McDonald’s is making big changes. Just 18 months after launching its new drink-focused spinoff called CosMc’s, the fast-food giant has announced it will close all CosMc’s locations by the end of June. But fans of the unique drinks don’t need to worry—many of these popular flavours will soon be available at regular McDonald’s outlets.
CosMc’s Was a Short-Lived Experiment
CosMc’s was first introduced as a fresh idea to attract customers during non-meal hours. Named after a fun alien mascot from the 1980s, the small chain focused on unique drinks and some breakfast food items. The menu featured drinks like S’mores Cold Brew, Churro Frappé, and Island Pick-Me-Up Punch.
CosMc’s was meant to take on beverage-focused chains like Dutch Bros, Scooters, and Swig. However, McDonald’s has now decided to shut it down. The company says all five remaining CosMc’s locations—four in Texas and one in Illinois—will close in June. The CosMc’s app will also be discontinued.
Why McDonald’s Is Closing CosMc’s
Even though CosMc’s is shutting down, McDonald’s doesn’t see it as a failure. In fact, the company says the test served its purpose. The idea behind CosMc’s was to learn more about what customers want, especially when it comes to drinks and customisation.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski explained that the company has gained useful insights from the test. “We’ve discovered some interesting learnings,” he said, adding that these lessons will help McDonald’s improve its regular menu.
CosMc’s Drinks Coming to McDonald’s Main Menu
Instead of keeping CosMc’s as a separate brand, McDonald’s is now planning to bring some of its most popular drinks to hundreds of its traditional locations. This move means fans won’t miss out on their favourite CosMc’s flavours—they’ll just have to visit a nearby McDonald’s instead.
The company said these “out of this world” drinks will start rolling out later this year, and they will be more customisable than ever. McDonald’s hopes to keep the fun and creativity of CosMc’s alive within its regular restaurants.
A New Strategy for McDonald’s
This decision is part of a bigger plan. McDonald’s is adjusting its strategy to focus on what works best. After learning from CosMc’s, the chain will now invest in improving its core business, including changes to its menu and even its store hours.
Over 13,000 McDonald’s locations will see a shake-up in their opening hours this summer. Though no full details have been shared yet, this is another sign that the fast-food chain is trying to evolve and stay ahead in the competitive food industry.
Taco Bell Joins the Drink Wars
While McDonald’s is closing its drink chain, Taco Bell is stepping in with its own version. The rival chain launched Live Más Café, a drink-focused spinoff offering a special café-style experience with unique beverages. This shows how big the market is for creative and fun drink options.
CosMc’s may be closing down, but its story isn’t over. McDonald’s is taking what it learned from the test and using it to upgrade its regular locations with fun, new drinks. Instead of running a separate drink chain, the fast-food giant is making its main restaurants better and more exciting for customers. As competition in the beverage space grows, especially with Taco Bell’s entry, McDonald’s is keeping its focus on giving people what they love—only now, it’ll be closer to home.