Live data from Hacker News

McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

usatoday.com

1–10 of 577 posts

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#2
>somewhat unsurprisingly, will be called "McPlant."

Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one?

Many people have an aversion to something if it's called plant, healthy or natural. I think Impossible Foods was right in marketing their products for meateaters rather than vegans.

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#3
post #2

>somewhat unsurprisingly, will be called "McPlant." Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one? Many people have an aversion to something if it's called plant, healthy or natural. I think Impossible Foods was right in marketing their products for meateaters rather than vegans.

People who shop the dollar menu are a different customer than someone who will pay a premium for a meat substitute.

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#4
post #2

>somewhat unsurprisingly, will be called "McPlant." Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one? Many people have an aversion to something if it's called plant, healthy or natural. I think Impossible Foods was right in marketing their products for meateaters rather than vegans.

McDonald's already has the omnivore market. It's trying to bring in the herbivores, so McPlant makes it obvious.

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#7
post #2

>somewhat unsurprisingly, will be called "McPlant." Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one? Many people have an aversion to something if it's called plant, healthy or natural. I think Impossible Foods was right in marketing their products for meateaters rather than vegans.

People who shop the dollar menu are a different customer than someone who will pay a premium for a meat substitute.

"Premium" is the key word here.

There was an article in one of the business magazines about a year ago about why so many fast food companies are adding meatless options.

It's not about health. It's not about choice. It's not about the planet. It's about money.

The menus need high-priced items and low-priced items to appeal to different types of customers. Most fast-food joints need a basic product they're known for, and a premium product that costs the consumer more and has a larger profit margin, that the average consumer might occasionally try.

The fast food companies can charge more for a meatless product, and reap bigger profits.

A little greenwashing doesn't hurt, either.

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#9
post #6

In several countries in Europe, McDonald's has served plant-based alternatives for years. In Sweden they serve the McVegan, for example: https://www.mcdonalds.com/se/sv-se/product/mcvegan.html

McDonald's had an all-veggie burger back in the 80's in the United States, but it went away.

I don't know if it was nationwide, or regional. It came out around the same time as the McDLT, which was awesome.

(As an aside, one of the things that has always bugged me about McDonald's is its menu inconsistency from market to market. The franchisees have too much power, IMO. I have to drive a few hundred miles each year to get McRibs because the local franchise owners won't carry it. And McRibs don't freeze well.)

Re: McDonald's is adding plant-based burgers to the menu

#10
post #2

>somewhat unsurprisingly, will be called "McPlant." Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one? Many people have an aversion to something if it's called plant, healthy or natural. I think Impossible Foods was right in marketing their products for meateaters rather than vegans.

> Is it just me that didn't find the name obvious, and perhaps not a good one?

It's easy to imagine some sort of stylized green leaf on the wrapper, would would fit well with their other iconography. To understand why it's a good name, you need to imagine it in the visual context of their design language.

Post reply on HN