The McDonald's Muffin Toppers are a new lineup of McCafe snacks from the QSR brand that will provide consumers with a small, crispy and satisfying snack to enjoy with their coffee.
The new snack from the brand has a direct resemblance to the hilarious food creation first coined on the television show Seinfeld, which featured character Elaine selling muffin tops with her old boss Mr. Lippman.
The muffin snack will come in three flavor varieties including 'Blueberry,' 'Lemon Poppy Seed' and 'Double Chocolate' at roughly 4,000 locations in the US with another 3,000 locations set to retail them by the end of 2018. The McDonald's Muffin Toppers come as part of the brand's shift towards expanding the McCafe part of its menu, which will also include new apple pies and coffee cakes.
Muffin Top QSR Snacks
The McDonald's Muffin Toppers are Crunchy and Crispy
Trend Themes
1. Small Snack Revolution - The McDonald's Muffin Toppers highlight the trend of offering small, satisfying snacks that can be enjoyed on-the-go.
2. Nostalgic Food Resurgence - The resurgence of nostalgic foods like muffin tops presents an opportunity for brands to tap into consumer sentiment and create innovative products.
3. Menu Expansion Strategies - The expansion of McCafe and introduction of new snacks like the McDonald's Muffin Toppers reflect the trend of QSR brands expanding their menu offerings to cater to diverse customer preferences.
Industry Implications
1. Quick-service Restaurants - Quick-service restaurants can leverage the small snack revolution by introducing their own signature small and satisfying snacks, like muffin tops, to attract customers.
2. Bakery and Confectionery - The resurgence of nostalgic foods presents an opportunity for bakery and confectionery brands to reinvigorate their product lines by creating unique variations of popular nostalgic treats, such as muffin tops.
3. Coffee Retailers - Coffee retailers can take advantage of the menu expansion trend by introducing new coffee accompaniments, such as the McDonald's Muffin Toppers, to provide customers with a wider range of options to pair with their coffee.