McDonald’s Big Mac, McChicken, Filet-O-Fish sauces coming to Canadian grocery stores

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

Just in time for barbecue season, McDonald’s Canada has announced that Big Mac, McChicken and Filet-O-Fish sauces will be available for purchase in grocery stores across the country this spring.

Also known as its “special sauce,” a version of the Big Mac spread was made available to home cooks four years ago when McDonald’s Canada released a YouTube video showing how to prepare it. But the fast food chain’s convenience mantra makes the release of the prepared and packaged sauces all the more appropriate.

“This is part of our continued commitment to giving Canadians more ways to enjoy McDonald’s,” Adam Grachnik, McDonald’s Canada spokesperson, said to Global News. “Judging by the response thus far, Canadians are very excited to hear this news!”

Indeed, Canadian Twitter users are bubbling with excitement over the announcement.

McDonald’s sauces join a number of other popular restaurant brands that have made signature dishes and condiments available for purchase in store. Swiss Chalet sells its famous tangy dipping sauce in a powdered mix, and Quebec’s St-Hubert restaurant has developed a line of frozen, prepackaged and fresh entrees. Similarly, Tim Hortons and Starbucks both sell their coffee by the bag in grocery stores.

But despite the obvious anticipation that’s building on social media, not everyone thinks this move will revolutionize the face of summer barbecues this year.

“I don’t see this being a game changer for the company in terms of sales,” says Kevin Grier, a food market analyst based in Guelph, Ont. “I’m sure they’ve put marketing behind it that can guarantee performance, but I have a hard time seeing this fly off the shelves. I doubt it will deter people from going to McDonald’s.”

This announcement arrives just a few months after McDonald’s Canada launched a selection of all-day breakfast items.

Although the fast food corporation hasn’t released a specific launch date for the sauces, Vancouver-based food and travel writer Diana Chan first spotted them at yesterday’s Grocery and Specialty Food West Convention, and teased them in an Instagram post.

She later blogged that they’re being made in conjunction with Heinz and Kraft.

The only other information Grachnik could offer was “stay tuned!” And, presumably, stay hungry.