Why does the mcrib keep coming back

Matt Damon: Clean water access frees up time for school. Facebook changes its company name to Meta amid controversies.

Barbara Corcoran: The housing boom is not a bubble. The fast food company announced Thursday that the barbecue sandwich will be available in over 10, restaurants as soon as Monday.

But, McDonald's said, the menu item will only be around for a limited time. The McRib returns as soon as next week. That's by design. Seasonal items are an important marketing tool for the food industry, according to Alexander Chernev, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Limited releases almost give consumers a Pavlovian response. For example, when the weather turns colder, Starbucks customers habitually get excited about Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Once you confirm it's available near you you'll know the trip to the drive-thru will be worth your while. Original Post, September 30, There's that old saying: "If you love something, you set it free and if it comes back to you, you must love it forever.

And so goes the story of the McDonald's McRib, which always seems to leave us as fast as it returns. Well, I'm happy to share with you that it's coming back again this fall. Mark your calendars, set your alarms, and do what you have to do to prepare for November 1. On this date, the cult-favorite McDonald's McRib sandwich will be back at participating locations nationwide.

Key word: participating locations, so be sure to check in with your local golden arches to see if they'll be one of those before you get your hopes up.

Though the McRib has a devoted fan base, it will likely never secure a permanent spot on the McDonald's menu. That's because fast food companies know that having at least one seasonal item is good for business.

When diners know that something is only around for a limited window, they're more motivated to make time to buy it than they would be if it was always there waiting for them. Temporary dishes can also add variety to a menu that's relied on the same staples for decades.

According to meat scientist Roger Mandigo, one of the people who helped invent the sandwich, the reason the McRib used to be the McRib Jr. Now, the reason the price of pork shoulder trimmings is such a decisive factor on whether or not the McRib is on the menu comes down to basic supply and demand. At some point, it would become too expensive to make the sandwich, so they take it off the menu.

So, its success is also its undoing — eventually — too. Skip to content Search for: Search Close. Close Menu. However, this made us wonder… Why is it that the McRib is not just a set menu item?