McD's to Add New $4 Burger to Menu

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- The Big Mac is getting more company now that McDonald's Corp. plans to add the long-tested, Angus Third Pounder burger to its U.S. menu, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing franchise groups.

The $4 sandwiches, which will be topped with bacon, mushrooms or leaf lettuce and tomato, will go toe-to-toe with premium offerings from Burger King and Wendy's.

"They delayed introducing it because of the economic environment, but they're recognizing that all of the chains have a high-quality burger," said Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic Inc., a Chicago-based research firm. "It makes sense for them to have something to compete with the Steakhouse Burger and the Baconator."

The current version from McDonald’s—being tested in California, New York and Columbus, Ohio—is smaller than the version that appeared briefly in 2007 as the Angus Third Pounder in Chicago area stores. A slightly smaller size eliminates the need for new equipment, Danya Proud, a McDonald's spokeswoman, told the Sun-Times.

Franchises are already investing about $100,000 each in new equipment to accommodate the chain's impending specialty coffee program, according to the report.

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