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When speaking at the McDonald’s Impact Summit, President Donald Trump urged the company to put more tartar sauce on the Filet-O-Fish.<\/p>\n
McDonald\u2019s is quietly ending the era of self-serve soda fountains nationwide.<\/p>\n
The shift, years in the making, is part of a broader effort by McDonald\u2019s to modernize its restaurants, reduce labor and maintenance demands, and adapt to changing consumer habits that increasingly favor takeout, delivery and drive-thru service over dining in.<\/p>\n
MCDONALD\u2019S GOES ALL-IN ON AFFORDABILITY: FULL MENU REVEALED FOR NEW UNDER $3 AND $4 DEALS<\/p>\n
A self-serve soda fountain at a McDonald\u2019s restaurant, a feature the company is phasing out nationwide. (Mario Tama\/Getty Images \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The company plans to complete the transition away from self-serve beverage stations in U.S. dining rooms by 2032, with the changes expected to roll out gradually over the next several years as restaurants are remodeled or updated.<\/p>\n
In many locations, drinks are already being prepared behind the counter rather than poured by customers, marking a clear departure from a long-standing self-service model that has been a staple of fast-food dining rooms for decades.<\/p>\n
For customers, the change marks the end of a familiar convenience, as self-serve stations have traditionally allowed easy refills and drink customization.<\/p>\n
MCDONALD’S PLANS MASSIVE OVERHAUL WITH MAJOR CHANGES TO RESTAURANTS AND MENUS<\/p>\n
An exterior view of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant on May 24, 2024. (Paul Weaver\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The move also gives McDonald\u2019s greater control over beverage portions, cleanliness and inventory, while cutting maintainance costs for the self-serve machines.<\/p>\n
The shift reflects a broader trend across the fast-food industry, where companies are prioritizing speed, efficiency and digital ordering over traditional dine-in experiences.<\/p>\n
At the same time, McDonald\u2019s has rolled out an expanded menu featuring new “dirty sodas” and refreshers as consumer demand shifts beyond traditional soft drinks and coffee.<\/p>\n
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McDonald’s is currently rolling out new drink options, to include ‘dirty sodas.’ (Smith Collection\/Gado\/Getty Images \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
In a statement to FOX Business, McDonald\u2019s signaled the shift, saying: “Our fans\u2019 love for McDonald\u2019s beverages runs deep\u2026 Next month, we\u2019re building on that passion with a new era of beverages, featuring a variety of Refreshers and crafted sodas rolling out nationwide.”<\/p>\n
The company added that it will share more details soon.<\/p>\n
McDonald\u2019s did not immediately respond to FOX Business\u2019 request for comment regarding the removal of the fountain machines.<\/p>\n
#McDonalds #quietly #phasing #popular #customer #perk #nationwide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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