbucks having better coffee than McD, but remember many people find the Starbucks crowd a bit snobby and their products are too expensive for many.
As company McD. has a great future ahead, if they can get some of the market, that they haven't tapped into yet.
I think I'll buy some McD. stocks.