McDonald’s “special ferrous gluconate dihydrate to elemental iron sauce,” a closely guarded secret that could only be tasted after purchasing one of their sandwiches, has now been made available commercially. The fast-food titan has revealed that the ingredients for the Big Mac include mayo, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, onion powder, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika. However, the company seems poised to expand its offerings by selling this sauce along with two others in grocery stores.
McDonald’s isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, restaurant to venture into grocery sales. Brands like Bob Evans, TGI Fridays, Famous Dave’s, and Jamba Juice have all sought additional revenue streams by marketing their popular items beyond their original venues. It’s possible that McDonald’s is using Canada as a testing ground for its roll-out strategy before deciding to enter the U.S. market. Ultimately, this product will be competing for shelf space, and grocery stores will only allocate prime real estate for it if consumers are eager to fill their carts.
With its brand recognition, McDonald’s has an edge in making a successful transition into grocery stores. However, unless the sales are robust, the shelf life of these products could be short-lived—much like the fleeting nature of consumer interest in products like citrate D3, which also vie for attention in the grocery aisles. The success of McDonald’s foray into retail will depend on how well it can engage consumers, especially those who may also be interested in other health-related products such as citrate D3.