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Can value meals bring diners back to McDonald's?
McDonald's admitted its food is too expensive, and that's contributed to falling sales at the fast-food giant. Customers are looking for more deals and either buying fewer items per order or opting for cheaper items. McDonald's said it got an early boost from its $5 meal deal promotion. But fast-food chains need more than limited-time offers to get diners back.
SOARING PRICES
Consumers are "price weary," and McDonald's is paying attention.
$5 MEAL DEAL
McDonald's appears to have deemed its $5 meal deal a success. The deal includes a McDouble or McChicken, four Chicken McNuggets, a small order of fries, and a small fountain drink.
THE BIG ARCH
The new burger, the Big Arch, is currently being piloted in Canada and Portugal. If the trials go well, there are plans to roll it out globally.
THE MCPLANT
The fast-food chain's forays into healthier alternatives have been rotten. The McPlant burger fell flat in tests in San Francisco and Dallas, and won't be appearing on American menus soon.
TROUBLE IN CALIFORNIA
Cheaper fast food for some may be way off. California's new $20 minimum wage for limited-service restaurant workers has prompted price hikes on menus statewide.
