Chicken has become the go-to fast-food choice for many American consumers, putting McDonald’s at a disadvantage. Sales of chicken items at McDonald’s have been lagging behind chains like Raising Cane’s, Wingstop, and Taco Bell, which all focus on crispy chicken tenders and nuggets.
To compete, McDonald’s announced on Thursday that it will reintroduce chicken strips after a five-year hiatus. Starting on May 5, the chain will launch McCrispy Strips, made with all-white chicken tenders and coated in crispy, golden-brown breading. These strips will be sold in sets of three or four, and accompanied by a new Creamy Chili dip along with other sauces such as barbecue, spicy buffalo, and ranch dressing.
The chicken strips were removed from the McDonald’s menu in 2020 during a menu overhaul aimed at simplifying operations amid the pandemic. However, due to fan requests, McDonald’s decided to bring them back.
Alyssa Buetikofer, McDonald’s Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, explained that the demand for chicken strips has been overwhelming across the industry, which led the company to create a product that would satisfy customer cravings. The new strips will also pave the way for the return of the Snack Wrap, another fan-favorite, as it uses the same chicken tenders.
The return of McCrispy Strips could help boost McDonald’s, which has faced financial challenges in recent months due to high prices and customer complaints. The company is expected to release its earnings report on May 1.
