A Look Back: Where We Started

On December 7, 2023, we kicked off a year of adventure, innovation and exploration. 

We officially began testing a new small-format, beverage led concept from the McDonald’s universe named CosMc’s - a truly out-of-this world experience with its own unique brand and identity- and opened our first location in Bolingbrook, Illinois to an incredible reception.   

What had been speculated about for weeks was finally available to the public – and the enthusiasm was undeniable. People lined up for hours, with some fans even flying in from as far as the UK and France, to experience CosMc’s. From the Chai Frappe to the variety of the McPops – people could just not wait to try the out of this world menu!  

Innovation at Pace: Expanding Our Horizons

CosMc’s is another great example of the innovation that McDonald’s has always been known for.  

In just a little over one year, CosMc's has not only expanded its footprint – with one location in Illinois and six in Texas – but has also increased our overall knowledge of the beverage space allowing us to make thoughtful updates to the menu as the brand and concept has grown. The CosMc’s team has been working hard to scale rapidly, generate new and exciting ideas, and keep learning through feedback from fans.   

So, what have we learned over this past year?

• Intergalactic flavors are loved by Earthlings. CosMc’s customers have responded positively to the menu and embraced the bold flavors! 

- Some of our best-sellers include the Island Pick Me Up Punch, Churro Cold Brew Frappe and the Sour Energy Burst. But don’t forget to add the Fruity Popping Boba – which is CosMc’s most popular drink customization!

- Savory Hashbrown Bites seem to be everyone’s favorite food menu item – no matter the time of day! On the sweet side, McPops are an easy favorite – with hundreds of thousands sold.

• Sometimes the smallest stars shine the brightest. Since opening CosMc’s, we have had the benefit of testing out different location sizes and setups – from revamping larger restaurant spaces to building smaller prototype locations that focus more on the drive-thru and digital experience. We learned that the smaller format stores allow us to test new, unique circumstances that are reflective of our customer base. As a result, we will open two new smaller format stores in Texas in 2025, and close three of the larger locations that were remodeled into CosMc’s locations.  

CosMcs in Texas

• There is so much more to learn – and space exploration continues! We have just scratched the surface about what we can learn about this growing category. The tests will continue for the foreseeable future as CosMc’s continues to grow – and we can’t wait to learn more… 

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey.