Mcdonald’s Black Sesame Shake and How it Can Increase Their Same-store Sales

I recently came back from a vacation in Hong Kong. Now normally, people say you have to hit up the street food stalls, the dim sum, and the seafood restaurants. While all this is true, I expended one of my precious few meals there at a Mcdonalds. Why? Because they had a black sesame shake and I wanted to try it. The Tonkatsu pork burger caught the eye of one of my companions.

Similarly, whenever I go to London, I make a point of going to Mcdonalds to get a fried apple pie. It’s not available in the United States anymore except for a few locations. Just yahoo-search Mcdonalds fried apple pie and you’ll see blogs and websites devoted to finding that elusive fried rectangle of decadence. Read the comments left by readers and you’ll see suggestions to try substitutes from KFC, Popeyes, and Taco Bell.

Mcdonalds needs to offer these (and other regional items) as limited time offerings. To an extent, Mcdonalds already knows and does this (the McRib Sandwich and the Shamrock shake immediately come to mind). But take it up on a global level. Market to the consumer as an opportunity to see what the Mcdonalds in other places offer. This will drive up same store sales as consumers are curious about items Mcdonalds already makes.

Did Wendy’s develop a pretzel burger that’s helping drive sales? Yes. Does Mcdonalds need to do the same? No! Mcdonalds does not need to develop new products! Just share the existing ones!
The black sesame shake? It was delicious. If it ever makes it way to New York, you can be sure I’m making several trips to Mcdonalds.

While we’re complaining, how about making the hash brown available all day? But that’s an article for another day.

Disclosure: The author owns shares in Mcdonalds.