Why is mcrib only available for a limited time

McDonald's first debuted the McRib, which features tangy barbecue pork, onions, and pickles, in The elusive creation has been coming and going from the chain's menus ever since, leaving fans to rely on online McRib trackers to keep tabs on the beloved sandwich. It last appeared in participating restaurants in November There are some basic supply-and-demand economics behind these types of marketing ploys.

Just ask Popeyes : limited-time releases and the impression of scarcity help to build hype. Hottovy, a consumer strategist for Morningstar, told CNN. Here, four theories:. Pork is pricey and unreliable In the U. The fluctuating "long-term nationwide availability" of pork probably means that a year-round McRib "simply isn't feasible," says Matthew Yglesias at ThinkProgress.

Even if McDonald's wanted to buy up enough "pig goo" to keep the McRib on the menu, the very act of increasing the demand "would raise the price of goo to the point where it's not economical to keep selling the stuff. People are, "on average, impulsive and easy to fool.

Scarcity feeds the hype The McRib's cult following has a lot to do with the fact that you can't always get the strangely ribless sandwich, says Nicole Carter at Inc. Maybe it's not as popular as people think "The last, and most obvious, explanation is the official version of the story," says Staley. Maybe people aren't gobbling up the McRib as ardently as we think.

Though the McRib has a devoted fan base, it will likely never secure a permanent spot on the McDonald's menu. That's because fast food companies know that having at least one seasonal item is good for business. When diners know that something is only around for a limited window, they're more motivated to make time to buy it than they would be if it was always there waiting for them.

Temporary dishes can also add variety to a menu that's relied on the same staples for decades. It took a long time for the McRib to grow into a cult sensation. When it first appeared in McDonald's stores in , sales were underwhelming, and it was taken off menus in