The president of McDonald’s has come out to fight after criticism of the fast food chain’s new $5 menu.
But he wasn’t as forthcoming about a major issue that has arisen for customers in many parts of the United States.
Customers will receive a total of four items – a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, fries, a small soft drink and four McNuggets – when the offer hits restaurants on Tuesday (June 25).
It was thought that not all restaurants would offer the deal, and those with higher labor and rent costs would opt out.
But it has now been discovered that McDonald’s has a sneaky way around this, by charging $6 at certain restaurants in Alaska, California, guam, Hawaii, SnowfallManhattan in New York and Washington.
McDonald’s deal goes on sale Tuesday, June 25 for one week
Some fans are also disappointed that the deal only lasts a month instead of the entire summer, like their rivals’ deals.
Not only that, McDonald’s was beaten by rivals who got valuable bids first.
Burger’s King’s nearly identical $5 deal launched last week, while Wendy’s and Starbucks also recently launched breakfast deals.
“We are committed to winning the war of value,” said Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s in the United States, in an interview with Bloomberg News Thursday.
McDonald’s also brought back the app-exclusive “Free Fries Friday,” which allows customers to get a free medium fry with any $1 minimum purchase through the end of 2024.
After news of the McDonald’s deal leaked in May, rivals launched their bids early, even digging into the home of the Big Mac.
The boss of Burger King promised in a letter to franchisees to present his five-dollar meal “before them.”
True to its word, the chain’s new $5 Your Way Meal hit restaurants last week.
Customers can choose from one of three sandwiches: Whopper Jr, Bacon Cheeseburger or Chicken Jr, plus four chicken nuggets, fries and a soft drink.
By launching a $3 breakfast deal, Wendy’s mocked its competitor on social media for stealing its ideas.
Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value wars with a coffee and lunch breakfast combo starting at $5.
In the interview with Bloomberg, Erlinger said he focuses on McDonald’s more than its rivals.
He said the scale of McDonald’s – the last chain in terms of sales in the United States – gives it an advantage over smaller rivals. The cost of adding fries and a drink to a burger was small, he said.
It’s not something that all franchisees agree with. They operate nine out of ten McDonald’s and are concerned that customers will switch from a more expensive Big Mac meal to a $5 meal that for many restaurants will not turn a profit.
McDonald’s made a staggering $14.5 billion in profit last year.
Erlinger wrote an open letter to customers stating that its price increases are not as bad as some media reports.
McDonald’s is desperately trying to combat the perception that it has raised prices so much that it no longer offers value for money.
In fact, last month Erlinger wrote an unprecedented open letter to customers stating that its price increases are not as bad as some media reports.
In the letter, it says prices have “only” risen 40 percent at its 14,000 U.S. restaurants since before the pandemic.
The letter was aimed at calming the furor over the rising cost of fast food, which is now so high that four in five Americans consider it a luxury.