McDonald's announced Tuesday the addition of three new Quarter Pounders to its menu as the fast-food chain looks to diversify its offering by including cheaper premium burgers while capitalizing on one of its most popular brands.
The company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says the new burgers will replace its meatier Angus Third Pounders, which were among the most expensive items on its menu at around $4 to $5. The Quarter Pounders will come in two of the same varieties as the Angus burgers - Bacon and Cheese and Deluxe. The third option will be Habanero Ranch.
"We've had some feedback from our consumer that our bacon may not have been as high quality or met their expectations but we are just in the process of rolling out a new bacon system wide," Neil Golden, chief marketing officer of McDonald's USA said in an interview. "We feel like that bacon is a fabulous enhancement to many of our products," such as the chain's premium McWraps and chicken sandwiches.
McDonald's said the burgers will debut mid-June, and Golden said the bacon is now being rolled out.
Although the Quarter Pounders replacing the chain's Angus Third Pounders, McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said the decision was not a result of commodity cost increases.
McDonald's announced last week that it will be cutting its Angus burger, Chicken Selects and Fruit & Walnut Salad from its menu. The Angus burger was one of its more expensive menu items.
