The nod to a vintage mascot — and the operations and marketing muscle of the Golden Arches — could help CosMc stand out in the competitive QSR market. On the company’s earnings call, Kempczinski attributed strong marketing performance to increased enthusiasm about McDonald’s offerings, which could have a halo effect on the chain’s spinoff.
“The more customers love our brand, the more they love our food,” he said.
But in the past few years, the space has become crowded with small-footprint models from major fast food chains. Even before the pandemic, restaurants were developing compact prototypes that reflected diners’ growing interest in carryout and delivery service. Panera, Chick-fil-A , Chipotle, Starbucks and more have experimented with small, delivery-only or off-premise-focused units in a bid to capture more diner traffic but keep overhead low.
