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Beverage Innovation Growth
Comparison of new drink rollout strategies among major chains.
Primary Sources
McDonald's CEO Was Right About the Weird-Drink Boom - Business Insider
McDonald's CEO predicted peak drink innovation. I regret to inform you: He was right. By Katie Notopoulos You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email. Senior Correspondent covering technology and culture The Orange Dream and Wtrawberry Watermelon Refresher drinks at McDonald's are part of the new "dirty soda" collection. I love it. Katie Notopoulos / Business Insider 2026-05-07T10:32:01.233Z I tried the newest drinks from McDonald's, Starbucks, and Dunkin'. Some were kind of gross (sorry, Dunkin'), but I was amazed at the variety. We are living in a moment of peak weird drinks, just like the McDonald's CEO said we'd be. Let's give McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski some credit — and maybe some absolution for his tiny bite of the Big Arch. One thing he got absolutely right was a prediction he made for this year: "You're going to see a lot of beverage innovation." Chris, my friend, you may bite a burger in a way that insults my humanity, but I must commend you on your soothsaying. We are absolutely living in the most interesting times for beverages — and I love it.To immerse myself in the sugary, iced world of beverage innovation, I tried out some of the new and weird drinks at a few big chains: Starbucks, Dunkin', and McDonald's.And while I don't think I would ever order most of them again — some of them were frankly kind of gross — I felt the thrill and invigoration of new frontiers. I felt like what it must've felt like to be among the first cavemen to harness fire, to be Watson in the other room when Alexander Graham Bell made his call, to be in the audience of Steve Jobs' iPhone presentation in 2007.McDonald's itself just launched a new drink menu of strange new concoctions this week, so I wanted to try it out. There are some new fruity drinks as well as a twist on the "dirty soda" trend.I almost ordered the Dirty Dr Pepper, but realized I have always disliked Dr Pepper, so this was not a good place to start. Instead, I went with the Orange Dream, which is Hi-C topped with vanilla cold foam. I also went for the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, which comes with little strawberry bits. The very kind cashier chatted with me about the new drinks, and said that so far, he's noticed the Sprite with cream and the Blackberry Passionfruit Refreshers have been the best sellers.Both drinks are very sweet, and kind of taste like the sum of their parts. I haven't had Hi-C in many years, possibly decades, an...
McDonald's drops 6 new drinks and a surprising fashion collab
McDonald's has long relied on high-profile collaborations to stay culturally relevant and drive consumer engagement across generations. From celebrity partnerships to limited-edition Happy Meals, these initiatives have become a major part of the company's marketing strategy.Now, the fast-food giant is expanding that playbook into new territory.McDonald's is stepping into the fashion space through an unexpected collaboration while accelerating investment in beverages, one of its fastest-growing categories.McDonald's enters fashion through collaboration with Susan AlexandraIn a surprising crossover, McDonald's (MCD) has partnered with designer Susan Alexandra to release a limited-edition collection of beaded drink carriers to combine functionality with fashion-forward design.The collection includes six colorful carriers priced between $42 and $58. Each purchase also includes a $10 McDonald's Arch Card, encouraging immediate in-store beverage purchases alongside the accessory.The collection will be available beginning May 6 on SusanAlexandra.com, while supplies last.Although McDonald's is not traditionally associated with fashion retail, the collaboration underscores its continued expansion into lifestyle branding, an area increasingly used by consumer companies to deepen engagement and extend brand reach beyond core products.McDonald's launches six new drinks designed to complement the dropThe fashion partnership follows McDonald's nationwide rollout of six new beverages, further showcasing the company's growing focus on drink innovation.Starting May 6, participating U.S. locations will offer three new Refreshers and three crafted sodas:RefreshersStrawberry Watermelon Refresher: Lemonade base with strawberry and watermelon flavors, plus freeze‑dried strawberriesMango Pineapple Refresher: Lemonade base with mango and pineapple flavors, plus strawberry popping bobaBlackberry Passion Fruit Refresher: Lemonade base with blackberry and passion fruit flavors, plus freeze‑dried dragon fruitCrafted sodasSprite Berry Blast: Sprite with blue raspberry syrup and cold foamOrange Dream: Hi‑C Orange Lavaburst with vanilla flavor and cold foamDirty Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper with vanilla flavor and cold foam"Our fans have an obsession with beverages – to them, drinks are more than just drinks," said McDonald's USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Alyssa Buetikofer in a company announcement. "Soon, our beverages won't just be a reason you come to McDonald's, they'l...
McDonald's Turns To Specialty Drinks And Ends Self Serve Sodas
McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) is rolling out six new specialty beverages across all U.S. locations starting May 6. The lineup includes three fruit focused Refreshers and three crafted sodas, paired with a ...
McDonald's ending self-serve drink fountains nationwide in major shift ...
McDonald's is gradually removing self-serve soda fountains from restaurants across the United States as part of a long-term change to its dining experience. The move marks the end of a familiar...
