Wednesday, October 29, 2008

McRib Update: A SPECIAL REPORT from The McChronicles While At McDonald's International Media Days 2008

The McChronicles receives numerous requests for information related to The McRib. People ask:


  • Where is the McRib?

  • Why is it back?

  • Where did it go?

  • Why does it come and go?

  • What the ...?

  • and, occasionally, "There IS a McRib?"

The McChronicles promised to seek the answers - and for this risky assignment we went straight to the top. Today The McChronicles held a face-to-face discussion with McDonald's Debra McDaniel, the Senior Director of U.S. Menu Management (pictured just seconds before she dealt with the McRib issue). This makes the second time that we consulted with Debra on the McRib in two days. Here is what she had to say:


  • "When we keep the McRib on the menu, orders eventually start falling off."


  • Bringing the McRib on and off the market is "the best way to deliver it in consistent high quality" under these conditions.


  • "Another example of a product that McDonald's 'pulses' on and off the market is the Shamrock Shake." (Deb came up with that one after thinking about the question overnight - and it is a great analogy.)

So, there you have it McRib fans, straight from the source. In essence, when the McRib is allowed to remain on the menu, orders drop and the product is not sustainable. When the product comes and goes, we go wild for it and buy it like it is going out of style (which it is - until Debra brings it back).


Know one thing, Debra is a passionate McDonald's employee who truly loves her products and how they please us all. The McChronicles has seen this firsthand. She's not jerking us around - in fact, it seems like we are messing with her. The McChronicles concludes that we have met the enemy and it is us. To resolve the McRib issue we need to consistently order more McRib sandwiches. Deb would like nothing better than to make it a permanent fixture on her menu.

This has been a SPECIAL REPORT from The McChronicles.



The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: iRyanHD (poster), Debra McDaniel (The McChronicles)

13 comments:

ShaqDonalds said...

Great work guys, I love the McRib and I can't wait till it comes back. One thing I want to know is, will they ALWAYS be doing this, like, forever? I remember how scared I was last year with the McRib "Farewell Tour", thinking they will never bring it back, ever. If I know that the mcrib will always be coming back, sometime in the future, I can sleep a happy man.

Great work once again.

McChronicles said...

shaqdonalds: Rest easily tonight!

Debra made it clear that the McRib is popular and successful within corporate McDonald's - as long as they "pulse" it.

As she said, if we think of it as something like the Shamrock Shake we'll be OK.

Thanks for the interest.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure how ofter people look here, but here is a substitution for McRib lovers.

The other day I was at Wendy's saw the new buffalo or BBQ style chicken sandwich on the website. I decided to order the buffalo style. When I got home, I realized that I was given the BBQ instead. I went ahead and bit into it and i thought I was eating a McRib. I am not sure if it is the BBQ sauce, the onions or a combination of both but it tasted the same. The sandwich consist of Chicken, BBQ, onions, and pickles only. I just finished my 3rd one in 4 days.

Give it a try, let me know what you think or was I just hoping it was the same since I have not had a McRib in over a year.

McChronicles said...

@anonymous:
Sounds like a taste-off is in order.

Anonymous said...

I to had one of those Chicken BBQ Sandwiches from Wendy's and I thought the same thing. That it taste pretty close to a McRib. And I also had a few of them that week as well...... BUT ITS NOT A McRIB... But it might do the trick while the McRib is on vacation (seasonal)... I actually found this article in search of the McRib. Ive yet to track it down or figure out if it is in my Neighborhood...

Anonymous said...

I think McDonalds needs to update there web site with a McRib tracker. Similar to there store locater. I mean how hard could that be. Simply plug in your zip code and tell us if they are in the area. I cant imagine it would take that much effort from a Billion Dollar Corp. -

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

Bring em back to the netherlands plzz mr ronaldmcdonald

Anonymous said...

Just cruised into McDonalds for lunch today and low and behold the McRib is on the menu. Not only can you get the McRib combo meal but an additional McRib for a dollar. Oh yeah I definitely got the extra one! Love that McRib!

Buy cialis said...

This is a great information because sometimes we abuse eating big quantities of junk food and that's terrible specially this one.

PENNY STOCK INVESTMENTS said...

Great update

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