McDonald’s to change menus in restaurants and stores – NBC Chicago

Major changes are coming to McDonald’s restaurant menus as the Chicago-based burger chain continues to “optimize” how customers place orders, pay and receive their food, according to a spokesperson.

These changes follow McDonald’s recent announcements of a new Crocs Happy Meal, a mini McFlurry and the extension of a popular $5 meal into the winter.

Some McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. will begin “repurposing” full menus behind the counter to highlight only specials and popular items, according to a spokesperson. At those restaurants, customers will be encouraged to order through the app or at a kiosk, which accepts cash or credit card payments. Customers will still be able to choose to order from crew members at the counter, the spokesperson added.

Many restaurants will offer “Guest Experience Leads” to help diners adjust to the changes, the spokesperson said.

“We are digitally focused, values-driven and culture-driven, and we will continue to reinvent ourselves to meet the needs of our guests and restaurant teams where they are today and where they will be tomorrow,” McDonald’s USA CEO Chris Kempczinski said during a second-quarter earnings call.

Customers can expect to see the changes at some new restaurants in the future, the spokesperson added. It’s not yet clear which U.S. restaurants will adopt the changes, or what the timeline will be for implementation.

Last year, McDonald’s announced another big change to its dining rooms: the phaseout of self-serve soda and drink vending machines.

Instead, beverage stations will be “team-managed,” meaning employees will no longer give customers a cup to fill themselves.

The change is intended to create a more consistent experience across all points of ordering, a spokesperson said, including McDonald’s delivery, drive-through, app or in-restaurant. It is expected to roll out over the next 10 years as new restaurants are built or existing ones are renovated.