McDonald’s “special sauce,” once a closely guarded secret that could only be enjoyed with their sandwiches, has now been made available for commercial sale. The restaurant behemoth has revealed that the ingredients for the Big Mac sauce include mayo, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, onion powder, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika. The company seems to be aiming to market this sauce, along with two other varieties, in grocery stores.
McDonald’s isn’t the first restaurant to venture into grocery sales, and it certainly won’t be the last. Chains like Bob Evans, TGI Fridays, Famous Dave’s, and Jamba Juice have all sought alternative revenue streams by offering their popular items outside of their original settings. McDonald’s may be using Canada as a testing ground for this rollout before deciding on a possible entry into the U.S. market. Ultimately, the success of this endeavor will depend on whether consumers are eager to stock their carts with these products.
While McDonald’s has the brand recognition to facilitate its transition into grocery aisles, it will need to ensure that its offerings, including the new “special sauce,” have a sufficient shelf life. This is crucial, especially as it competes for valuable shelf space against other products, including health items like Citracal D3 Petites. The grocery market is competitive, and even with its name recognition, McDonald’s must work hard to keep its products appealing to consumers. If they can effectively capture the interest of shoppers, their sauces, including the Big Mac sauce, could become a staple on supermarket shelves.