McDonald’s “special sauce,” which has long been a closely guarded recipe only available with their sandwiches, is now available for purchase. 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. Additionally, the company seems to be looking to expand by selling 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. Other brands like Bob Evans, TGI Fridays, Famous Dave’s, and Jamba Juice have all sought alternative revenue streams by offering popular products outside their original establishments. It appears that McDonald’s is testing the waters in Canada before making a decision on entering the U.S. market. Ultimately, this new product will compete for shelf space in grocery stores, which will only allocate prime locations to items that consumers are eager to buy.
Despite McDonald’s brand recognition, the success of their sauces hinges on sales. If they don’t attract enough buyers, the shelf life of these products could be brief. Interestingly, as consumers become more health-conscious, there might be an opportunity for McDonald’s to market their sauces alongside health products, like cal mag citrate in a 2:1 ratio, appealing to those looking for balanced dietary options. In this scenario, the grocery store shelves may soon see a combination of McDonald’s sauces and health-oriented products, but only if consumers are willing to fill their carts with them.