McDonald's is looking to expand its chicken offerings, including potentially bringing back grilled chicken sandwiches — a menu item the fast-food giant discontinued in 2020.

At a September investor meeting, McDonald's executives discussed plans to expand the chain's chicken lineup, including grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps, as demand for protein options grows, according to Restaurant Dive.

The renewed interest comes years after McDonald's pulled its grilled chicken sandwich from U.S. menus, raising questions about why the healthier offering disappeared in the first place.

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Chef Mike Haracz, who served as McDonald's manager of culinary innovation from 2015 to 2019, told Fox News Digital why the grilled chicken sandwich ultimately failed to make the cut — and whether it could find its way back to the menu.

The reason was simple: Not enough customers were ordering it, Haracz said.

"For many of the menu items at McDonald's, and this is true for any corporate chain restaurant, there is a certain sales threshold that means it will be profitable, and it makes sense to have in the restaurant," said Haracz, who is based in Illinois.

"Once sales dip below a certain level, it does not make financial sense to keep it on the menu, as you will end up throwing away product."

In 1993, McDonald's introduced a grilled chicken sandwich as a healthier menu offering, but it did not stand the test of time.

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The sandwich consisted of a marinated skinless chicken breast filet, lettuce, tomato, sweet red onion, Monterey Jack cheese and a herb sauce, all piled on a bun, according to a 1993 press release about the menu item.

McDonald's unveiled a more natural preparation of its grilled chicken in 2015, announcing on its website that it would be cooked using only canola oil, olive oil, and real spices and herbs.

The chain revamped the sandwich that year, introducing the Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Ultimately, though, the grilled chicken sandwich lost its spot at McDonald's in 2020, when the chain also removed salads from its U.S. menus, according to Business Insider.

In his role at McDonald's, Haracz formulated new menu items for U.S. locations.

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People looking for healthier options at McDonald's appreciated the grilled chicken offering — especially parents, Haracz noted, because while their kids might have been excited about eating a Happy Meal, the parents were not as interested.

Like many other menu items, the grilled chicken sandwich was cooked on a flattop and held in the universal holding cabinets (UHCs).

Ultimately, it came down to simple dollars and cents.

Space is valuable at McDonald's, Haracz noted, with each location organized to make every square inch profitable.

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If an item is taking up space but not making money, it's probably not going to last too long, he said.

Consumer satisfaction played a big role, Haracz said, adding that he thinks the grilled chicken sandwich's flavor profile didn't always wow guests.

"McDonald's also realized once it gets to a point, there may be menu cannibalization, [which] means instead of ordering Chicken McNuggets, I might order the chicken sandwich," Haracz said. "Well, if we take the chicken sandwich away, are they still going to order Chicken McNuggets or other items? Most likely they are."

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Could the grilled chicken sandwich make a comeback? 

Haracz said he thinks it's possible.

"I do think there's a chance it could come back because many chains are dealing with the fact that beef prices are rising, and a way to offset that is to offer a more affordable protein option, which would be chicken," he said.

Haracz said he's not sure if there will be a renaissance of grilled chicken specifically. 

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"Certainly chicken items, in general, will be more popular, not only because of the beef prices, but also, that is a bigger profit margin if McDonald's develops it appropriately."

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's for comment.

The popular grocery store Trader Joe's is expanding with 30 new locations across 16 states.

Two of the stores — in Anaheim Hills, California, and West Jordan, Utah — are set to open this week, according to Trader Joe's website.

The other 28, which span states from Arizona to Washington, are listed as "coming soon."

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A spokesperson for Trader Joe's told Fox News Digital that stores are typically added to the list three to six months before planned openings.

Three of the newest additions — in Bend, Oregon; Boynton Beach, Florida; and Phoenix — are expected to open in 2027, according to local and national reports.

"We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Illinois has the most locations on the "coming soon" list, with four stores planned in Oswego, Chicago and Joliet. California, Florida and Texas have three each.

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Arizona, New Jersey, New York and Washington have two apiece, while Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and Oregon each have one.

Trader Joe's operates about 660 stores nationwide. Shoppers can check the company's store-opening announcements for updates as more locations receive opening dates.

"Since Trader Joe's began in 1967, we have been in growth mode," the spokesperson added. "Some years we grow more than others, and our goal is always to bring delicious products at great values to as many people and neighborhoods as we can."

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The chain was founded in Pasadena, California, by Joe Coulombe. It has since built a following around its private-label groceries, from seasonal favorites such as Apple Cider Donuts, Pumpkin-Flavored Joe-Joe's cookies and holiday Jingle Jangle to affordable skincare that shoppers have called "dupes" of high-end brands.

The store's $2.99 mini canvas totes recently went viral, with shoppers lining up for new colors and some resale listings asking for hundreds of dollars.

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Its crew members, meanwhile, are known for their unusually warm, chatty checkout demeanor that some shoppers mistake for flirting, Fox News Digital previously reported.

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Trader Joe's gets hundreds of requests each day for new stores but expands cautiously, prioritizing real estate and supply-chain efficiency, Entrepreneur magazine editor-in-chief Jason Feifer previously said in a viral post. He argued that the deliberate pace helps the chain keep prices low and preserve its in-store "treasure hunt" feel.