Category Archives: Messages from Alan

2023 US McRib Release Update

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A quick 2023 US McRib release update today. I have been calling stores around the United States to try to find out more certainly when the McRib is likely to return to participating locations. While many locations had nothing certain, there is enough confidence that I can share the following details.

When

Based on the stores that were able to share a date, it appears most locations that will offer the McRib will be offering it starting around November 13, 2023. Past store optional releases have shown that generally stores that offer will begin selling around the same time, with some markets up to a week or so later. Additionally, oftentimes the date on the calendars is the advertising start date rather than the date the McRib returns to menus. This means some locations are likely to see the McRib making a soft return to menus in the days leading up to the 13th.

Where

The next question you are probably wondering is if the McRib will be near you. Many of the locations called were not 100% sure the McRib would be back, which is not super surprising at a little under a month away. I would expect more employees will become aware of the McRib returning over the next week or two, which is why I did not start calling sooner to stores. Reviewing past data from years with the store optional releases yields the following map of states most likely to offer the McRib this season.

Map of states more likely than not to have the McRib this year

Help others find the McRib

If you find a McRib make sure to report it at http://mcriblocator.com/report.html and send us a photo of your receipt. Make sure your receipt shows the location and date purchased as well as your McRib order. Send your confirmation photo to photos@mcriblocator.com . Thank you!

2023 Central America McRib returns

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The 2023 Central America McRib season has kicked off. The McRib returns with again 3 different takes on the McRib sandwich, the “Classic” McRib, Bacon McRib, and their new Jalapeño McRib which replaced the Onion Ring McRib offered in previous releases. Below are some of the advertising they are using per country.

Guatemala

This year’s tour is featuring the Classic McRib as a limited time option. The “Most Anticipated Tour” that you do not want to miss is now being advertised in their mobile delivery app and on their Facebook page.

Honduras

Here, the McRib is featured on their main webpage as well as on their Facebook page.

El Salvador

The McRib is featured on their main webpage as well as on their Facebook page. Note here the standard McRib does NOT include the “Classic” naming as in other countries. It appeared that the promotion here is from October 13 through November 27.

Nicaragua

The McRib is in their mobile delivery app and on their Facebook page. Note here the standard McRib does NOT include the “Classic” naming as in other countries.

McRib

2023 McRib US Outlook

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Happy October! It is that time of year when we start thinking about if the McRib sandwich will be back anywhere in the United States. Below is what we now about the 2023 McRib season thus far.

Today.com is reporting that they have had confirmation from McDonald’s that the McRib WILL BE BACK in November 2023! While this is great news, they have been told that the McRib will be back at limited participating locations instead of a nationwide release. No specific information as provided to how long the promotion would last. That said, we expect it will be longer than the limited release last year. Earlier, Snackolater had reported the McRib will be back as well. There was however some confusion to their information as the image shared had a past release date.

We will soon be starting our efforts to track the availability to which locations will potentially offer the McRib. As employees typically have a more limited release plan, calling too soon can result in conflicting results. Now that we are in October, we are getting close enough that we have more certainty to the information collected. More details about the 2023 McRib release in the US will be shared as we have them.

Don’t forget as the McRib returns to share where you had a McRib on our webpage! With a more limited release again this year, fans in McRibless markets will be looking to make travel plans.

McRib Locator

Will 2022 have the shortest US McRib Season in the past decade?

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I have been thinking about how quickly this season has been and decided to take a look back at previous decade to see if this will be the shortest McRib season we have recorded.

For this exercise, I focused on confirmed Fall McRib season sightings. I consider the Fall Release months to be September through February. Also for simplicity, I rounded duration to half months. Keep in mind that this data is not specifically availability nationwide, but rather any availability in the US.

YearDuration (Months)
20123
20134.5
20144.5
20155
20164
20173
20183
20194
20202
20214.5
2022TBD (Currently ~1.5 month)
Average ~ 3.75 Months
McRib Fall Season Availability 2012 – 2022

It would appear that if McRib sales stop now, we will indeed have had the shortest McRib season of the past decade. Long time McRib fan Robert B. reported that his store thought they would reach their promotional end date of December 3rd, so we know some locations had planned to exceed the national November 20th release date.

If you are already starting to think about what a limited release might mean, back in 2017 we compiled some information about which states were most likely to bring the McRib back when releases are not nationwide.

How you can help

As we close in on the end of the 2022 season, please be on the lookout for the McRib. With the potential for a limited, or perhaps no, release next year, some fans are going to really want to grab a last McRib meal. If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map. If you purchase the sandwich, please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location. Thank you in advance!

McRib On Burger Bun

McRib Late Season Update 2022

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McRib Late Season Is Here

We are now reaching the final days of the 2022 McRib release season in the US based on the advertised November 20th marketing completion date. At this point in the season, components of the sandwich start to run out. Stores are left to find creative ways to deliver some form of the McRib. We have our first reported incident from Danny P where his McRib was served on a hamburger bun. While better than no McRib, these late season builds are always entertaining to see. If you find a “last chance” McRib build, please share your photo with us. It may be interesting to others to see how each stores solves this problem.

