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In addition to its fast-growing category of coffee, the standalone McCafés will have an entirely new lineup of soups, salads, cold and hot sandwiches and bagels, as well as baked goods. It also has an ace up its sleeve that answers a longtime consumer demand — all-day servings of its four varieties of McDonald’s Egg McMuffins.

“This is where we have momentum,” said John Betts, chief executive of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Ltd., in a preview of the Union Station location. “Since 2009, we have grown our share of coffee more than all the other players put together, which is significant, because we have not grown our (store count) that much. That tells me we have a very special connection with the Canadian public in terms of how they feel about McCafé.”

The menu is a big change, too: In addition to the existing staples of McMuffins and a new line of sweet baked goods, it boasts a selection that would appeal to its key competitors’ customer bases — from comfort food offerings such as a classic grilled cheese or a roast chicken sandwich, to on-trend salads and sandwiches. Newer dishes include ingredients such as edamame and sriracha and a broader array of vegetarian options — a lentil and sweet potato hummus wrap with kale sells for $5.99 and it costs $6.99 for a kale and brussel sprouts salad with mixed vegetables.

“This menu in some ways has leapt over the competition — it goes after Starbucks and Tim Hortons at the same time with its selection,” said Bruce Winder, a partner at Toronto-based Retail Advisors Network.