McDonald's Testing Flavor Shots To Spike Interest In Beverages
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive during the tests, which began last year, in Kansas City and Bryan-College Station, Texas. But a company spokesperson says there's no telling when or if the flavor shots or other products like Dasani, Mountain Dew, Powerade, Gatorade, Lipton Green Tea, Red Bull and even PepsiCo's Mountain Dew and Arizona bottled tea will roll out nationally at McDonald's.
"It's up to the customer," says Bill Whitman for the company. "We don't project an end date."
Whitman says the world's largest fast-food chain wants to become a beverage destination.
"Anecdotally, we know our customers go to convenience stores for beverages," he tells Marketing Daily. "They go because the convenience of having a beverage in a resealable bottle is advantageous, and we appreciate that. This is an opportunity for us to provide a type of convenience."
In addition to the new types of beverages available in bottles in those markets, where the company is advertising them via local TV, McDonald's is testing flavor shots in vanilla, berry blue, cherry and sugar-free cherry.
"Our customers like to customize their favorite drinks," says Whitman, adding that consumers are trying all manner of combinations.
This strategy appears to be working for Sonic Drive-In, based in Oklahoma City, which has long offered a variety of beverages such as Cherry Limeades and Vanilla Cokes. It also offers flavor shots.
It was reported last week that Coca-Cola has developed a "Bev-olution" dispenser that can create as many as 50 different drinks and may arrive in U.S. fast-food chains in October.
Recent Marketing Daily Articles
-
United Expands Loyalty Program To Businesses May 19, 10:13 p.m.
United Airlines is launching the MileagePlus Small Business Network, the first U.S. travel loyalty program that ... -
Champs Taps Westbrook For Ad Push May 17, 4:52 p.m.
When it comes to a spokesperson deal, if you’re a star athlete you don’t necessarily have ... -
Strategic Vision: Domestics' Strong Showing In Quality May 17, 4:47 p.m.
For several years there has been convergence in the automotive market. No, we're not speaking of ... -
Athenos Unleashes 'Cooking With Yiayia' Campaign May 17, 9:48 a.m.
Julia Child she isn’t, but Yiayia brings her own, trademark irascible appeal to a new series ... -
Gen Y's Favorites: JCPenney, Target, Walmart, Kohl's May 17, 9:07 a.m.
For all of Gen Y’s ballyhooed love of techno-shopping, it turns out that retailers have little ... -
Hanes Aims Destruction Videos At Gen Y May 16, 11:25 p.m.
In an effort to encourage Millennial men to slip into its new ComfortBlend socks, tee shirts ... -
FirstBank Expands Ad Campaign May 16, 11:11 p.m.
FirstBank is extending its TV advertising for the first time outside of its home state of ... -
Jennie-O Partners With 'Recipe Rehab' May 16, 1:07 p.m.
Jennie-O products are being featured in integrations in the popular “Recipe Rehab” show, and in a ... -
2 Audiences, 2 Approaches For Samsung Monitors May 16, 12:27 p.m.
When we get consumers to shell out money for high-end computer monitors, it’s important to give ... -
Meaty: Whole Foods, Smithfield Talk Healthier Hogs May 16, 6:24 a.m.
Looks like meat marketing is stepping center stage. Whole Foods Markets, in celebration of Animal Welfare ...
Be the first to comment on "McDonald's Testing Flavor Shots To Spike Interest In Beverages "
Leave a Comment