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The Independent
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
McDonald's to begin testing viral ‘dirty sodas' and cold coffees in over 500 locations
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice McDonald's is planning to launch a range of 'dirty sodas' as part of a new 'futuristic' menu range for the Fall. Taking inspiration from fans, the fast-food chain said it was leaning into its drinks spin-off brand, CosMc's, to 'turn up the flavor' and create an exciting range of drinks that resonates with younger Gen-Z audiences. However, the Thursday announcement comes months after the chain began shuttering all CosMc's locations, just over a year after they launched in Bolingbrook, Chicago, plus six more in Texas. Over 500 restaurants across Wisconsin, Colorado, and surrounding areas will begin rolling out the new lineup of drinks, McDonald's said. A dirty soda is a drink made up of a base soda, usually a popular brand such as Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, or Sprite, and then spiked with a syrup or a flavored coffee creamer. It's particularly popular among teens and those who prefer not to drink alcohol. McDonald's is launching five new drinks across over 500 restaurants ( McDonalds ) 'Think cold coffees, fruity refreshers, crafted sodas, and energizing sips—all created to bring a little extra joy to your day,' it added. The new flavor lineup will include Toasted Vanilla Frappé, Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Sprite Lunar Splash, Popping Tropic Refresher, and Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew. The fast food chain said the soda range was designed for every occasion, from a morning lift to an afternoon refresher, or even as a small treat. 'We're seeing real momentum in beverages, with more people – especially our Gen Z fans – turning to cold, flavorful drinks as a go-to treat,' said Alyssa Buetikofer, chief customer experience and marketing officer of McDonald's USA. 'It's a great opportunity for us to meet our US customers' evolving tastes and show up in new moments, like afternoon refreshment or snack breaks,' she added. All five drinks are planned to be tested starting September 2. The 'dirty soda' trend has gained popularity in Utah — where the large Mormon population doesn't typically drink alcohol — since the early 2010s. But Olivia Rodrigo has also been credited with propelling the trend to the next level when she posted about it in late 2021. The news also follows the news that both Coke and Pepsi plan to launch new prebiotic soda drinks, suggesting a boom in the market as competitors race to create innovative new flavors.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
McDonald's to test five crazy new drinks
While generally conservative with both its menu and any spin-offs of its brand, McDonald's (MCD) briefly tried testing a new restaurant concept rooted in the small-store format and nostalgia. Between 2023 and 2024, the fast-food chain opened five CosMc locations in Illinois and Texas, only to shutter them all by mid-2025. The original idea was to establish a small store with custom drinks to rival Starbucks (SBUX) and Dunkin' (DNKN) named after the part-alien, part-car character that the chain featured in commercials between the late 1980s and early 1990s. The concept, however, ultimately proved too difficult to roll out. "We've learned so much, so quickly from the CosMc's test," McDonald's said in a statement. "It allowed us to test new, bold flavors and different technologies and processes - without impacting the existing McDonald's experience for customers and crew." Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter As such, the Golden Arches will now redirect to testing new coffee and flavored soda drinks initially planned for CosMc at 500 regular McDonald's locations in the Midwest. These include a Toasted Vanilla Frappé, a Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and Popping Tropic Refreshers, a Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew, and a Sprite Lunar Splash, as well as others not yet announced by the chain. The drinks will be sold at Wisconsin and Colorado locations from Sept. 2 and are designed to show McDonald's what kind of flavors sell, as well as whether the demand for the new items makes it worth investing in a wider rollout. Related: Taco Bell to add three popular desserts to permanent menu "We're seeing real momentum in beverages, with more people – especially our Gen Z fans – turning to cold, flavorful drinks as a go-to treat," McDonald's USA Chief Marketing Officer Alyssa Buetikofer said in a statement. "It's a great opportunity for us to meet our U.S. customers' evolving tastes and show up in new moments, like afternoon refreshment or snack breaks." The drinks are also meant to attract customers with eye-popping colors and extravagant toppings. The Sprite Lunar Splash adds a bright pink topping to the drink's signature clear color, while the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher is decorated with chunks of strawberry floating inside the bright pink drink. These offerings also open the door for potential future collaborations with various soft drink brands. McDonald's competitors have already made similar moves. Wendy's (WEN) recently launched three new summer sour drinks in partnership with Powerade earlier this summer, while Yum! Brands (YUM) -owned KFC launched a "dirty soda" made with Mountain Dew in April. More Food News: McDonald's menu finally brings back most-wanted fan favoritePopular fast-food burger chain to open first store in new marketWalmart makes deal to open popular food chain in stores Worth $629.2 billion globally in 2024, the soft drinks market is expected to reach as much as $886.2 billion by 2033. The specific drinks spiking demand include both canned and bottled versions purchased in stores and the customizable soft drinks sold inside cafes and pioneered on the large scale by companies like Dutch Bros (BROS) . The new McDonald's drinks will feature CosMc branding and be marketed as flashy new menu items with which visitors can spice up their regular orders. Related: McDonald's brings back experimental menu item 13 years later The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
