In 1991, the catfish sandwich was McDonald’s intriguing dive into southern cuisine. The 2.3-ounce catfish patty struggled to gain widespread popularity.
Fish McBites
For three months in early 2013, Fish McBites were added to McDonald’s menu, but the public’s response was underwhelming. The meal consisted of fried nuggets of wild-caught Alaskan pollock, a substantial protein source with a mild flavor and delicate texture, and tartar sauce on the side.
Ms Monopoly
In September 2019, Hasbro attempted to make the game of Monopoly more equitable between the sexes. The resulting product was Ms. Monopoly: The First Game Where Women Make More Than Men.
At the start female players get more money than guys—$1,900 versus $1,500—and collect $240 for passing go, rather than the usual $200. The houses and hotels have been replaced by business headquarters in an attempt to step away from the stereotype of women being household bodies.
The property spaces have been replaced with patents that all were invented by women such as chocolate chip cookies, leak-proof diapers, paper shopping bag, the hairbrush, a beauty sponge, and modern shapewear. But, there are plenty of other inventions that would have been much more inspiring to include in a game aimed at children and young adults such as the submarine telescope and lamp, bulletproof vests, and binding material used on modern roofs.
McSpaghetti
McSpaghetti was introduced in the 1970s. The marinara-slathered noodles and optional meatballs were served with a side of garlic bread in a white foam takeout box. McDonald’s had difficulties with sourcing and equipment as well as the public’s annoyance with how long it took to prepare. Spaghetti isn’t exactly viewed as fast food, after all.
McDonald’s Pizza
McPizzas came out in the late ’80s as a family-sized pie. They were eventually reduced to individual-sized pies, but even with the change in measurements, the cook time was still too long for McDonald’s taste.
McDonald’s Onion Nuggets
Launched in 1978 and discontinued in 1979, McDonald’s Onion Nuggets were deep fried chunks of onion, giving them a crispy, golden outer layer. They weren’t a hit for consumers but inspired Chicken McNuggets in 1983.
National Geographic
The rise of the internet and social media has revolutionized the way we consume information. National Geographic, once a trusted source of news and entertainment, is now competing with a myriad of other outlets for our attention.
National Geographic has traditionally focused on natural history and exploration. However, in recent years, the magazine has expanded its scope to include more general interest topics, such as popular culture and current events. This shift in focus has alienated some of National Geographic’s core readership.
National Geographic has been slow to adapt to the changing media landscape. While other magazines have embraced new technologies and platforms, National Geographic has largely remained stuck in the past. This lack of innovation has made it difficult for the magazine to attract and retain new readers.
McDLT
Introduced in the 1980s, temperature was a huge issue when it came to serving the McDLT. McDonald’s wanted to serve the bottom bun and burger patty hot, but also wanted the lettuce and tomato to be cold when the sandwich reached the customer. So, instead of serving the burger wrapped in paper like most of its other offerings, the McDLT arrived in a styrofoam container with two separate compartments — one for the hot ingredients and one for the cold. Of course, this meant there was some assembly required, as the customer would then have to put their burger together themselves before digging in.
The styrofoam containers were necessary to keep the ingredients at the right temperatures — paper would not insulate the hot ingredients and separate them from cold ingredients in the same way — yet they were not great for the environment. Apparently, in the 1990s, environmental activists began criticizing McDonald’s for the amount of styrofoam they were using, and the McDLT was removed from menus to help cut down on the use of non-eco-friendly materials.
Tie Rack
Founded in 1981 and peaking at 450 stores, Tie Rack was a British-based tie retailer that also sold scarves and cufflinks.
By 2013 all the stores were closed since wearing a tie was not that necessary anymore in business meetings. Plus most men got their ties from the same place they get their shirts so no longer needed to go to a tie only store.
Tie Rack is another good example of how not adapting to the changes can cost your business a lot. If Tie Rack was able to change its products or come up with a more unique idea for selling ties, it might’ve still been around. Unfortunately, with men’s interest in ties declining, Tie Rack wasn’t a necessity anymore. A business should be able to change its operations with people’s demands if it wants to keep its customers.
McLean Deluxe
The McLean Deluxe, according to nutritional information provided by The Impulsive Buy, followed through with this vision with a 91 percent fat free beef patty. Each patty had 310 calories, 10 grams of fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, and 670 milligrams of sodium. While the sodium levels were still too high to be a truly healthy option, the burger managed to be less fatty than the average patty.