May 23 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp is shutting

down the five beverage-centered CosMc's stores it opened in

2023, but said some drinks from the standalone concept would be

tested in McDonald's restaurants.

The company said on Friday it had opened the stores as a

test to learn more about the "fast-growing beverage space,"

which it said it had a "right to win."

It said the standalone stores - in markets including San

Antonio, Texas - allowed it to test new flavor and technologies

without impacting existing McDonald's restaurants.

The company said it will test "CosMc's-inspired" drinks to

its main menu at hundreds of U.S. stores. The company has more

than 14,000 locations in the U.S.

In March, McDonald's announced it would be establishing a

new internal team to develop new beverages.

The company said all CosMc's would be closed on a rolling

basis beginning in late June. The CosMc's app will also be

discontinued.

Restaurant consultant John Gordon said McDonald's has

historically been "very quiet" in the beverage space compared

with other restaurant chains, which have experimented with

complicated drinks that typically carry a higher profit margin

than food items.