McDonalds Cuts 9 Menu Items

(RTTNews) - Fast food giant McDonald's Corp. (MCD) reportedly will cut nine items from its menu in the U.S., including the Deluxe Quarter Pounder, in the first quarter, as the company expects a simplified menu to buoy its sinking sales.

McDonald's plans to cut the Deluxe Quarter Pounder burger and six chicken sandwiches, according a Bloomberg report. The chain will also stop serving nixed honey mustard and chipotle barbecue snack wraps.

McDonald's spokeswoman told Bloomberg that menu cut was a part of a "rolling removal," meaning the restaurants discontinues the meal after supplies deplete.

McDonald's had in December indicated it would shorten its menu offerings as the company continues to face plunging sales and failure to attract new customers, while at the same time loyal customers have been turned off by slow service at its drive-thru. Severe competition from rivals like Burger King and Chipotle Mexican Grill has also hampered McDonald's growth.

Last week, the company again reported weak earnings results for the first quarter, with profit declining 33 percent on 11 percent revenue drop. The company had in January appointed Steve Easterbrook as its new CEO hoping to revive the iconic hamburger chain back to its once-held dominant position.