10 Fast Food Restaurants That Tried Something Wild and Failed
These 10 fast food chains introduced new items or concepts that failed due to poor reception, low sales, or operational issues.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Fast food companies often experiment with new menu items to attract different types of customers. Some ideas fail because they don’t match customer expectations or are too difficult to manage. These 10 examples show how even large brands can misjudge the market.
1. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
The Arch Deluxe was introduced in 1996 as a premium burger aimed at adults. It featured a special mustard-mayonnaise sauce, potato bun, and more upscale ingredients. The marketing focused on its “grown-up” appeal, which confused customers used to family-friendly advertising. The item failed to generate interest, resulting in a cost to the company of over $100 million in development and advertising.
2. Burger King’s Satisfries
Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
Satisfries were introduced in 2013 as a lower-calorie, lower-fat alternative to regular fries. They used a different batter to absorb less oil and were marketed as a healthier option. Many customers complained about the texture and the higher price. Sales were poor, and most locations removed them from the menu by 2014.
3. Taco Bell’s Seafood Salad
E4024 on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1980s, Taco Bell offered a seafood salad that included shrimp, whitefish, and imitation crab in a taco shell bowl. The item was introduced during the Lenten season to compete with other seafood chains. Concerns about freshness and food safety deterred customers. The product was removed from the menu shortly after.
4. Domino’s Oreo Dessert Pizza
Gannu03 on Wikimedia Commons
Domino’s introduced the Oreo Dessert Pizza in the mid-2000s. It was a flat pizza crust topped with Oreo crumbs and icing. Many people found it too sweet or difficult to eat cleanly. It was discontinued due to low customer interest.
5. Wendy’s Superbar
Phillip Pessar on Wikimedia Commons
Wendy’s added the Superbar in the late 1980s as a self-service buffet offering salad, pasta, and Mexican food. While popular with some customers, it caused problems in terms of food safety, cleaning, and staffing. Maintaining it during peak hours was difficult for employees. The Superbar was phased out in the 1990s.
6. Pizza Hut’s Priazzo
Dinkun Chen on Wikimedia Commons
Pizza Hut launched the Priazzo in the mid-1980s as a thick, Italian-style pie with multiple layers of toppings and cheese. It took longer to prepare and cook than regular pizzas. Although it was heavily advertised, it was too complicated for the fast-paced environment. Customers eventually lost interest, and it was taken off the menu.
7. KFC’s Double Down
Michael Saechang on Wikimedia Commons
The Double Down was introduced in 2010 and used two fried chicken fillets as the “bun” with cheese and bacon in the middle. It received widespread media attention for its high calorie and sodium content. While it had strong initial sales, many considered it more of a novelty than a regular meal choice. KFC removed it from the menu in most countries after a short run.
8. Starbucks’ Mazagran Coffee Soda
Herbeater on Wikimedia Commons
In 1994, Starbucks and PepsiCo released Mazagran, a bottled coffee soda with a citrus twist. It was sold in California as a test product. Customers disliked the carbonated coffee flavor, and sales were consequently poor. The drink was discontinued shortly after, though it helped lead to the creation of Starbucks’ bottled Frappuccino line.
9. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Bacon Donut Sandwich
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Dunkin’ introduced the Glazed Donut Breakfast Sandwich in 2013, with bacon and egg between two glazed doughnuts. It was intended to blend sweet and savory flavors. It got attention online but did not become a regular menu item. It was quietly removed from most locations within a year.
10. McDonald’s McSpaghetti
Ramon FVelasquez on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s tested McSpaghetti in the United States in the 1980s as part of a dinner menu that included lasagna and fettuccine. The goal was to compete with casual dining restaurants. Customers did not associate McDonald’s with pasta, and the preparation time was too long for a fast food setting. The item was discontinued in most markets, although it still exists in select countries like the Philippines.