Fast-Food Chains Prepare for Exciting Changes in 2024

By Wilma Crank March 3, 2024 3 mins read 63 Views

Fast-food chains are known for their predictable offerings, but they are not afraid of change. Beyond expanding their menus, these popular food and beverage hotspots are making significant upgrades to their technology and finding creative ways to engage with customers. Here are nine exciting changes you can expect to see in 2024.

Quick Summary of Article

1. Upgraded McDonald's Burgers

McDonald's is planning to upgrade its burgers by 2024. These changes include softer buns, juicier beef patties with caramelized flavor, and perfectly melted cheese. The chain is also making more than 50 additional tweaks to its burgers, such as cooking the beef patties in smaller batches for a more uniform sear. The upgraded burgers are already available in select locations and will be served at all U.S. locations by early 2024.

2. Additional CosMc Test Locations

McDonald's spinoff brand CosMc's recently opened its first location in Bolingbrook, Ill. This small-format concept offers a variety of beverages that can be customized with ingredients like popping boba and flavored syrups. Customers can also order a limited selection of sandwiches, bites, baked goods, and soft serve treats. McDonald's plans to open about 10 pilot CosMc locations, with nine of them in the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas of Texas, by the end of 2024.

3. Redesigned Burger King Locations

Burger King is undergoing a major makeover with its new restaurant prototype called "Sizzle." These upgraded locations feature a sleek, modern design, digital ordering kiosks, and streamlined drive-thru and pickup lanes. The chain plans to have about half of its U.S. locations redesigned by the end of 2024. Burger King is also acquiring Carrols Restaurant Group, which will further accelerate its growth.

4. More Vegetarian Options at Taco Bell

Taco Bell is expanding its value offerings for vegetarian and flexitarian customers with the permanent addition of its Veggie Build Your-Own-Cravings Box. This meal includes a choice of specialty and classic items, a side, and a medium fountain drink for $5.99. However, customers can only order this box through Taco Bell's website or app.

5. BYO Starbucks Cups

Starbucks is encouraging customers to bring their own clean personal cup to company-operated stores and participating licensed stores. This initiative is part of Starbucks' effort to reduce waste and offers a 10-cent discount to customers who bring their own cup. All of Starbucks' standard cup sizes can be ordered with personal cups.

6. AI-Powered Drive-Thrus at Wendy's

Wendy's is expanding its use of artificial intelligence at the drive-thru. The fast-food chain has been testing an AI chatbot called Wendy's FreshAI, which can take orders and handle menu customizations and configurations. Wendy's plans to add the AI chatbots to more restaurants throughout 2024.

7. Shorter Wait Times at McDonald's

McDonald's is implementing "Ready on Arrival" technology to reduce wait times for mobile order customers. This technology uses geofencing to alert employees when a customer is within three minutes of the location, prompting them to start preparing the food. Tests have shown a 60-second reduction in wait time, resulting in higher customer satisfaction scores.

8. Upgraded Domino's App & Website

Domino's is revamping its mobile app and website to provide a more modern look and faster navigation experience. These improvements will be gradually rolled out over the next year, with the new website launching by the fourth quarter of 2024.

9. More Fast-Food Locations

Several fast-food chains have ambitious expansion plans for 2024. Chipotle expects to open 285 to 315 new restaurants, while Qdoba plans to open 60 additional locations. McDonald's has the most ambitious goal, aiming to open 10,000 new locations over the next four years, marking the fastest period of growth in company history.