Leaked McDonalds Memo Says Self-Serve Soda Stations To Become ‘Thing Of The Past’

CHICAGO, IL. (THECOUNT) — Self-serve soda machine have become a staple of many fast food restaurants, but according to a new memo, it may be going the way of the dinosaur.

Sure, all-you-can-drink soda is convenient and cost effective, but according to a 59-page memo sent company-wide to McDonalds owners nationwide, the stations may soon become a relic of the past.

For the time being, McDonald’s will scrap customer-operated soda fountains because of concerns over keeping customers safe from coronavirus.

Via Fox59:

The Wall Street Journal obtained a 59-page memo that said, as part of new procedures for reopening, “beverage bars will remain closed or sectioned off and staffed in restaurants.”

The change applies to 14,000 McDonald’s locations around the U.S.

The memo noted that the beverage machines are difficult to clean; one franchise owner quoted by the newspaper said he would rather shut the machine down than deal with the hassle.

Yahoo Finance reported that McDonald’s planned to make 50 changes in its processes to ensure social distancing and stronger hygiene measures.

Other changes include keeping play areas closed, using contactless payments, adding protective panels on counters and drive-thru and putting up signs to encourage social distancing.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, it has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works – wikipedia.