McDonald’s seasonal Shamrock Shakes are back on the menu this week, but some customers are finding the much-loved treat is dependent on a machine that’s notorious for malfunctioning.
Why it matters: The Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry rely on a soft-serve ice cream machine that has earned a reputation for frequent breakdowns. The issue has become so widespread that a data engineer developed a website dedicated to tracking malfunctioning machines. The constant failures have led to hacks and even legal disputes.
The story behind the problem: McDonald’s, based in Chicago, has even poked fun at its ice cream machine woes, acknowledging the ongoing struggles with the device. For years, the machines—manufactured by Rockton-based Taylor Company—have drawn complaints from across the nation. However, McDonald’s spokesperson clarified that Taylor is not the chain’s only supplier of ice cream machines.
Behind the scenes: Taylor Company’s technicians are the sole professionals trained to repair their machines when they break down, according to Wired. McDonald’s declined to comment on the situation when asked by Axios.
A turning point: In 2019, a company called Kytch introduced a device designed to hack Taylor machines and diagnose faults. The founders attempted to sell this product to McDonald’s franchisees, but in 2022, Kytch filed a lawsuit accusing McDonald’s of sending letters to all U.S. franchise owners, labeling Kytch’s gadget as unsafe and claiming it posed a risk of “serious human injury.” The legal action severely impacted Kytch, a small, three-person startup. McDonald’s has not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
McDonald’s response: A company spokesperson told Axios, “Our sales data from the past couple of years indicates that our shake machines are operational around 95% of the time across the country, depending on the location.” The spokesperson added that the company is striving to increase this figure to nearly 100% by offering enhanced training for crew members and implementing more consistent maintenance to keep machines running smoothly.
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