McDonald's has announced the closure of its beverage-focused spinoff chain, CosMc's, less than two years after its launch. The decision comes as part of a strategic shift to integrate successful elements from CosMc's into traditional McDonald's locations.
CosMc's: A Brief Overview
McDonald's launched CosMc's in December 2023 to try out a new idea focused on specialty drinks.They served creative drinks like the French Toast Galaxy Latte and Pistachio Swirl Shaken Espresso.The chain had a space-style look and mainly offered drive-thru and pickup options. Despite initial enthusiasm, McDonald's has decided to close all CosMc's locations by late June 2025. The closures include five locations: four in Texas and one in Illinois.CosMc’s app and points program will be shut down after June 23, 2025.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that while CosMc's provided valuable insights into customer preferences for bold flavors and customization, the complexity of the drinks made them challenging to implement on a larger scale. The company also cited underperforming sales and a broader decline in customer spending as factors influencing the decision.
Integration into Main McDonald's Menu
Rather than expanding CosMc's as a separate brand, McDonald's plans to incorporate some of the most popular CosMc's beverages into its main restaurant menus. A new beverage category team has been formed to oversee this initiative, aiming to introduce these specialty drinks to hundreds of McDonald's locations later this year.