Fast-food giant McDonald's is becoming increasingly concerned about the availability of suitable potatoes to maintain the production of their iconic McFries. Like many in the potato industry, the company is closely monitoring the pressures on the supply chain caused by extreme weather conditions.

At the Potato Day Demo in Westmaas, the Netherlands, Jérôme de la Chambre, sustainability manager at McDonald's, said, "A good potato grower and high-quality seed potatoes are no longer a guarantee for a long spud." He added, "High-quality potatoes have been essential for McDonald's, and many of our customers specifically drive to our restaurants for a portion of McFries."

McDonald's has encapsulated this sentiment with the slogan "Good Times."

Mr de la Chambre emphasised that McDonald's no longer sees the availability of enough high-quality raw materials as guaranteed, noting, "Not every spud makes it to fries."

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Making More Varieties Suitable

The wet spring in the Netherlands has led to a potential shortage of potatoes that meet McDonald’s strict standards. Mr de la Chambre acknowledged that McDonald's requirements are demanding, as the company expects potatoes to be easy to process, fry quickly in restaurants, and retain good colour. However, he stated, “We also need to adapt to the new reality.”

While the Innovator variety has long been the preferred choice for McFries, McDonald’s is exploring alternatives for processing into the product. "We are working on making the Etana variety suitable for processing into McFries in Belgium, Chenoa in Germany, and Donata in the Netherlands," he explained.

The company is also exploring alternatives to long potatoes and considering new potato products that meet its criteria.

Mr de la Chambre reiterated McDonald’s commitment to working with growers to make potato cultivation more resilient to weather conditions. “We need a robust food system because without potatoes, there are no ‘Good Times,’” he said.

McDonald’s is collaborating with Farm Frites and Nedato to improve water retention and prevent soil compaction, with 30 participating growers involved.

Mr de la Chambre also highlighted that, while cost is not a primary concern at the moment, McDonald’s is working to mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather. He hinted that the company might consider paying premiums to growers who meet specific criteria from the Biodiversity Arable Farming initiative in the Netherlands.