A TikTok influencer who claims to have been a McDonald’s corporate chef has revealed why fast food chains are bringing back value-packed combo meals.
Mike Haracz of Illinois posted to video explaining why the retro trend was making a comeback because it was very profitable for chains in an era of red-hot inflation.
His comments come after McDonald’s announced it would introduce a five-dollar meal deal following customer complaints that the brand had become too expensive. At the same time, it has removed many individual options from its dollar menu.
Haracz explained that this was intentional, as combo meals are typically cheaper to offer than individual offerings.
“If you think about these packages, you typically get four items: two that are a little more premium and two that are much cheaper,” he said.
Mike Haracz posted a video on TikTok last week explaining why McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants offer packaged meals.
According to Haracz, the reason behind the value of the meal package “comes down to math.” The items she used to support her answer included small french fries and four-piece chicken nuggets.
Haracz, who claims to have worked as a McDonald’s corporate chef for almost five years, explained that the restaurant chain wouldn’t make as much money if it only offered inexpensive items individually.
“Smart people like me would buy a lot of hamburgers,” he said.
“They wouldn’t make as much money, so they’re bundling them together so you can order things you normally wouldn’t.”
The TikToker mentioned that “every other restaurant” is doing the same thing as they battle rising food costs.
Haracz went on to explain that its chicken nuggets have historically been McDonald’s main profit driver.
Haracz briefly mentioned premium products like the McDouble and the McChicken, two popular McDonald’s sandwiches.
TikTok users who commented on the video also suggested reasons why McDonald’s is bundling its budget menu items together.
Haracz, who worked as McDonald’s corporate chef for nearly five years, revealed that its chicken nuggets are McDonald’s way of making “more traditional profits on its sales.”
Haracz, who worked as McDonald’s corporate chef for nearly five years, revealed that its chicken nuggets are McDonald’s way of making “more traditional profits on its sales.”
One user wrote that they think McDonald’s “raises the individual price to make it cheaper to get the bundle than one or two things you really want.”
“The packages are fine, but their quality has gone down a lot,” wrote one TikToker.
“This is why I roll my eyes when franchisees complain that they are ‘losing so much money,'” another TikToker wrote.
A $5 package probably has a food cost of just over $1. For example, find out how to profit with $4.