McDonald’s has quietly transformed one of its McCafe outlets in Sydney into a hipster cafe called “The Corner” with a new menu, new look, and new service style. Part of McDonald’s $1 billion rebranding strategy, The Corner has been designed from the ground up as a modern cafe, devoid of patent McDonald’s branding. It looks like a just another Sydney cafe, but beneath the bread boards and beyond the quinoa is the latest McDonald’s incarnation – a testing lab for healthy food. Described by the fast-food titan as a “lab,” it will serve as a test run for new menu items which may then start being sold in other stores. It is the only one of its kind in Australia. White brick veneer covers the curved, corner façade and the bold, black logo is more reminiscent of a gourmet lunchtime spot.
McDonald’s Opens New Healthy Cafe “The Corner” as Part of $1 Billion Remodelling Strategy
The Corner is divided into different stations. There’s a help-yourself wall of pre-wrapped wraps ($8), fruit salad ($5) and plastic tubs of tofu and vegetables ($4). A pastry cabinet is filled with lots of chocolate, spongy things and a coffee counter sells corn fritters with avocado and feta ($7) at breakfast. For $10 at the lunch station you can choose two out the four salad options and one serve of meat. The company confirmed to Business Insider Australia that the cafe was a “learning lab” where it was “testing completely new and different food and beverages never before seen in our restaurants.” The hipster touches include tiled walls and a herb garden – and the food is served on those awfully impractical wooden sandwich boards. What will come next? Green juice in Mason jars?
