McDonald’s Corp, which is counting on a new delivery service to fuel growth, thinks it’s solved the industry’s dreaded french-fry problem.
Fries are notorious for not traveling well – often arriving at the other end in a mushy, cold and unappetising state. But the food has become McDonald’s No. 1 delivery item since the company began offering the service through UberEats in the United States. And satisfaction rates are high, said Lucy Brady, the chain’s senior vice president and global chief strategy officer.
To ensure that fries can weather the journey, employees take pains to make certain they're as hot and fresh as possible before being added to bags, she said. And they're typically delivered within 30 minutes, helping prevent them from wilting en route.
“The first thing everyone was concerned about is: will the fries be hot and fresh?” Ms Brady said in an interview. But patrons are having a great experience, she said.
The stakes are high for McDonald’s to get it right. The company sees restaurant delivery as a $100 billion (Dh367bn) market that could help maintain growth in the US. Some investors have become concerned that McDonald’s expansion is flagging: shares of the fast-food giant dipped on Tuesday after its domestic sales failed to top Wall Street estimates.
McDonald’s has expanded its delivery service to more than 5,000 locations across the US after a small test in Florida last year. CEO Steve Easterbrook, who took the helm in 2015, is also looking to a new mobile app to help keep customers loyal.
The other top sellers for McDonald’s delivery service include Big Mac meals, double cheeseburgers and McChicken sandwiches.
Customers who order delivery food also are more likely to tack on desserts, Ms Brady said. Items like McFlurries – another thing that desperately needs to be delivered quickly – have helped make the average bill as much as twice as big as in-store orders. UberEats also charges a booking fee, typically about $5, that can vary by location.
Another quirk of delivery customers: they’re more likely to order McDonald’s for dinner. About 60 per cent of delivery is 4pm or later – higher than in its restaurants.