McDonald's faces lettuce shortage after snack wrap's return

In the United States, McDonald's has recently faced a temporary shortage of shredded lettuce linked to the overwhelming popularity of the recently reintroduced Snack Wrap. After being off the menu since 2016, the Snack Wrap made its comeback on July 10, and customers responded with great enthusiasm. The rapid surge in demand for this item directly affected the availability of lettuce needed for other menu offerings, prompting the chain to advise U.S. franchisees to manage their supplies carefully. Reports indicate that to maintain lettuce availability, McDonald’s instructed locations to refrain from adding shredded lettuce to different sandwiches, including the McChicken. This decision was necessary to navigate the temporary dip in supply, which was driven entirely by the robust consumer response to the Snack Wrap's return. The company expressed its surprise and admiration at the level of interest they received, with spokesperson remarks highlighting crowded locations and significant social media buzz. The return of the Snack Wrap has come at a crucial time for McDonald’s, which was previously dealing with a significant drop in sales, approximately 3.6 percent year-over-year, marking one of the worst performances the company faced since the early COVID-19 pandemic. The factors contributing to this downturn included reduced spending by low and middle-income consumers, attributed to rising food prices across the economy. Consequently, bringing back a beloved menu item like the Snack Wrap has provided a much-needed boost to their sales figures. As the company navigates its recovery from an economic slump exacerbated by changing consumer behavior, they must also contend with external challenges. McDonald's has faced criticisms in recent times, such as calls for a boycott from various groups citing issues like price gouging and unfair labor practices. Additionally, the chain has expressed concerns that foreign markets may feel the impact of growing anti-American sentiments due to current U.S. trade actions under the previous administration. This situation suggests that while the Snack Wrap's return has fueled renewed interest and excitement, McDonald's will have to deal with ongoing operational and reputational challenges going forward.