What is McDonnell’s? Here’s why McDonald’s created a dupe restaurant in Los Angeles
To unveil its Chicken Big Mac, McDonald’s conducted a blind taste test at a pop-up restaurant in LA.
The one-day-only restaurant, called McDonnell’s, offered what it called the “Chicken Sandwich,” a Big Mac with two tempura-battered chicken patties instead of beef. The restaurant had its own “M” logo to distinguish itself from the Golden Arches, but served other McDonald’s favorites, including fries, apple pies, and soft serves. Diners called it “gourmet McDonald’s” and “familiar but different.”
The restaurant was installed by Chain, a company that offers high-quality restaurant food, so diners at the dupe restaurant are treated to fast food with a twist. Although the chain’s original concepts were not approved, it has since partnered with restaurants including Chili’s and Taco Bell. McDonald’s revealed that it was after McDonnell’s trick to announce the real Chicken Big Mac, which participating locations will begin selling on October 10 for a limited time.
The release is aimed at introducing McDonald’s signature, Big Mac to “a new generation of fans,” the US company’s chief executive of marketing and customer experience Tariq Hassan said in a statement; and in addition to the dupe restaurant, the burger chain partnered with broadcaster Kai Cenat, a “Big Mac superfan,” to live stream people’s reactions to eating the sandwich.
“By tapping into what our fans love most from trick-or-treating to live streaming, we’re able to offer more than just a sandwich,” Hassan said.
But the innovation is also intended to increase sales in the core product category. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said during an earnings call in July that McDonald’s chicken sales are “on par with beef sales” and “a significant opportunity for growth.” Consumers have grown more discriminating in their spending, he said, and the company has responded with higher-priced foods and smaller sizes. Now, a chicken version of one of its most popular menu items could bring in even more new customers through that department.
