McDonald’s is testing new drinks, despite its CosMc’s flop

The fast food chain announced Thursday that the drinks will be on select menus later this summer. Beginning September 2, the company will test the beverages across 500 restaurants in Wisconsin, Colorado, and surrounding areas, before expanding to other U.S. and global markets.

The new lineup includes a toasted vanilla frappe and a creamy vanilla cold brew, along with flavors tailored to younger customers like a strawberry watermelon refresher, Sprite lunar splash, and popping tropic refresher. 

“We’re seeing real momentum in beverages, with more people – especially our Gen Z fans – turning to cold, flavorful drinks as a go-to treat,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Customer Experience and Marketing Officer, McDonald’s USA in a press release. “It’s a great opportunity for us to meet our US customers’ evolving tastes and show up in new moments, like afternoon refreshment or snack breaks.”

The test run comes after the flop of CosMc’s, a standalone brand of restaurants that offered coffee, cold drinks, and snacks. The first locations were in Chicago and Texas. 

The spinoff was the company’s entry point into the growing “afternoon beverage pick-me-up occasion,” CNBC reported. While it benefitted from initial buzz, sales dwindled as the hype faded. After 18 months, McDonald’s closed three of its larger locations, with plans to open two smaller locations and bring similar drinks to its main-brand menu, CNBC reported. 

As beef prices continue to rise and customers are pulling back on fast-food purchases, drinks might be an opportunity to get people back in stores. McDonald’s U.S. same-store sales fell 3.6% in the first quarter this year, according to its latest earnings report.