McDonald's brings back snack wraps

The Snack Wrap is back at McDonald's — but not exactly how you remember it. McDonald's revived the beloved chicken-based Snack Wrap today after a nine-year hiatus, but with a flavor-adjusting twist.

The $2.99 menu item rolled out in select American stores at 10:30am with two flavors: spicy and ranch. 'Over the past few years, many brands have launched their own chicken wrap — but none match the fandom, flavor and value of the OG,' McDonald's said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

But the chain made a major tweak to the fan-favorite formula. Instead of the original chicken breast pieces used when the wrap debuted in the 2000s, the new version features McDonald's recently launched chicken tenders , called McCrispy Strips.

This ingredient swap makes the wraps easier to prepare and less labor-intensive for kitchen staff, according to CBS News . McDonald's declined to specifically on the menu item's substitution. The McCrispy Strips themselves are also a nostalgic reboot. The tenders debuted in May and are being positioned as a successor to the retired Chicken Selects, a former cult favorite.

Both revivals come as McDonald's tries to lure in inflation-weary customers. They're also leaning into America's enduring obsession with chicken. The Snack Wrap's comeback is part of a broader menu refresh aimed at boosting US sales, which dropped 3.6 percent in the first quarter.

That was the steepest drop since the Covid pandemic shut down restaurants across the US. Visits from low-income, inflation-burdened customers plunged by nearly double digits, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski revealed in May.

'Consumers today are grappling with uncertainty,' he said. 'But they can always count on McDonald’s for both exciting new menu items and delicious favorites for exceptional value, from a brand they love.' To turn sales around, the gold arched-brand is leaning hard into nostalgia, value meals, and low-cost innovation.

Restaurants extended a $5 meal deal until the end of the year to entice value-seeking shoppers. The bundle includes a choice of a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, small fries, four Chicken McNuggets, and a small soft drink. It first launched the cost-cutting offering last summer.

In May, the company said it was creating new C-Suite positions to analyze how its chicken, drinks, and desserts competed in the low-cost food market. Still, the share of Americans eating out has fallen sharply this year as inflation pressures persist.

Competitors like KFC and Pizza Hut have reported shrinking sales at their nationwide stores. Chipotle, a longtime growth darling in the industry, also reported weaker-than-expected customer interest in the first quarter. Both McDonald's and Chipotle's declines were seen as bellwethers in the suddenly-struggling restaurant industry.

To fight inflation, top restaurant bosses are worried that Americans — who have continued to express worries about the economy's strength — are turning on their stoves in place of heading through the driveway. But not everyone's feeling the pinch. Campbell's, the eponymously-named soupmaker, said its low-cost cans have been flying off grocery store shelves .

Its meal division saw a surprising 15 percent bump in sales last quarter, as customers stocked up on pantry items. 'Consumers are cooking at home at the highest levels since early 2020,' Mick Beekhuizen, the company's CEO, said.