I bet they spent millions thinking up this name..
McDonald’s Launches McArabia
Mohammed Alkhereiji, Arab News Staff
JEDDAH, 5 March 2003 — In a bid to salvage its business interest in the Middle East, McDonald’s has introduced a new sandwich for the Arab consumer: McArabia.
The new sandwich, which continues MacDonald’s tradition of catering to local markets, is made of Arab bread, grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and Arab sauce.
In a year which, according to a McDonald’s representative who spoke to Arab News, saw a sharp fall in the company’s profits and the laying off of workers including many Saudis, the once undisputed fast food king is working hard on catering to a market that is looking for alternatives to US products in the current international political climate.
In 2002, Al-Watan newspaper reported that the sale of US food and consumer products was down a staggering 25 percent.
Ironically, the main ingredients that make up the new McArabia are of international origin. The Arab bread for the sandwich is imported from Britain. The chicken is currently being imported from Malaysia.
In 2002 McDonald’s Corp. announced the first quarterly net loss in its history.
arabnews.com |
