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Will CosMc’s Take Off? Social Media Response Could Determine the New McDonald’s Subbrand’s Fate

Social media buzz could become the deciding factor in whether this beverage-focused spinoff captures a slice of the booming customizable drink market

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By Laura Murphy · Bolt PrCosmc’sCustomizable DrinksDrink and Coffee Market
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Key takeaways

01

McDonald's introduces CosMc’s spinoff in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

02

CosMc’s targets the $100 billion customized drink and coffee market.

03

Social media response could decide CosMc’s success.

McDonald's latest experiment in the customizable drink and coffee market could make a cosmic splash in the industry if the social media response to the concept turns out positive.

McDonald's is introducing its CosMc's spinoff in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a new venture combining a unique, beverage-led menu with classic and innovative offerings. This small-format concept, primarily targeting the $100 billion customizable drink and coffee market, features a range of customizable drinks, specialty coffees, and snack options designed to cater to afternoon cravings. The launch of CosMc's, part of McDonald's broader expansion strategy, aims to test the market with 10 locations, focusing on areas like Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Emphasizing customer convenience, CosMc's integrates a digital and Drive-Thru experience for a suite of bold, personalized beverage selections and a select range of food items. This initiative represents McDonald's latest effort to create a distinctive, customer-centric dining experience, with its success potentially guiding further expansion.

Is McDonald's expansion into the low-end, beverage-driven QSR market with CosMc's a strategic move to compete against established coffee giants, and what factors will influence its success in this new venture?

Laura Murphy, Senior Vice President at Bolt PR, provides insightful analysis of McDonald's foray, highlighting the brand's evolution and potential impact in the current social media-driven market landscape. Murphy has 10+ years of experience working on branding & marketing strategies for major chains like McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, Chuy's Tex Mex and Bonefish Grill.

"McDonald's is able to do the same thing [as Starbucks], but now they're taking it a step further and creating a sub-concept in addition to one that is just so well known… that word-of-mouth is everything," Murphy said. "People use social media to determine whether or not they want to try something."

People use social media to determine whether or not they want to try something.
— Laura Murphy, Senior Vice President at Bolt PR
Video TranscriptExpand ↓

They're always known just as a Burger and Fry brands, but they reintroduced the Subram academy back then, and it has taken off. And in fact, they'd be safe to say, It is now synonymous with McDonald's name. Wanna talk about this new sub brand of McDonald's Cosemix. I think it's all again. I'd even be safe to say this is kind of a phase two of going up against some of the coffee giants in the world. But we all know that they have found a significant footprint in an area that McDonald's really hasn't quite yet been able to partake in. And similar to two thousand nine, but Donald was not, or not even a thought being a coffee grands. There was not even just the idea that they would actually get to this point, and they did. They were always known just as a program fry brand, but they introduced the Bram a cafe back then, and it has taken off. And in fact, it'd be safe to say it is now synonymous with McDonald's name. So you now take Cosmix. You take this concept. McDonald's is so rooted in its DNA of being who they are, so you can go there for a quick meal. You can go there for quick coffee. Can go there for quick desserts. It's convenience. It's affordable, and there's nostalgia associated with it. With Starbucks predominantly has owned this area. They will push the envelope with creativity. I mean, we all remember the unicorn drank, and it's like they just know how to capitalize on opportunities with consumers. McDonald's is able to do that same thing, but now they're taking it a step further and they're actually creating a sub concept in addition to one that is just so well known. And now we live in a world where social media is everything. In two thousand nine, when we were doing the test market for Mccafe. There's no way I would have ever considered this as a success strategy looking at that word-of-mouth marketing from a social media lens. If it's really by that brand loyalty because, you know, people are going on TikTok and doing videos, doing lives as they're experiencing this brand. What they say, how they say it, how they convey it, and the positivity that comes from that, that will determine and be a huge success driver for them because that word-of-mouth is everything. People use social media to determine whether or not they wanna try something.

About the author

LM
Laura Murphy

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About the Expert

LM
Laura Murphy