The long-running joke that is McDonald’s ice cream machine never working…always thwarting customers efforts to order a McFlurry or ice cream, has long been cursed by customers. Now word is out that there’s a new ice cream machine on the horizon that could solve the problems that plague the current decrepit machine…
It has long been the butt of many a joke, and many a meme – the McDonald’s ice cream machine can never be counted on for a craving.
There’s even a site dedicated to finding out if a McDonald’s location near you has an ice cream machine that’s working or not.
Former corporate chef, Mike Haracz has a TikTok account where he shares his insider information, tips, and scoops. In a recent video, he dropped the news about a new and improved ice cream machine that would be a potential gamechanger for McDonald’s, and their technical woes.
He outlined two potential problems installing the machines at locations nationwide, saying:
“This magical new ice cream machine is a lot less maintenance. It needs a lot less cleaning cycles per month, or whatever it might be. The current ice cream machine is something like $15,000. The new one? Forty thousand dollars for owner-operators.”
“The second [problem] is getting owner-operators to buy it, and its lead time. Everything that’s customizable equipment-wise from McDonald’s has long lead times, and owner-operators are to pay for the ice cream machine, but they might not want to pay $40,000 for the new ice cream machine.”
The jury is out on how fast, and how many franchises will be installing the new and improved machine. And IF it will be an widespread upgrade… what with the cost.
He ended the video with an ominous thought:
“It is quite possible that although McDonald’s has a solve for the ice cream machine issues, the owner-operators are not going to spend their money on the new ice cream machine, and we will continue to not have ice cream available when you want it.”
Drama has surrounded the McDonald’s ice cream machines in more ways than one. A $900 million lawsuit was filed in 2022 by a company that serviced the machines claiming that their parented technology used to remotely fix them…were being used to steal secrets, and information.
If the chain wants to fix this facet of their business, and have reliable machines, they will oversee having each franchisee install the new ice cream machines. And if not, they will continue to be the subject of jokes, and customers wrath worldwide. If the option is there for a fix…let’s use it.
