45 years ago McDonald's debuted its popular McRib. Now, it's back again after countless rereleases.
McDonald's is bringing back its McRib sandwich for a limited run in select cities, continuing a long-standing tradition of irregular, hyped-up re-releases. The sandwich, which debuted 45 years ago, has famously featured multiple 'farewell tours' that failed to end its availability.
Why it matters
The McRib serves as a classic case study in marketing strategy, utilizing artificial scarcity and nostalgia to drive consumer engagement.
McDonald's McRib is a limited item that appears on the menu irregularly. Erin McDowell/Business Insider McDonald's brought back the McRib for a national farewell tour in the fall of 2022. The McRib has had at least three other farewell tours and has been on and off menus since 1981. It's returned to menus every year since 2023 and is back in select cities on October 27. When bidding fans a final goodbye, the McRib appears to be taking cues from rock bands like The Who and KISS. The bands are known for farewell tours that didn't stick. The iconic McDonald's sandwich is also pulling a fast one with fans. In 2022, McDonald's said the barbecue-slathered boneless pork hoagie would say goodbye to fans in an event billed as the McRib's farewell tour .
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in