CosMc's[a] is an American fast food restaurant, a spin-off of McDonald's.[4] It launched on December 7, 2023, with a drive-thru only concept location in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois, with nine other locations expected to open in Texas in 2024.[needs update][5] The CosMc's Brand includes McCafe products sold at each location, which are also sold at McDonalds locations.
 | |
 CosMc's first location in Bolingbrook, Illinois in 2023 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast-food restaurant |
| Founded | December 7, 2023 Bolingbrook, Illinois, U.S.[1] |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Number of locations | 7[2] |
Area served | Illinois, Texas |
Key people | Chris Kempczinski (CEO) |
| Products |
|
| Parent | McDonald's |
| Website | cosmcs |
History
editBackground
editThe name CosMc originated as a McDonaldland character, appearing in McDonald's advertisements from 1986 to 1992.[6] It is an extraterrestrial who "craves McDonald's food."[4][7] In the 1990s, McDonald's tried to expand its business by buying Donatos Pizza, Boston Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill, but within a decade they had sold off their stakes.[8]
In 2023, McDonald's started focusing more on its classic mascots and the Grimace Birthday Meal became a viral Internet phenomenon.[4][8] The specialty coffee-selling business has been growing, which McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski describes as an "attractive and fast growing category". CNN described CosMc's as McDonald's "answer to Starbucks."[9]
Launch
editThe chain was announced in July 2023.[8] The first CosMc's store opened on December 7, 2023 in the village of Bolingbrook, Illinois.[10] The opening day saw a large queue of customers in the drive-thru which is the only way to order through the restaurant.[10] CNN reported that the Bolingbrook location saw more than twice the number of visits for a typical McDonald's location, citing data from Placer.ai, with the customer base largely skewed to those aged 22-29.[11]
By 2024, McDonald's plans to have ten operational stores, including nine in Texas.[7] McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that the company would evaluate the ten stores over the following year, adding "Let's not get too excited."[12] In its first month, the store reportedly had twice the traffic of a regular McDonald's.[13]
Operations
editCosMc's is intended to sell afternoon snacks and hot and cold drinks, and has been seen as an attempt by McDonald's to enter the United States coffee market[14] and the growing market for drive-thru beverages.[12]
CosMc's outlets will have a smaller footprint than a regular McDonald's.[4] CosMc's will sell food "aimed at people with a very sweet tooth."[7] It will sell a range of products that are not sold at McDonald's, such as 10 new beverages.[15] It will also sell some foods available at McDonald's, such as the Egg McMuffin.[7] The first CosMc's shop has four drive thrus.[16]
Design
editCosMc's buildings are colored deep violet and have yellow graphics.[16]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "McDonald's announces CosMc's spin-off restaurant opens this week in Bolingbrook, shares menu details". ABC 7 Chicago. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Our Locations". CosMc's. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Lai, Amanda (December 8, 2023). "First Look at CosMc's, the New Spinoff Concept from McDonald's". McMillanDoolittle. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Lucas, Amelia (December 6, 2023). "McDonald's to open first CosMc's spinoff restaurant this week". CNBC. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Bolingbrook CosMc's restaurant serves long line of eager patrons ahead of official opening". ABC7 Chicago. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "New McDonald's concept coming to Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook". CBS Chicago. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "McDonald's unveils US CosMc's trial and global expansion". December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c Lucas, Amelia (July 27, 2023). "McDonald's is creating a spinoff restaurant brand called CosMc's". CNBC. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Wiener-Bronner, Danielle (December 6, 2023). "McDonald's unveils CosMc's, its answer to Starbucks". CNN Business. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Customers line up for hours at drive-thru for new CosMc's". CBS Chicago. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Bhatnagar, Parija (January 24, 2024). "CosMc's first location had twice as much traffic last month than a typical McDonald's | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Maze, Jonathan (December 6, 2023). "Check out McDonald's new concept, CosMc's". Restaurant Business. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Bhatnagar, Parija (January 24, 2024). "CosMc's first location had twice as much traffic last month than a typical McDonald's | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "McDonald's unveils US CosMc's trial and global expansion". BBC News. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "CosMc's: McDonald's finally reveals menu, details about spinoff restaurant". TODAY.com. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "McDonald's spinoff CosMc pops up in Midwest". FOXBusiness. December 5, 2023. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.