Tag Archives: McRib Locator

Last McRib?

October 23, 2022 McRib Update

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US

This week marks the more official kick-off to the 2022 season! October 26, 2022 will see many locations that have been planning to offer the sandwich bring the McRib to the menu. Here is an example from Nashville supporting this release date.

While we wait for this day to arrive, many locations have started their soft launches for the McRib this year. Much like my personal experience, many fans are reporting that the McRib was available upon request, however there was no signage for the McRib yet nor was the sandwich available on the mobile app or via the in-store kiosk. Expect promotional materials prior to the 26th, in fact my local store put up signage today.

October 23, 2022 US McRib reports
McRib Reports in the US as of October 23, 2022.
October 23, 2022 US confirmed McRib reports
Confirmed McRib Reports in the US as of October 23, 2022.

Farewell Tour?

Last McRib?
Will this be the end of the McRib?

The more interesting item this season is that many locations are promoting the McRib this year as a “Farewell Tour”. Some fans are indicating that after talking with the store manager that their manager has been told this is the last year for the McRib. Some have signs that say “Enjoy it like it’s your last” or “This could be your last bite”, which are a bit disturbing in the sense of the McRib being gone, or perhaps even more as some have suggested a more threatening tone.

More promotion of this “Farewell Tour” can be found on the McDonald’s site. I suspect we will start seeing more material as the nationwide release gets closer. Notice that their posting is also showing November 20th as the end of the nationwide campaign.

McRib description from the McDonald’s Site as of October 23, 2022


Purely speculation at this time, however this promotion could be a hint that next year will NOT be a nationwide release. We are not that far removed from the less favorable McRib years where only select sales groups decided to offer the McRib, sometimes at the dismay of individual store owners.

This could also be a sales strategy to see if this will drive even more sales of the McRib this year. In previous years, McDonald’s has utilized the McRib offering as a way to round out their quarterly numbers. We have been told in the past the McRib was going away, only to see the sandwich return in some form the following year if limited or even smaller (McRib JR). This makes it hard to believe the sandwich would be on the way out the door, even if the Hamburglar was behind this scheme.

Globally

McRib season is unfortunately coming toward an end in Central America. Guatemala ended their promotion this past week. The McRib remains on the menu for now in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Based on how long Guatemala offered the McRib, it will not be long before it leaves Central America for the season.

McRib Lover Listing from October 2022
Bacon McRib from October 2022

Malta is still going strong with their McRib offering. They recently shared this all too real scenario for fans of the McRib.

McDonald’s Malta Shared this advertisement

Germany is a year round fan of the McRib, however we also had a report and confirmation there this past week.

October German McRib
German McRib courtesy of Ben and Trish

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.

2020 US McRib release has been delayed

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Update (October 30, 2020) : McRib to return nationwide for a limited time in United States starting December 2, 2020. More details found in Business Insider

Earlier details :

Earlier we had reported that the US McRib release was going to be late October into early November. This was based on information gathered from individual stores and also information shared from fans that have access to some of these details. Unfortunately, our latest information is suggesting that the 2020 year of bad news has struck again. Specifically in this case, the 2020 US McRib release has been delayed.

What we know currently is there are stores that have already received the McRib boxes used to serve the sandwich. These same locations have not yet received the McRib product components themselves. Some locations we spoke with indicated they know the McRib is scheduled to return, however they could only say they were expecting it sometime yet this year. Another location indicated that their store calendar still has a meeting slated for this week to cover the McRib release. This calendar reference may be a relic of a point in time where they expected to have a release next week or shortly after.

Why delayed?

The question becomes, why has the return of the McRib been delayed? We know fans are always excited for the return. We also know the McRib continues to provide 4th Quarter sales momentum for McDonald’s. Thus it is unlikely that McDonald’s would have wanted to hold back unless there was an outside influence. One fan (thank you John) shared a theory that his source was suggesting that the reason for delay seems to be related to constraint in the supply line due to COVID, specifically the Pork.

The theory of supply constraint has merit. Just this week The Guardian shared a story this week, How does one of the world’s biggest pork firms go bust during a boom? which mentions that in the first five months of 2020 there was a 531% increase in Pork exports to China. This appears to be a response to a much larger problem in China with a lack of food, detailed in a story published earlier this month in the Washington Post China’s mealtime appeal amid food supply worries: Don’t take more than you can eat. At a time with reduced production in the US due to COVID, this international demand has put a lot of pressure on Pork availability in the US consumer markets as well.

Where does that leave us?

The good news, is that it appears that the Pork market is stabilizing. The National Hog Farmer shared this week that Hog prices are recovering. Most encouraging for access to Pork in the US markets was an image they shared showing overall export pressure. This chart shows the collective export volume is starting to normalize with previous years. The end result is that availability for Pork products may increase in US markets as the year continues.

Chart: U.S. pork exports to major markets, carcass weight (Monthly)
Export demand to Asia is falling, which may give way to more broad Pork availability yet this year

In summary, don’t give up yet, it still looks like we will be seeing McRibs within the next month or two. We will continue to dig into what the status of the 2020… 2021(?) US McRib release. As we find more information we will be certain to share it.

Be sure to follow us here on our McRib Locator Blog, Facebook, and Twitter for all the most up to date #McRib and #McRibLocator information.

McRib 2019 US Release Information

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McRibs are back in the US for 2019! We have been receiving a number of confirmations today from all over the lower 48 states. Most interesting is the number of reports for locations that have not had confirmations for a number of years. As such, it came as no surprise today when media outlets began reporting that this year’s season would result in 10,000 stores offering the tasty BBQ sandwich resulting in a number of locations offering the McRib that had not in recent year. This is a significant increase compared to last year’s release.

2019-10-04 McRib Availability
Availability as reported at the time of this post

When can fans begin to see the McRib in the US?

We sampled a number of stores today to see what is new. We found that the McRib will begin more widespread rollout coming up next week. While there are additional locations offering the sandwich this year, some locations will see a minor change to when you can have the sandwich. A number of locations, not all, are restricting the McRib to the before midnight menu. This feels like a compromise with locations that felt the sandwich was too messy to offer. With a limited number of hours of availability the messy nature of the sandwich can be less of an impact.

How long will the McRib be around?

How long will this year’s season be? Some of the stores we talked with said they are planning through the end of November. As a limited time item, the McRib can and will disappear sooner at some locations. History tells us that locations that less commonly offer the McRib will have less inventory to sell.

How you can help

If you find a McRib make sure to report it at https://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!

McRib in Michigan: Detroit Metro on Oct. 2, 2019

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After a long void, the McRib appears to be coming back to the Motor City this year! Noting a flurry of unconfirmed McRib reports from Michigan, I reached out to the location at 15855 15 MILE RD in CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI  to see what the story was. While they are not officially on sale until the 8th, they told that they are making them RIGHT NOW. She didn’t indicate if all day or just for training for the day, so make sure to call ahead before zipping over!

Did you find a McRib? Pin the Location on the McRib Locator Map and send a photo of the receipt to photos@mcriblocator.com

You can also follow us on facebook at http://facebook.com/mcriblocator for up to date information about the McRib.

Photo of person eating a McRib

People. The McRib is Back in Michigan!

Text on image says Keep Calm Michigan Friends.... Check the McRib Locator. graphic photo of a McRib on the image.
The McRib has been confirmed in Michigan. October 2, 2019