U-turn With This McDonald's Product in the United States: It Sells a Lot

In the world of fast food, marketing strategies play a crucial role in the evolution of products. McDonald's, one of the largest chains in the world, almost suffered a failure with one of its most popular products. Although the brand is known for its innovations, this time, a small change almost ruined the sale of a highly demanded item.

McDonald's Milkshakes have been a product that many customers consume early in the morning. However, recently, the company experienced an unexpected drop in sales of this product. The brand's initial goal was to make the milkshakes healthier, but this shift was not the most suitable.

The Mistake Behind the "Healthy" Milkshake

McDonald's milkshake used to be a popular option for those passing through the Drive-Thru at 7 a.m. in the United States. However, the company decided to improve the recipe and make it more nutritious and juicy, which led to a decrease in sales. "Fewer people were coming to buy those milkshakes," mentioned TikToker @eugeoller, who shared the story of this curious brand failure.

To better understand the drop in sales, McDonald's hired an external consultancy that analyzed consumer behavior. The conclusion was surprising: "People weren't buying those milkshakes for how nutritious they were or just to have a quick breakfast," explained the consultancy. The analysis discovered that customers were hiring the milkshake not only for breakfast but as entertainment during their commute to work.

The Solution: Return to Basics and Improve the Experience

The company decided to give a twist to the milkshake recipe to better adapt to what customers really wanted. Instead of making it healthier, they opted to make it thicker, with lumps and cookie pieces.

This extended the consumption experience, turning it into a "satisfier and entertainment," from McDonald's to work, as described by the consultancy. This new formula allowed customers to enjoy a milkshake that lasted longer during their commute.

The change was a resounding success; after modifying the recipe, sales of McDonald's milkshakes increased significantly. "This hit the nail on the head and made sales of these milkshakes increase dramatically," stated TikToker @eugeoller. This case shows how a small modification in a product can drastically change sales if you understand what consumers are really looking for.

This event highlights an important lesson in the world of marketing: understanding the "job" a product has to do for the consumer is key to success. McDonald's managed to capture this need and adapted its product to meet it, resulting in an unexpected increase in sales.