McDonald's® Canada Breaks New 'Ground' As McCafé® Premium Roast Coffee Hits Grocery Aisles

TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Canadians can now add McCafé coffee to their grocery lists and enjoy their favourite coffee in the comfort of their own homes. McDonald's Canada is expanding its coffee portfolio with the national launch of McCafé Premium Roast ground coffee as well as on-demand single-serve formats compatible with both the TASSIMO and Keurig®* brewing systems. Available in major grocery retailers across the country later this month, the consistently rich, smooth and delicious taste of McCafé coffee will be more accessible to consumers than ever before.

Coffee remains the beverage of choice among Canadians with at home being the place where two-thirds (65 per cent) of coffee is consumed.** While drip coffee makers are still popular, 33 per cent of Canadian households now own a single cup brewers.***

"There is no better way to connect with Canadians than with a great cup of coffee," said John E. Betts, President and CEO of McDonald's Canada. "By offering our McCafé Premium Roast coffee in a variety of formats on grocery shelves, we are making it even easier for our customers to integrate their favourite coffee into their everyday routines, building an even stronger connection to our brand."

The launch is part of the company's ongoing strategy to gain greater market share. Since launching in 2011, the McCafé brand has established itself as a dominant player in the Canadian quick-service coffee landscape. Offering McCafé Premium Roast coffee through grocery store channels builds on this success and is an integral part of the brand evolution in ways that are both convenient and relevant for customers. McDonald's Canada is partnering with Kraft Canada to produce and sell the products in grocery stores coast-to-coast.

"Our move into grocery is a real game-changer for us and builds on our strong coffee credentials," added Betts. "We believe our customers will love the convenience of buying McCafé Premium Roast coffee wherever they shop to enjoy where they want it, how they want it."

McCafé Premium Roast coffee, made from high quality 100% Arabica beans, will be available at major retailers, starting September 29 and will be sold in ground, TASSIMO T DISC and single-serve pods compatible with the Keurig® K-Cup® brewing system*. The new formats, excluding the 950g fine grind, will also be available in McDonald's Canada restaurants as of October 6.

The launch of McCafé Premium Roast coffee in grocery store channels is supported by a large multi-channel advertising campaign, including TV and digital.

About McDonald's Canada
McDonald's is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 85,000 Canadians coast-to-coast. Approximately 80 per cent of McDonald's Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald's Canada, visit www.mcdonalds.ca or follow us on Twitter (@McD_Canada) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonaldscanada) for updates on our business, promotions and menu items.

*For use in the Keurig® K-Cup® brewing systems. Not compatible with Keurig Vue™ coffee makers. Keurig®, Keurig Vue™, and K-Cup® are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. Kraft Canada Inc. and McDonalds Restaurants of Canada Limited are not affiliated with Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

**Canadian Coffee Association 2013 DIG Report

*** Nielsen Homescan June 2014