McDonald's to test drinks from shuttering CosMc's spinoff at some restaurants
McDonald's is planning to test a new lineup of drinks inspired by its shuttering spinoff brand, CosMc's, at some restaurants later this summer. The fast food giant announced July 25 that roughly 500 select restaurants in some states will be part of an expanded market test for the drinks. The drinks will be aimed at "blending the best of CosMc's creativity with the convenience you know and love." Some of the drinks that will be in the lineup include a Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew and a Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, McDonald's said. CosMc's is a spinoff concept McDonald's announced in 2023 and rolled out last year. In May, McDonald's said it would be closing its five CosMc's locations, in states including Texas and Illinois, but that it planned to test some of the drinks in its regular restaurants. When is McDonald's introducing CosMc's drinks menu? McDonald's said it will begin rolling out market testing of the CosMc's drinks on Sept. 2. It's unclear how long the test will run for. Which CosMc's drinks will be tested at McDonald's? McDonald's said it's planning on including about 10 drinks in the test. Five were teased in the July 25 announcement, including: Which McDonald's will have CosMc's drinks? About 500 restaurants will be included in the market test, McDonald's said. It includes restaurants across Wisconsin, Colorado and the surrounding areas, according to the chain. McDonald's operates more than 14,000 locations in the United States. What is CosMc's? What to know about McDonald's spinoff brand CosMc's is a spinoff restaurant concept owned by McDonald's. While McDonald's launched five CosMc's in 2024, the company previously announced all of them would close on a rolling basis beginning this past June. The name and futuristic aesthetic of CosMc's was inspired by a mascot of the same name who appeared in ads in the late '80s and early '90s. CosMc's menu primarily features beverages including coffees, teas and frozen drinks. Soft-serve ice cream, sandwiches and small food items are also available. Contributing: Reuters, Mary Walrath-Holdridge Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
CNBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
McDonald's to test CosMc's-inspired drinks at more than 500 restaurants
Something Bold (and Delicious) is Brewing at McDonald's: A First Sip into the Future of Beverages McDonald's said Thursday it is planning to test new coffee drinks, refreshers and flavored sodas at more than 500 restaurants later this summer, hoping to cash in on younger consumers' love for fun, colorful drinks. "We're seeing real momentum in beverages, with more people – especially our Gen Z fans – turning to cold, flavorful drinks as a go-to treat," Alyssa Buetikofer, chief customer experience and marketing officer of McDonald's USA, said in a statement. "It's a great opportunity for us to meet our US customers' evolving tastes and show up in new moments, like afternoon refreshment or snack breaks." The test lineup includes Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew, Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Toasted Vanilla Frappe, Sprite Lunar Splash and Popping Tropic Refresher, as well as others not yet shared by McDonald's. The initial stage of the test will only include locations in Wisconsin, Colorado and the surrounding areas, according to McDonald's. The chain is hoping to learn more about what customers like best, plus how to make an expanded drink lineup work for its restaurants and franchisees. McDonald's announcement on Thursday comes after the chain began shuttering its standalone locations of its once-buzzy CosMc's brand last month. The spinoff, which focused on snacks and customizable drinks, initially inspired hours-long lines from customers eager to try something new. But after 18 months, McDonald's chose to wind down the brand and instead bring beverages influenced by CosMc's to its own restaurants. Expanding the burger chain's drinks lineup could help McDonald's compete better with fast-growing beverage chains like Dutch Bros. , 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee and Swig, which have all leaned into consumers' desire to customize their drinks. New drinks could also drive more customers to McDonald's restaurants. In recent quarters, the burger chain has reported lackluster sales as consumers spend less money on its French fries and Big Macs. McDonald's U.S. same-store sales fell 3.6% in the first three months of the year; the company is expected to report its second-quarter results on Aug. 6. Fast-food rivals have also recently been looking beyond the soda fountain for drink options that will appeal to diners. Earlier this month, Yum Brands' Taco Bell unveiled a new Refrescas lineup; the chain also plans to expand its in-restaurant drinks concept called the Live Mas Cafe later this year. Wendy's added three new sour Powerade options to its drinks lineup in June. And earlier this summer, KFC collaborated with PepsiCo's Mountain Dew on a "dirty" soda, made with sweet vanilla cream.
