Major McDonald’s shake up could affect menus around the world: Fast food giant hints key items could be under threat as CEO warns he ‘doesn’t need 70 permutations of a chicken sandwich’ and prepares to layoff staff
- Firm will temporarily shut all its US offices today as bosses make redundancies
Fast food fans were today braced for a menu shake-up at McDonald’s as the chain began a restructuring.
The company will temporarily shut all its US offices today as bosses prepare to get rid of a number of corporate employees in the country and around the world.
CEO Chris Kempczinski warned of the job cuts in January, telling staff the firm had become ‘unfocused’ and changes were needed to help it grow.
The email also suggested the restructuring could see menus simplified, with Mr Kempczinski warning there had been too much duplication.
‘We had across the globe 70 different, distinct versions of what a crispy chicken sandwich would look like,’ Kempczinski wrote. ‘I don’t need 70 different permutations of a chicken sandwich.’
Examples of chicken burgers McDonald’s serves in countries around the world
While classics like McFlurries and Big Macs are known to McDonald’s fans the world over, the firm does indeed offer plenty of local versions of popular options.
Variations of chicken sandwiches include the UAE’s McArabia Chicken, consisting of grilled chicken and garlic sauce held together by Arabic bread.
In Japan, the Bai Teriyaki Chicken Fillet-O comes loaded with teriyaki sauce, while in Korea the McSpicy Shanghai Burger turns up the heat with some hot sauce.
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Other local varieties include Spain’s McCrispy Honey Mustard, Australia’s Chicken ‘n’ Cheese, the USA’s Bacon Ranch Deluxe McCrispy and Britain’s Mayo Chicken.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s GCB consists of a grilled chicken thigh with lettuce and chargrill sauce.
While emails warning of redundancies have mainly been sent to US employees, a number of international staff will also be affected.
The impact on UK head office staff is not yet known, and MailOnline has contacted McDonald’s for comment.
Staff have been told to work from home, with dismissals taking place virtually.
A report from the Wall Street Journal said the Chicago-based chain told employees threatened with redundancy last week.
In the memo, company executives also advised that upcoming in-person meetings with vendors and other outside parties at headquarters be canceled.
Workers who don’t have access to a computer were told to give their personal contact information to their manager.
CEO Chris Kempczinski warned of job cuts in January, telling staff the firm had become ‘unfocused’ and changes were needed to help it grow
‘We want to ensure the comfort and confidentiality of our people during the notification period,’ the company said.
McDonald’s employs roughly 200,000 people around the world in corporate roles and company owned restaurants.
Around 75 percent of the employees are located outside of the US.
This isn’t the first time the company has conducted layoffs among corporate workers.
In 2018, McDonald’s cut management-level workers to be ‘more dynamic, nimble and competitive.’
The company has able to maintain profits for the most part during the cost of living crisis due to customers turning to the chain for cheap and fast food.
‘We’re gaining share right now among low-income consumers,’ said McDonald’s CFO Ian Borden in October.
However, Mr Kempczinski said less wealth customers were typically order fewer things or less-expensive items.
You won’t find this in your local McDonald’s! Fans are craving these unusual dishes from around the world – but can YOU tell what they are?
Eve Wagstaff for MailOnline
While many of us might count McNuggets, a Big Mac, or a McFlurry as among our favourite dishes from McDonald’s, branches around the world have plenty of alternative dishes on offer.
And fans of the fast food diner will be bursting with jealousy at the sight of what is available from the many different menus around the world.
Managing to capture the taste and local flavours of the resident countries, you’ll be hard pressed to guess exactly where they’re from and what they are.
If you can stop yourself from licking your lips and salivating long enough, check out the tasty gallery below, which is in no particular order, and see if you can guess what each dish is.
Scroll down to learn the answers…but no peeking!
1.
From it’s lime green colour to it’s fluorescent dusting across the outside, this is definitely not the usual slice of cake us Brits are used to seeing – but can you guess what it is?
2.
One restaurant diner in McDonald’s was left baffled by these different types of pies – but do you know if they’re sweet or savoury?
3.
This fabulously tasty burger appears to be packed with meaty goodness and cheesy topping – but can you tell what it is?
4.
Could you believe that this unusual dish is on offer in stores across Canada, where it is considered a ‘national food’ by some – but do you know what it is?
5.
