After months of anticipation, McDonald’s is finally introducing the Big Arch – its biggest burger to date.
McDonald’s first announced its plans to introduce the Big Arch at its annual investor meeting in December 2023 in response to overwhelming customer demand for heartier burgers that are both flavorful and affordable.
This long-anticipated addition was originally being test run in select countries, but is now available in select countries including Canada and Portugal.
‘We have heard our guests loud and clear and understand they are looking for a bigger, burger on our menu, and we are excited to bring this new global menu item to Canadians,’ said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s Canada.
‘This satisfying burger combines the familiar McDonald’s flavors our fans know and love with some unique new ingredients, including a tangy new burger sauce created for the Big Arch specifically.’
After months of anticipation, McDonald’s is finally introducing the Big Arch – its largest burger to date
With two quarter-pound 100% Canadian beef patties, three slices of cheese, crispy onions, pickles, lettuce, and a new tangy sauce, the Big Arch is designed to satisfy even the biggest appetites.
In Canada, a Big Arch meal – with a drink and fries – was $12.59 at one of the selection test locations in Ontario. That is about $9 in the US.
While it may not be available in the United States yet, McDonald’s plans to learn from test launches before expanding its availability.
Before the launch of the Big Arch, McDonald’s most substantial single-patty burger was the Quarter Pounder, which competes roughly with Burger King‘s Whopper.
In December, the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the planned bigger burger won’t break the bank: ‘We think we’re going to be able to deliver a great tasting large burger at a superior value to what customers can get anywhere else.’
Although both are made up of patties that are claimed to weigh four ounces before they are cooked, the Whopper has 670 calories while the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with cheese contains just 520 calories.
Fast food restaurants in California have been raising menu prices in recent months after a state-mandated rise in the minimum wage to $20-an-hour for those working in the sector.
McDonald’s has experimented with bigger burgers before – but by offering larger versions of what it has on offer.
In January, the Double Big Mac – which has four beef patties instead of two and extra sauce – returned for a limited time. It cost around $7 and was a hit while on sale for a month.
McDonald’s has also started rolling out CosMc – a spinoff which focuses more on coffee and drinks than food and which is said to be Starbucks-inspired. It was so busy that cars lined up for hours when it first opened.
The first is in Bolingbrook, Illinois. A further nine are set to launch by the end of 2024, with one located in Dallas-Fort Worth and another in San Antonio.
McDonald’s new bigger burger is part of its plan to attract customers back.
The chain on Monday had reported a surprise fall in sales in the April to June quarter – as customers cut down on trips to the fast food giant.
McDonald’s first announced its plans to introduce the Big Arch at its annual investor meeting in December 2023 in response to overwhelming customer demand for heartier burgers that are both flavorful and affordable
This long-anticipated addition was originally being test run in select countries, but is now available in select countries including Canada and Portugal
Americans placed fewer orders than a year ago – meaning sales were down by nearly one per cent. Globally, sales fell by a similar amount.
The Chicago burger giant introduced a $5 meal deal at US restaurants – either a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink – on June 25 as part of its plan to lure back value-conscious customers.
That offer was only live for about a week of the financial reporting period – so its effects will be seen in the next quarter.
Across the board, chains are reeling from falling customer numbers as Americans fed up with two years of price rises stay away – so are rolling out all these offers.
Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal – offering four items like McDonald’s – was the first to hit restaurants in June.
Wendy’s has a $3 breakfast offer and also a four-item $5 meal similar to McDonald’s and BK’s.
Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5.