"Since its 1981 debut, the McRib sandwich has evolved into a cult obsession largely because it appears only intermittently—released in short bursts or in select regions—and has even inspired dedicated websites and fan groups. The chain is rolling the McRib out nationwide for the first time since 2012, likely leveraging the "rare item" appeal to boost traffic after mixed performance: recent collaborations with Travis Scott and J Balvin showed marketing success, but breakfast sales have slumped with fewer morning commuters and overall sales have been hurt by government-mandated closures. The nationwide relaunch is positioned as a way to reinvigorate customers, and may also function to distract from multiple ongoing racial discrimination lawsuits." - Jaya Saxena