McDonald’s is shutting down CosMc’s, its beverage-focused spinoff.

McDonald’s Shutting Down CosMc’s Spinoff After Just Two Years

McDonald’s is pulling the plug on CosMc’s, its alien-themed, beverage-focused spinoff, just two years after launching the concept.

The fast-food giant announced Friday that all five CosMc’s locations — four in Texas and one in Illinois — will close at the end of June. The standalone app and loyalty program will also be discontinued.

CosMc’s debuted in 2023 as a response to the rise of specialty beverage chains like Dutch Bros., Scooter’s, and Swig, which gained traction with Gen Z consumers. Named after a lesser-known McDonald’s alien mascot, the spinoff featured sweet, customizable drinks and light snacks, targeting customers during afternoon hours.

McDonald’s created CosMc’s to experiment with bold flavors and new technology without disrupting its core operations. Executives initially feared customizable drinks would overburden traditional McDonald’s kitchens—but in practice, fewer customers customized their drinks than expected.

Now, with McDonald’s reporting two consecutive quarters of declining sales amid economic uncertainty, the company is shifting focus back to its core menu and operations.

In a recent earnings call, CEO Chris Kempczinski said McDonald’s would continue testing some CosMc’s-inspired customizable beverages with select franchisees later this year.

“CosMc’s gave us a space to innovate,” McDonald’s said in a statement, “and helped us explore what’s possible in the fast-growing beverage category — without impacting the McDonald’s experience.”

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