The dessert launched in Canada in 1995 under the product name “McFlurry.”
McDonald's introduced the McFlurry in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1995. The product combined soft-serve ice cream with mixed-in candy or cookie pieces, using a specially designed spoon and machine process. Its name followed McDonald's established practice of applying the “Mc” prefix to branded menu items.
The McFlurry became a useful example of localized product branding becoming global. Different markets have offered different mix-ins and promotional flavors, but the core name and serving format remained recognizable. The product's branding also helped McDonald's compete in the dessert category without abandoning its familiar naming system.
The launch date is sometimes confused with later introductions in the United States and other markets. Canada was the original market, and the product expanded internationally afterward. A McFlurry is not simply a milkshake: it is a soft-serve dessert mixed with inclusions, a distinction reflected in its product design and advertising.