McDonald’s gives Tenders a break amid supply issuesMcDonald’s gives Tenders a break amid supply issues

McDonald’s Corp. is temporarily removing Buttermilk Crispy Tenders from its menu because of supply problems, the company said Friday.

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based quick-service chain, which re-introduced chicken tenders as permanent menu item in September, said demand for its Buttermilk Crispy Tenders exceeded supply, so it’s temporarily removing them from the menu. They will return later in December, a spokeswoman said.

“Because demand far surpassed our expectations, we will soon take a brief break from serving them at our restaurants,” the spokeswoman said in an email.

McDonald’s added Buttermilk Crispy Tenders to the menu in late September, offering them in four-, six- and 10-piece servings. Customers could choose from nine different sauces.

Jim Lewis, an owner and operator of several high-profile McDonald’s in New York City, tweeted Friday: “You bought too many!!!!  We ran out!!! Stay tuned...will be back end of December!!”

Customers expressed their disappointment. LeAnne Weathers of Georgia tweeted: “@McDonalds Ummmm when did you guys stop serving the Crispy Chicken Tenders that was the best thing you ever had!!!”

The Buttermilk Crispy Tenders were introduced four years after McDonald’s removed Chicken Selects from the menu. Chicken Selects were a permanent item on McDonald’s menu from 2002 through 2013. They were briefly brought back in 2015, but they were not added to the menu as the company worked to simplify operations.

McDonald’s said the Buttermilk Crispy Tenders feature white meat chicken with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The nine sauces include: Creamy Ranch, Honey, Honey Mustard, Hot Mustard, Spicy Buffalo, Sriracha Mac Sauce, Sweet ‘n Sour, Tangy Barbecue and a Signature Sauce.

The tenders were developed after McDonald’s had success with Buttermilk Crispy Chicken in 2015.

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