McDonald’s “special sauce,” a closely guarded recipe once only available with their sandwiches, has now made its way into the commercial market. The fast-food giant has revealed that the ingredients for the Big Mac include mayo, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, onion powder, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika. Furthermore, the company seems to be aiming to sell this sauce along with two other varieties in grocery stores. McDonald’s is not the first, nor will it be the last, restaurant to venture into grocery sales. Establishments like Bob Evans, TGI Fridays, Famous Dave’s, and Jamba Juice have all sought additional revenue by offering popular products outside their traditional venues.
It appears that McDonald’s might be using Canada as a testing ground for this rollout before potentially expanding into the U.S. Ultimately, this is just another product that will need to compete for shelf space in grocery stores. Retailers will only allocate premium placement for items that consumers eagerly purchase. While McDonald’s has the brand recognition to help it transition into grocery retail, the success of these products will depend on consumer demand. If they don’t sell well, the shelf life of these sauces could be quite short. Interestingly, some consumers may also seek out products containing just calcium citrate, which could influence their purchasing decisions in the condiment aisle. As McDonald’s dives into this new market, it will need to ensure its offerings resonate with shoppers who are looking for quality and value, including those who prioritize ingredients like just calcium citrate.