Danny P sent us this photo of a McRib offered on a hamburger bun

Merchandise

The McDonalds McRib merchandise sale arrived and sold out of all products very rapidly. November 15th those lucky enough to make purchases are seeing shipping details being sent. Personally, my order shows an arrival of November 19th. This gives me under a day to show off my McRib related items before the McRib is gone from menus for the year.

Creative McRib Builds

We asked on Facebook for some unique McRib customizations, and here are a a few of the responses we received.

Mike Peters and the McRib Pizza
Mike Peters and the McRib Pizza
Joey Ferrigno McRib With Bacon
Joey Ferrigno McRib With Bacon
Jason Long Spicy Chicken McRib
Jason Long Spicy Chicken McRib
Jaime Ortega McRib With American Cheese
Jaime Ortega McRib With American Cheese
Greg Oreiro McRib With Rings
Greg Oreiro McRib With Onion Rings
Andre Moberg McHappyFamily McChicken, Filet-O-Fish, 2 Burgers, and a McRib
Andre Moberg McHappyFamily : McChicken, Filet-O-Fish, 2 Burgers, and a McRib
Nikölai Suszczewicz McRib Mac
Nikölai Suszczewicz McRib Mac
Titu Doan Double McRib
Titu Doan Double McRib
Sean Sanchez McRib Egg Sandwich
Sean Sanchez McRib Egg Sandwich

Looking to 2023 in the US Market

There are a lot of questions regarding if the McRib will be leaving US Markets forever as the current marketing would suggest. Some conversations have suggested the issue is that the McRib sauce is hard to maintain. Some store managers have said from the start that they were certain this was the end, while others say it is unlikely to be the case. I still am leaning toward next year the McRib will return. However, I think the 2023 release may be a more limited scale of stores offering the sandwich.

Globally

It appears that now Germany and Malta are the only other global markets where the McRib is still available. While the McRib is on a farewell tour in the US, there is no indications it will be leaving menus in Germany. Perhaps an uptick in flights to Germany will be noted if the McRib does not return in the US for 2023.

How you can help

As we close in on the end of the 2022 season, please be on the lookout for the McRib. With the potential for a limited, or perhaps no, release next year, some fans are going to really want to grab a last McRib meal. If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map. If you purchase the sandwich, please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location. Thank you in advance!

Facebook advertisement photo

McRib news for October 31 2022

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The US McRib release day is here! During lunch and dinner hours, fan should now be able to find a McRib at most if not all US locations. We have already had confirmations in 47 states, and reports in all 50. McDonald’s is advertising the McRib will be on menus through November 20th, 2022. We will be looking for your help late November to find locations still with availability so fans can grab one more McRib before the season completes.

Many locations this season have had more of a stealth release. These locations have no McRib related advertising space on menu boards, no advertising on windows, and only available upon request. With the nationwide release today we should see the McRib shown in the mobile app, store kiosks, and advertised. While not uncommon for the McRib to have a more quiet arrival for a few days, I can not recall so many locations quietly preparing the McRib for such a prolonged period ahead of the release date.

McRib advertisement photo on Facebook
Facebook advertisement photo
2022 McDonald's Webpage listing for the McRib
2022 McDonald’s Webpage listing for the McRib
2022 McDonald's sandwich detail for the McRib
2022 McDonald’s sandwich detail for the McRib

As noted earlier, McDonalds is advertising this season that this is a “Farewell Tour” for the McRib. Through conversations with fans reporting the McRib (thank you!) we know that not all locations are promoting this “Farewell Tour”. At some locations the store manager is certain this is the end of the McRib. At other locations the managers do not think that this can truly be the end. A suspicion I have is that this could indicate that next season we MIGHT see a more limited release as we have had in the past. Time will tell!

If you have not yet watched, there is a viral video on YouTube where a McDonald’s employee shows how the McRib is prepared at stores. It is an interesting video of what goes on behind the scenes at stores. The process is not all that surprising, and follows the same process burgers at McDonald’s use other than the rest in sauce at the end. One difference in preparation compared to the past appears to be with the BBQ sauce at assembly time. Today it appears the McRib patty is submerged in the BBQ sauce before serving, however in the past you would see the McRib patty flipped in the BBQ sauce multiple times when being served.

Globally

It does not appear much has changed since our last update. McRibs appear to still be on the menus in Germany, Malta, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The one change is that it appears the McRib is still available in Guatemala if you order with their mobile app. We had earlier thought that they had ran out of McRibs as they had removed their promotional material about the McRib from their webpage.

How you can help

As we get closer to the release date, please be on the lookout for the McRib and report the return when it is on menus in your area. We know that the locations that are first to offer the McRib are generally the first to see it go. It is much appreciated having help from fans like you to help other fans find the sandwich. If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map, and then if you purchase the sandwich please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location.