For decades, McDonald’s was the undisputed trendsetter of fast food. When the Golden Arches introduced something new, the rest of the industry scrambled to copy it. The Big Mac, the Happy Meal, and Chicken McNuggets didn’t just succeed — they reshaped American eating habits.
Those days appear to be over.
On January 27, McDonald’s will roll out a hot honey sauce across select menu items, a move the company is positioning as forward-looking innovation. But the reality is far less flattering. McDonald’s isn’t leading a trend. It’s trailing one — badly.
Late to the Party on a Trend Everyone Else Already Ran With
Hot honey has been everywhere for more than a year. Long before McDonald’s decided to act, competitors were already monetizing the sweet-and-spicy craze.
KFC partnered with Mike’s Hot Honey in February 2025.
Taco Bell introduced its Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo sauce in 2025.
Chipotle rolled out an entire hot honey menu earlier that same year.
Even Papa John’s got in on the action with a Garlic Hot Honey dipping sauce months ago.
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