McDonald’s has seemingly announced the "farewell tour" for its ‘McRib,’ a menu item that features seasoned boneless pork, tangy barbecue sauce, onions, and dill pickles and is served on a homestyle bun. Since its 1981 debut, the ‘McRib’ has been a recurring staple in McDonald’s menu items as it is only available during specific times of the year, driving traffic and increasing sales upon its return.
With the recent revival of the beloved sandwich, McDonald’s has announced that the ‘McRib’ may soon be gone for good. McDonald’s confirmed that the McRib will be available at participating restaurants starting Oct. 31 through Nov. 20 and advises customers to "enjoy our famous pork sandwich as if it’s your last!"
Limited QSR Pork Sandwiches
McDonald's Confirms the 'Farewell Tour' for its Popular McRib Sandwich
Trend Themes
1. Farewell to Limited-time Offerings - There is an opportunity for QSRs to create a new kind of limited-time offering that is not necessarily seasonal, and keep it available for a longer period of time to appeal to consumers who missed out on previous offers.
2. Nostalgia Marketing - QSRs can harness the power of nostalgia marketing in their limited-time offerings, by bringing back old menu items that have cult followings or by tapping into other elements that customers remember fondly from their childhoods.
3. Exclusivity Marketing - QSRs can experiment with the concept of 'scarcity marketing' by crafting a sense of exclusivity around their limited-time offerings, driving up demand and solidifying their place in popular culture.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Food Industry - Fast-food restaurants have the opportunity to iterate on the success of limited-time offerings like the McRib, by appealing to customers' nostalgia and sense of exclusivity, and by experimenting with innovative new foods and flavors.
2. Food Marketing Industry - Food marketing agencies can help QSRs create and launch new types of limited-time offerings, tapping into nostalgia, exclusivity, and other powerful drivers of consumer behavior.
3. Pork Industry - The pork industry can benefit from limited-time offerings that feature pork as a seasonal or novelty ingredient, potentially driving demand and increasing brand awareness.