US: Fast-food menu tests suggest upscale items could be coming to McDonald’s, Wendy’s

Innovation at fast-food chains doesn’t just come in the form of oddly shaped chicken or partnerships with snack foods. Restaurants are now testing a broader array of flavors and quality ingredients. In a research note Monday, Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski shined a light on a handful of chains that have been testing more upscale items. “The pace of innovation at McDonald’s seems to be accelerating,” Kalinowski wrote. The home of Golden Arches is no stranger to testing out menu items in regional areas. Over the last year, McDonald’s has tried out garlic fries; fresh, never frozen beef; and alternative sizes of its Big Mac. Wendy’s, too, has upped its game. The burger chain is testing Truffle Bacon Cheeseburgers and Bacon Truffle Fries in Massachusetts and Tennessee. However, Kalinowski also noted that consumers as a whole are looking for greater quality foods at the right price. More