mcdonalds

My Hunt for the Original McDonald’s French-Fry Recipe

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McDonald's original french fries, famed for being cooked in 100% beef tallow, were a key factor in the chain’s early success but were discontinued over 30 years ago due to health concerns raised by activist Phil Sokolof. The switch from beef tallow to vegetable oil in 1990 marked a significant recipe change that diminished the fries’ distinctive flavor while introducing trans fats, which posed new health risks. Extensive research and insider accounts suggest that the original recipe, closely guarded by McDonald's, still exists in unofficial archives, though the company has not released it, and current fries differ markedly from the iconic original.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/original-mcdonalds-french-fry-recipe

McDonald’s Says Its New AI Drive-Thru Handled 1 Million Orders with Humans Stepping in Just 10% of the Time

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McDonald's is testing a new AI drive-thru ordering system called ArchIQ, developed with Google, at five U.S. locations, where it has already handled over 1 million orders with human intervention needed only about 10% of the time. The system not only processes orders in English and Spanish but also monitors restaurant operations to identify bottlenecks, aiming to enhance efficiency and speed up service as part of McDonald's broader “NEXT” growth plan.

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/mcdonalds-ai-drive-thru-ordering-system/

McDonald’s Gives Google-Powered AI Drive-Thru a Second Chance

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McDonald's is testing a new Google-powered AI drive-thru voice assistant called ArchIQ, which has completed around 90% of orders without human intervention across five U.S. restaurants. This initiative is part of the broader McDonald's > NEXT strategy focused on operational efficiency, food quality, and hospitality, aiming to integrate AI automation as a core component rather than an isolated test, following a previous less successful partnership with IBM. The approach balances faster service through automation while emphasizing the importance of human interaction in enhancing customer hospitality.

https://news.designrush.com/mcdonalds-next-google-archiq-ai-drive-thru

McDonald’s Is Making a Major Change To Drive-Thrus

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McDonald’s is testing a new ArchIQ AI-operated drive-thru system called “Archy” in five locations as part of its McDonald’s Next business strategy to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. This AI assistant aims to streamline kitchen operations, reduce in-store workload, and free up staff to focus on hospitality, aligning with the company’s broader initiative to integrate AI and technology innovation throughout its restaurants.

https://www.southernliving.com/mcdonalds-drive-thru-ai-changes-11992272

McDonald’s Turns to Connected Operations, AI and Automation to Drive Its Next Phase of Innovation

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McDonald’s has introduced its Next strategy focusing on connected operations, AI, and automation through a new AI-powered platform called ArchIQ, aimed at enhancing efficiency and customer experience across its nearly 43,000 restaurants globally. This initiative builds on years of investment in cloud infrastructure and edge computing, shifting the company's emphasis from customer-facing technology to integrated operational intelligence that supports better decision-making and streamlined restaurant management.

https://restauranttechnologynews.com/2026/06/mcdonalds-turns-to-connected-operations-ai-and-automation-to-drive-its-next-phase-of-innovation/

McDonald’s Unveils New Growth Strategy Focused on Restaurants and Menu Innovation

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McDonald's unveiled its new growth strategy, McDonald's > NEXT, focusing on menu innovation, enhancing restaurant efficiency, and improving the customer experience amid rising fast-food competition. The plan shifts attention from traditional burgers to expanding high-growth categories like chicken, beef, and beverages, aiming to create a more modern and enjoyable dining environment while driving growth and improving restaurant economics.

https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/mcdonalds-restaurants-menu-innovation-growth-plan

McDonald’s Unveils McDonald’s Next Global Growth Strategy 2026

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McDonald's unveiled its new global growth strategy, McDonald's > NEXT, focused on menu innovation, new restaurant designs, enhanced operational efficiency, and integrating automation to improve customer service. The plan aims to boost offerings in chicken, beef, and beverages to compete with emerging specialists while streamlining operations and rethinking hospitality, in response to changing consumer preferences and competitive pressures.

https://qz.com/mcdonalds-next-growth-strategy-franchisees-menu-060126

McDonald’s Launches New Global Strategy to Stay Ahead of Competition

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McDonald's has unveiled McDonald’s > NEXT, a new global strategy focusing on menu innovation, fan engagement, restaurant productivity, and hospitality to maintain its market leadership amid fierce competition. The initiative includes testing new menu items like bone-in wings, adopting AI for ordering, enhancing customer co-creation through partnerships and loyalty programs, and redesigning restaurants to improve operational efficiency and service quality.

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/mcdonalds-launches-new-global-strategy-to-stay-ahead-of-competition/

McDonald’s U.S. Growth Spurt Is Officially On

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McDonald's has significantly accelerated its U.S. expansion, opening 147 new restaurants in 2025—the most in 24 years—and aims to reach 50,000 global locations by 2027 with 1,000 new openings annually. The company is also focusing on value offerings to attract budget-conscious consumers and increasing its franchise portfolio, which now comprises over 95% of U.S. stores.

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/mcdonalds-u-s-growth-spurt-is-officially-on/

Why McDonald’s AI Makeover Is the New Operating System for Global Retail

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McDonald’s is transforming its global retail operations by integrating AI to create a software-defined, data-driven system that optimizes everything from menu adjustments to labor scheduling in real time. This AI makeover shifts routine tasks to algorithms and automation, freeing human workers to focus on complex, high-empathy roles, signaling a significant evolution in quick-service restaurant management and offering a blueprint for broader retail industries.

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/why-mcdonalds-ai-makeover-is-the-new-operating-system-for-global-retail/

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