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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\u201cMcDonald\u2019s will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by 2032,\u201d the company said. \u201cThe change is intended to create a consistent experience for both customers and crew across all ordering points, whether that\u2019s McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said in July that while McDonald’s primary focus will remain on traditional units, the company will continue to test new concepts, such as a takeout-only location in Texas that opened last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utilizing a takeout-only method allows McDonald’s to open locations it previously could not have been able to, given the space needed for dining rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A big reason that we can now look at those is because of the growth that’s happened with the digital and delivery where you don’t necessarily need the big dining rooms that you needed in our traditional restaurants,” Kempczinski said. “So you’re now able to look at real estate sites that previously would have been sort of off limits to us, those become opportunities. So we’re taking all of those things together and rolling that up to get a perspective of what we think the new unit potential is going to be over the next four or five years.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other fast food restaurants like Burger King and Wendy’s also have self-serve soda fountains. Those companies have not said whether they’re making similar considerations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chick-fil-A is among the small number of fast-food restaurants that for the most part do not have self-serve drink machines. Instead, employees provide free refills for customers upon request. <\/p>\n\n\n\n