What exactly do you picture when you think of McDonald’s? For many, the famous golden fries are more important than the Big Mac or the McFlurry when it comes to fast food.
Many worldwide love McDonald’s crispy shoestring fries as comfort food, whether they’re just looking for a quick bite or want to treat themselves. With high-quality potatoes like Russet Burbank and Shepody, these fries are a classic treat that always scores well in taste tests.
However, recent news about one of McDonald’s main sources of fries makes people wonder what will happen to this popular food item in the future. If you’re interested in what’s going on, let’s discuss the specifics and explain it.
A Big Factory That Makes Fries for McDonald’s Shuts Down
What? Didn’t you know that McDonald’s fries aren’t made from scratch? Many think they’re cut and fried, but it’s not simple. Many fast food chains, including McDonald’s, hire outside companies to partly cook their fries before they get to your local drive-thru.
They cut the fries, fry them partway, and then quickly freeze them so that they can be cooked quickly and perfectly crispy when you order them. The fries are ready to go, thanks largely to Lamb Weston, one of the biggest producers in North America.
Lamb Weston recently made some big changes that could affect McDonald’s and other customers’ supply chains. As part of a bigger plan to restructure, the company has decided to close down one of its factories in Connell, Washington, and lay off almost 400 workers. Lamb Weston will also temporarily cut back on production elsewhere and lay off about 4% of its global workers.
Why Does Lamb Weston Have to Close?
So, why is one of North America’s biggest companies making French fries making these big changes? A drop in customer demand led Lamb Weston to close the Connell plant and lay off some of its workers. Simply put, people don’t have as many frozen fries as they used to, and the company didn’t expect many people to want frozen potatoes.
“Restaurant traffic and frozen potato demand, relative to supply, continue to be soft, and we believe it will remain soft through the remainder of fiscal 2025,” said Tom Werner, President and CEO of Lamb Weston.
This means fewer people are going out to eat, so fast food places and restaurants aren’t getting as many fries. This has made supply and demand uneven, so the business has had to make tough choices to stay in business.
It might seem like bad news for fry fans that demand is going down, but Lamb Weston is still sure that French fries will be around for a long time. A company spokesman said that this change is just a way to deal with the current state of the market and ensure that they aren’t making too many fries for people to eat.
What Does This Mean for McDonald’s?
Perhaps you’re thinking about what this all means for McDonald’s. Are those golden fries going to run out soon? Should we begin to save McDonald’s fries before they run out?
The good news is that McDonald’s seems to be running normally. Customers have been told that Lamb Weston’s restructuring and closure of one plant will not greatly affect their total production capacity. The Connell plant only comprised less than 5 percent of the company’s output. This means that, at least for now, McDonald’s fries should keep coming out as usual.
Additionally, McDonald’s is a big business for Lamb Weston. McDonald’s makes up about 13% of all sales at Lamb Weston, so any changes in how much they buy could have a big effect on the business going forward.
Food prices have increased in recent years, so McDonald’s has been offering value meals. However, even these deals have smaller amounts. Many of these value meals now come with a small order of fries instead of a big order. This change is because of the push to keep costs low while giving customers the desired food.
The Love That Never Ends for French Fries
Lamb Weston is still positive about the future of fries, even with these problems. The business said, “Lamb Weston is sure that people will always love fries.” Even though sales may have dropped recently, fries are still a popular side dish worldwide. People always want French fries at a fast food chain or a fancy diner.
The Connell plant closing could indicate how things have changed, but McDonald’s fries will still be around for a while longer.
Because of rising costs, fast food chains like McDonald’s have changed their products and serving sizes. However, fries are still something that customers expect to see. We can’t think of a McDonald’s meal without those golden, crispy fries.
What Will Happen to McDonald’s Fries Next?
Where do you think McDonald’s fries are going from here? The problems with the supply chain seem to be small for now, so most users shouldn’t notice a change. But because Lamb Weston is cutting back on production and jobs, things might change in the future if demand doesn’t rise.
One thing is for sure: fast food fans love French fries, especially McDonald’s fries. For many, fries are more than just a side dish. They’re a part of the McDonald’s experience, whether it’s the perfectly crispy texture, the familiar taste, or the ease of getting them on the go.
McDonald’s fries look like they’ll be around for a long time, even as fast food restaurants change and adapt to new problems.
Conclusion
People who like fries might be worried about the recent closing of Lamb Weston’s Connell plant, but there’s no need to worry just yet. There have been problems with McDonald’s supply chains, but the famous fries we all know and love should still be available at your neighborhood drive-thru.
There will probably be more changes in the fast food business as suppliers and chains get used to changing customer tastes and higher prices. We can rest easy, knowing that McDonald’s fries will still be around.
If you go through the drive-thru again, remember to get that famous box of golden, crispy fries. They may be one of the few fast food chains that has remained largely unchanged.
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