McDonald’s has become the latest food giant to enter the retail coffee market, announcing plans to market a variety of coffee products under its McCafe brand.

Partnering with food giant Kraft, the fast food chain will market ground coffee, whole bean and single cup products at supermarkets and other stores for home brewing.

The products will be launched in early 2015, McDonald’s and Kraft said on Tuesday.

Greg Watson, senior VP for US menu innovation at McDonald’s, said the home availability of the McCafe line is the “natural next step” since McDonald’s built up the brand in its restaurants.

“In a competitive category that is growing rapidly and changing every day, this new partnership with McDonald’s represents a whole new era in the world of at home premium coffee,” said Nina Barton, VP for coffee at Kraft.

McDonald’s joins an increasingly crowded coffee market, battling against Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and others.

The launch comes as the fast food giant struggles with lagging sales that have depressed earnings.

In the most recent quarter, comparable sales dropped 1.5 per cent in the US and 1 per cent in Europe, partially offset by a 1.1 per cent increase in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

AFP