McDonald's Launches Red Bull Energy Drink Nationwide

McDonald's is entering the energy drink market through a new partnership with Red Bull, launching a signature beverage nationwide on August 17 as part of a broader strategy to boost customer traffic following a quarter of slower-than-expected sales growth. The move marks the fast-food giant's first foray into the popular energy drink category, which has seen significant retail growth in recent years.

The new drink, called the Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, combines Red Bull with blue raspberry syrup and freeze-dried dragonfruit. Customers at participating U.S. restaurants will also have the option to substitute Red Bull Zero for a reduced-sugar version or purchase an 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull separately. The beverage contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, which the company compares to the amount in an instant coffee.

The launch is a key component of McDonald's efforts to revitalize its beverage lineup and attract more customers. During the second quarter, U.S. comparable sales grew just 0.8 percent, falling short of analyst expectations and marking a slowdown from the 2.5 percent growth seen a year earlier. CEO Chris Kempczinski attributed the weaker performance to execution...