Here's How The McFlurry Got Its Name
Ah, the glorious McFlurry! If you have ever indulged in this chock-full-of-goodness, creamy, dreamy, famous fast food frozen treat, you can attest to the feeling of euphoria that strikes the moment the spoon hits your taste buds.
Most of McDonald's menu items are researched and developed at its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and in facilities throughout the U.S. (per Chron). However, this hasn't been the case for the origin of all of the chain's iconic products, as the McFlurry was actually invented in Canada! That's right. Ron McLellan, a rather cunning Canadian McD's franchisee from Bathurst, New Brunswick, created the first-ever McFlurry at his restaurant back in 1995, GlobeNewswire reports. And as one can imagine, it was an instant tour de force! Since its inception, the McFlurry has become a permanent dessert menu item and has made its way to thousands of McDonald's locations in nearly 100 nations around the world.
So, why is the delicious candy-filled sundae called a McFlurry anyway? There's a strategic reason behind the widely known moniker — and it's more than simply being fun to say!
How did the McFlurry get its name?
McDonald's customers everywhere have caught onto the trend of the chain adding the "Mc" prefix to many of its items to brand them in a unique way. But why the word "Flurry?" According to the FAQs page on the official McDonald's website, the name McFlurry comes from the process in which the spoon is attached to the McFlurry mixer, causing the ice cream and other added ingredients — candies, cookies, sauces, etc. — to "flurry" together. This definition of flurry, according to Merriam-Webster, is not referring to snowfall, but rather "a sudden occurrence of many things at once." Sounds about right. This innovative technology gives McFlurrys their unique whipped texture by seamlessly blending the candies into the soft-serve vanilla.
In a video on the McDonald's YouTube channel, Amy Hamilton, McDonald's Canada Innovation Consultant, explains the magic of the McFlurry and how the legendary frozen treat comes in a wide variety of flavors in countries around the world, including M&M's, Caramel Brownie, Heath, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Heath, Butterfinger, Bubblegum Squash (available in Australia and New Zealand), and Dulce de Leche (available in Latin America). The original McFlurry flavors? Smarties, Fudgee O Cookies, coffee crisp, and Oreo! So, raise your spoons to one of the yummiest treats on the planet.