• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
RetailMcDonald's

McDonald’s and Wendy’s Are Testing out These New Upscale Items

By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 20, 2016, 4:01 PM ET
McDonald's and Wendy's hope upgrading food offerings will bring in new, younger customers.
McDonald's and Wendy's hope upgrading food offerings will bring in new, younger customers.Bloomberg via Getty Images

McDonald’s and Wendy’s are ditching traditional burgers and fries for more upscale items.

The fast food chains are testing out items like Pesto Mozzarella Melts and Truffle Bacon Cheeseburgers, respectively, as part of its effort to attract new and younger customers.

McDonald’s (MCD) recently offered the Pesto Mozzarella Melt in Southern California, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Fortune. The sandwich, which costs $4.99, is made with a chicken patty, baby greens, a slice of tomato, two slices of natural mozzarella cheese, and creamy pesto made with real basil.

As for Wendy’s (WEN), it’s testing the Truffle Bacon Cheeseburger and Bacon Truffle Fries in Massachusetts and Tennessee, CNBC reported. The burger, which also costs $4.99, features a beef patty topped with mixed greens, Applewood smoked bacon, truffle aioli, Parmesan cheese sauce, tomato, and cheese—all between a buttery croissant bun, according to Chew Boom.

These menu items “play to Wendy’s brand positioning within the quick-service industry: ‘a cut above’ traditional fast food, yet still fully within fast food,” Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski wrote in a research note Monday, according to CNBC. Kalinowski also told CNBC that Wendy’s truffle burger is a great way to set the chain apart from its competition.

It’s not clear yet if the two chains plan to keep the menu items after the test runs. Regardless, the limited-time offers and food stunts are a sure-fire way to bring new customers in if done correctly, according to CNBC.

 

McDonald’s and Wendy’s have actively been trying to win over customers this past year. In February, McDonald’s introduced a low-carb breakfast at various locations in Los Angeles and San Diego, offering meals under both $5.00 and 500 calories. It also rolled out a bigger Big Mac last spring, as well as a Chicken-and-Pancake sandwich and chocolate-topped fries last winter. The company has also removed artificial preservatives from its chicken nuggets.

Wendy’s made a similar when it comes to its ingredients: Just last month, it announced that it would stop using chickens raised with antibiotics that are important to human health by 2017.

Fortune has reached out to Wendy’s for comment and will update the story if it responds.

About the Author
By Madeline Farber
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

mcdonalds
RetailMcDonald's
McDonald’s joins the value menu simpler is better trend with 10 items at less than $3 each
By Dee-Ann Durbin and The Associated PressApril 2, 2026
3 hours ago
retail sales
EconomyConsumer Spending
Retail sales tick up 0.6% in February before Iran war, gas price spike
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressApril 1, 2026
23 hours ago
Gen Z shoppers are actually more deliberate than baby boomers and agonize over their cart for days
RetailGen Z
Gen Z shoppers are actually more deliberate than baby boomers and agonize over their cart for days
By Jeena Sharma and Retail BrewApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Hershey is moving back to the original recipe for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups after the chocolate’s grandson blasted them last month
Lawchocolate
Hershey is moving back to the original recipe for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups after the chocolate’s grandson blasted them last month
By The Associated Press and Dee-Ann DurbinApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Five hard lessons from Allbirds’ 99% stock plunge and $39 million fire sale
Retailchief executive officer (CEO)
Five hard lessons from Allbirds’ 99% stock plunge and $39 million fire sale
By Phil WahbaApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
The beauty counter is now on your For You page as Ulta Beauty joins TikTok Shop, betting on the platform reshaping how America consumes
RetailTikTok
The beauty counter is now on your For You page as Ulta Beauty joins TikTok Shop, betting on the platform reshaping how America consumes
By Catherina GioinoMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
11 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
Success
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
Economy
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
3 days ago
Deutsche Bank asked AI if it’s true that AI will solve the economy’s inflation problems. The robots answered
Economy
Deutsche Bank asked AI if it’s true that AI will solve the economy’s inflation problems. The robots answered
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
23 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.