McDonald’s is gearing up to feed a growing consumer group on weight-loss drugs.
In a Wednesday earnings call, McDonald’s executives talked about how the chain was testing menu items for more customers on GLP-1s.
CEO Chris Kempczinski said he expects GLP-1 adoption to continue to grow, adding, “as adoption grows, we know that consumers’ behavior changes.”
He said these customers are interested in protein-rich products, and that McDonald’s already has a menu of high-protein dishes. Vice President Jill McDonald chimed in with examples of McDonald’s Snack Wraps, Sausage Biscuit sandwich, and chicken McCrispy Strips.
“But we’re also seeing changes around maybe less snacking, changes in some of the beverages that they drink, less sugary drinks,” Kempczinski said. “And so all of those things are factoring into some of what we’re out there experimenting with and testing with.”
Jill McDonald added that the team has ideas in the works for how to better serve customers on GLP-1 drugs in the long term, though she did not share any additional details.
GLP-1 adoption in the US is on the rise. An EY consumer products expert told Business Insider last year that 10% of the entire US population was on some form of GLP-1 drugs. These drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, are known to suppress appetite, leading to users opting for small portion sizes.
And it’s reshaping the US food and beverage sector.
It’s not just McDonald’s that’s thinking of this growing customer base. Brands that sell packaged foods, like General Mills and Conagra Brands, have smaller-portion products targeted at people with shrinking appetites. Conagra Brands, which owns brands like Slim Jim and Marie Callender’s, labels some of its Healthy Choice frozen meals as “GLP-1 Friendly.”
Shake Shack in December introduced its “Good Fit Menu,” with high-protein, gluten-free, vegetarian, and “GLP-1-friendly” choices. The menu included three burgers wrapped in lettuce instead of buns.
McDonald’s reported a 5.7% increase in global comparable sales in its latest quarter, with sales of about $7 billion. Its stock price remained relatively flat after earnings were announced.