This dish might LOOK like a typical egg McMuffin, which is a favourite served up across McDonald’s stores in the UK – but can you guess the hidden ingredients?
6.
This Japanese chicken treat appears to be a tasty alternative for the nuggets served up across the UK
7.
Double the flavour! This burger, which is on offer in Japan, is stacked high with tasty meat – but can you guess what it tastes like?
8.
If you’re fed up with bread then this delight from Japan could be winner for you. A variation on the burger above, it’s apparently even better paired with rice buns
9.
These burgers might resemble the Fish-o-Fillet burger – but don’t be fooled! Can you guess what the filling really is?
10.
Ten points for Norway! These delicious snacks served in the Scandinavian version of the fast food chain may look fairly innocent – but with a kick of spice in the middle, do you know what they’re made of?
11.
While this dish may be fairly routine in Italian restaurants across the world, the idea of McDonald’s serving up the meal might feel a little unusual to some customers
12.
The gooey centre of this burger, which is on offer in the Philippines, looks particularly appetizing
13.
A vegetarian delight…? This dish, which is on McDonald’s menu’s across India, promises to ‘make you smile’ – but can you tell what it is?
14.
McDonald’s opened its very first vegetarian-only restaurant in India and it now has plans to open more around the world – but can you guess what one of their top burgers is made from?
15.
If you’re a massive fan of south Indian food, than this spicy grilled vegetable patty might be for you
16.
Whether you’re a big McDonald’s fan or not, can YOU tell whether this dish is a breakfast meal or a lunchtime snack?
17.
This mega-massive triple decker burger is for sale in McDonald’s restaurants across India – but do you know what it tastes like?
18.
Is this the biggest McDonald’s breakfast bun EVER? This dish is for sale in Australia for diners looking for a tasty early morning meal
19.
While McFlurrys might be on offer around the world, this dessert dish contains a different flavour which isn’t available in the UK
20.
This dish might contain chicken, but can you tell what else is packed into this burger to give it it’s delicious flavour?
21.
If the pure white beaches don’t make you want to go to Malaysia, than this meal from the fast food chain might tempt you
22.
McDonald’s in Hawaii offer a special menu of items you can only find there – but can you tell what is on offer in this dish?
23.
While many Brits might reach for an apple pie from McDonald’s, this dish has become one of the best sold in McDonald’s across Thailand
24.
Only available in Thailand, the McDonald’s rice dish looks to be a slightly healthier alternative then the meals on offer in the UK
25.
McDonald’s describe these tasty snacks as ‘warm and racy heart to give you a moment of goodness – a pleasure for the palate’
26.
There are over 304 McDonald’s in Saudi Arabia, or roughly nine per million customers, so it should come as no surprise that it’s very popular
27.
Holy moly! This is one big burger – but can you tell the different ingredients making up it’s tasty layers?
28.
This bizarre burger is named the McDrop, and appears to be packed with plenty of flavour – but can you tell what it in it?
29.
This meaty burger is regularly compared to a Big Mac – but there are a number of differences between this meal and the regular McDonald’s dish
30.
This burger appears to have been layered with different components to make one tasty, and very filling, dish
31.
This unusual burger appears to have a number of unusual ingredients combined – however fans of the dish say it’s STILL ultra-tasty
1.
It’s definitely not the usual slice of cake us Brits are used to seeing but this Matcha Red Bean Layer Cake found in Hong Kong, looks absolutely incredible
2.
Fancy an upgrade from the usual hot apple pies? Taro is a root vegetable and the treat, on offer in China, is described by those who have tried it as ‘lightly sweet and tender with a slightly savoury exterior and chewy interior covering’
3.
Get in the carnival spirit with this Cheddar McMelt from Brazil. It’s packed with bacon slices, loads of cheese and a full beef patty. Folião!
4.
Canada’s answer to our classic cheesy chips and gravy is their national dish, poutine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, two restaurants, one in Canada and another in France had to issue statements after receiving threats from public who thought the dish was named after the Russian President Vladimir Putin4.
5.
Probably not considered a national dish is the Egg & Jalapeno Cheddar McMuffin, which is definitely one way to get yourself moving in the morning
6.
Imagine a massive chicken nugget covered in a tasty seasoning and this is what you get from the Shaka Shaka Chicken from McDonald’s in Japan. A deep fried chicken patty, sprinkle in one of three flavours: lemon pepper, red pepper and cheese. Simply rip the top fold off and dig in!
