Japan is home to delectables like ramen, sushi, sashimi, and other exotic food that are queer enough to pique the interest and tastebuds of diners worldwide. Its fastfood industry is also dynamic, with KFC being a huge hit among the Japanese fastfood diners.
McDonald's also has a huge following in the country, and we've heard of its weird selections, like the Black Burger. However, it does not end there: McDonald's Japan has recently introduced a new product which would make chocolate and French fries lovers salivate: chocolate-coated French fries.
The new item on the menu is dubbed as Choco McPotato, which is essentially McDonald's famous potato fries doused in chocolate and white chocolate syrup. A serving of this costs 330 yen, or $3. Despite fastfood being a big thing in Japan, McDonald's is sustaining heavy loses recently: it lost $318 million alone in 2015. This prompted the company to close several chains across the country.
"Undoubtedly, 2015 was the most challenging year we have faced in our 45-year history," McDonald's Japan president Sarah Casanova told Voice of America.
The Choco McPotato is the fastfood chain's attempt to recover sales. So far, numbers indicate that it is performing well.
"The chocolate fries have been extremely popular with customers, and actually not just customers in Japan," said Casanova.
Customer sales have increased slightly in January because of Choco McPotato - the first time in recent years. It's a small improvement, but something McDonald's Japan execs would take any other day.
The product is available for a limited time and is only exclusive in Japan (it was discontinued in February). Those outside the east Asian country will have to contend using the chocolate syrup on their sundaes to coat their French fries.
The first McDonald's restaurant opened in Japan in 1971. Since then, the twin golden arches have become a mainstay in Japanese towns and cities nationwide.
