McDonald’s launches new Mini McFlurry in all-new packaging

McDonald’s worked around the clock all year to find new ways to keep its menu fresh in consumers’ minds.

The brand first assessed quality by rolling out new and improved burgers nationally and selling them regionally in 2023. Then it focused on size, testing the large-format Big Arch burger internationally for a potential U.S. launch. The chain is also courting customers with value, rolling out a $5 meal deal to attract customers put off by high fast-food prices. It’s also luring customers with nostalgia, with a limited-time Collector’s Meal featuring special collectible cups.

McDonald’s latest strategy is to… downsize?

Starting Sept. 10, guests can order the Mini McFlurry at participating McDonald’s restaurants, which CNN says is half the size of a regular McFlurry. According to a press release from McDonald’s, the offer is intended to appeal to those who simply want a quick mid-day snack.

“Have a friend who always wants ‘just a bite’? Instead of reaching for an extra spoon, you can buy them a Mini McFlurry,” the press release reads. “Or maybe you’re looking for a quick afternoon energy boost… the Mini McFlurry is perfect for you.”

McDonald’s isn’t just another pretty option – it’s doubling down on sustainability.

There are other benefits to the Mini McFlurry that weren’t mentioned in the press release. First, it creates less food waste by giving customers the option to order just the amount of ice cream they want. Second, it offers a cheaper option for those put off by the rising costs of fast food. Third, the bite-sized dessert encourages customers to add one to their order and increase the size of their receipt, whereas a regular McFlurry might seem too big. The Mini option will also include all the flavors available for a limited time.

Plus, the Mini isn’t the only change to the McFlurry — every size of the frozen treat is also getting an environmentally friendly makeover.

In 2018, McDonald’s finally started taking climate change seriously, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, introduce regenerative agriculture practices into its supply chain, and add renewable energy sources to its operations. A big part of that includes reducing the amount of plastic that’s used extensively in the packaging and cutlery of every McDonald’s meal — especially the McFlurry, which has historically been served not only with a rounded plastic lid but also a thick, stiff plastic spoon that doubles as the spindle in the McFlurry machine as it prepares the treat.

The spoons were phased out in 2023, replaced by more typical plastic spoons that are smaller and use less plastic. Going forward, McDonald’s is also doing away with the McFlurry’s dome-shaped plastic lid — both the new Mini McFlurry and the regular McFlurry will have a new cup without a removable lid. Instead, the cardboard cup will have four interlocking flaps that completely cover the top. McDonald’s says the change “will help reduce waste and advance our goal of sourcing 100 percent of our primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified materials by the end of 2025.”

However, one very important (and practical) question remains.

The four-flap cup is already available in other international markets—including Indonesia and Canada—so we can probably trust that any design kinks have long since been ironed out. But there’s one question customers have about the Mini McFlurry: Will the toppings actually fit in such a small amount of ice cream?

“I don’t know if they’ll be able to actually mix the ingredients into the mini McFlurry,” former McDonald’s chef Mike Haracz said in a TikTok video discussing the new menu item. “A lot of you have reported that your local McDonald’s doesn’t even mix the ingredients, they just add them on top.”

“But of course, none of that matters if the ice cream machine is broken,” Haracz added. He’s right.