7.
What’s better than one patty coated in delicious in a sweet and spicy ginger-flavored teriyaki sauce? Two! Check out the Teriyaki McBurger. Yum!
8.
If you’re fed up with bread then this delight from Japan could be winner for you. A variation on the burger above, it’s apparently even better paired with rice buns
9.
Pronounced ‘Ebi’, which is the Japanese word for shrimp, these burgers could be compared to our very own Fillet-O-Fish
10.
These Chilli Cheese Tops are packed with fresh jalapeños, matured cheddar all inside a crispy coating of tasty goodness
11.
If there’s one thing McDonald’s does not have enough of, it’s pasta. The Chicken McDo with McSpaghetti found in the Philippines is one the restaurant’s most popular items
12.
There’s no such thing as too much cheese, which is exactly what the creators of the McDonald’s Cheesy Eggdesal must have thought when coming up with this. Melted cheese wrapped in a fluffy, folded egg and sandwiched between a soft, toasted pandesal bun
13.
India has the most vegetarians in the world so it makes sense that McDonald’s there would some of the tastiest veggie options. One such snack is the Veg Pizza McPuff, filled with a rich tomato sauce, carrots, bell pepper, beans, onion, peas and gooey mozzarella
14.
The McSpicyPaneer, which is on menus in McDonald’s in India, is a satisfying alternative to vegetable patties
15.
If you love south Indian food, McDonald’s Dosa Masala Burger is for you. Made with a spicy grilled vegetable patty it is coated in Indian spices and a slight taste of sambar
16.
How do you like your eggs in the morning? I’ll take mine with lashings of spicy sauce like the McDonald’s Masala Scrambled Eggs
17.
India’s McDonald’s restaurants also serve this massive Chicken Maharaja Mac, which has two grilled chicken patties, jalapeños, onion, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and crunchy lettuce dressed with the classical Habanero sauce
18.
Leave it to the Aussies to come up with the biggest breakfast bun you could imagine. Aptly named the Big Brekkie Burger, it has all the good stuff including a whopping 732 calories
19.
A tasty and refreshing treat, the McFlurry Mango has chunks of crispy pie filled with creamy custard sauce and sweet flavour of mango
20.
Not from Thailand as you might assume, the Thai Green Curry Burger from McDonald’s has a juicy chicken patty served with mixed vegetables a special sauce
21.
Inspired by Malaysia’s national dish, this meal features a coconut flavoured chicken thigh coated in a cornflake crunch, all served with a special sambal sauce, fried egg, caramelised onions, and cucumber slices topped with a chilli bun
22.
Breakfast platters in Hawaii are loaded with spam and Portuguese sausage and a dessert menu with hot haupia (coconut pudding), taro pies, fried apple pies. Hawaii is the only state in America where you can get the pies fried
23.
This corn pie was introduced in 2012 in Thailand and has become one of the biggest-selling items on the menu
24.
Only available in Thailand, the McDonald’s Kaprao Crispy Chicken Rice is so much more than just fried chicken
25.
The Panzerotti are basically bitesize calzones, filled with 100 per cent Italian tomato and mozzarella
26.
The McArabia Chicken comes with two Halal grilled patties, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and garlic sauce all held together by Arabic bread
27.
The McDonald’s Big Tasty® Bacon Chili Cheese is found in Germany and has all the components you’d expect from a Big Tasty but with fiery jalapeños and creamy chili cheese sauce
28.
We’ve been led to believe that Green Tea can have health benefits, so this Boseong Green Tea Pork Burger from McDonald’s is sure to great. Described as 113g of tender and juicy pork patty, it has a rich taste of spicy cheese sauce topped with locally sourced cabbage and red onion
29.
Often compared to the humble Big Mac, the Bulgogi Burger is described as compact, without too many toppings packs a punch thanks to its distinctive flavour of a sweet sauce
30.
A slightly upgraded version of South Korea’s Bulgogi Burger, this one contains an perfect egg to add a slight variation of texture and taste. Make sure you’re hungry!
31.
The 88 Seoul Beef Burger comes with an unusual concoction by today’s burger standards of an egg salad and cabbage mix on it, which is certainly a unique
32.
McDonald’s offers the McPollo Italiano in Argentina and Chile, which comes with a grilled chicken breast sandwich and avocado guacamole and slices of tomato
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