Why is mcrib seasonal

By , it was popular enough to become a recurring menu item. The sandwich will return to select U. McDonald's restaurants nationwide on Wednesday, December 2, , ringing in the start of McRib season. But as fans know too well, the item won't be around for long, so pop an antacid tablet and pick one up while you still can.

The fast food company announced Thursday that the barbecue sandwich will be available in over 10, restaurants as soon as Monday. But, McDonald's said, the menu item will only be around for a limited time. The McRib returns as soon as next week. That's by design. Seasonal items are an important marketing tool for the food industry, according to Alexander Chernev, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Limited releases almost give consumers a Pavlovian response. For example, when the weather turns colder, Starbucks customers habitually get excited about Pumpkin Spice Lattes. In November, customers come in to check out the new holiday cups. Read More. As the holiday season gets into full swing, we'll be sure to see Coca-Cola's KO Christmas trucks, turkey sandwiches from Subway and more.

Since then, it has appeared regionally on a seasonal basis practically every year since then, with a few national releases here and there. And while, yes, the McRib has been reintroduced right before some big financial downturns—, , —it has also reappeared in plenty of good years. A longstanding favorite sandwich, the infamous McRib is back on October 9 in over 1, McDonald's locations across the U.

Why is McRib seasonal? Customers in Germany are lucky enough to enjoy the sandwich year-round. The chain pulled it from its menu four years later. But it has become a cult favorite among McDonald's loyalists in recent years. In a statement, the company credited the internet and social media for solidifying its "icon status" and the birth of the phrase "McRib Season.

The McRib returns to menus annually.