McDonald's

Marketing

McDonald's Grinch Meal is apparently a huge hit

The fast food giant’s latest effort at nostalgia-based marketing is apparently flying out of its restaurants, to the point that locations are already running out of the chain’s Grinch-themed socks.

Financing

President Trump, looking to tout his economic record, returns to McDonald's

In a campaign-style speech to the fast-food giant’s franchisees, the president praised the company’s price cuts on Extra Value Meals and vowed to lower inflation.

The company’s same-store sales rose 2.4% in the U.S. last quarter as the fast-food giant works its way out of a domestic slump. Each of the chain’s major markets showed growth in the period.

The Bottom Line: The fast-food giant argues that its lower-priced combo meals will generate more customers and more sales over time, and profitability will follow. But costs aren’t exactly decreasing.

McDonald's Extra Value Meals campaign with 5% lower prices hasn't reversed declining foot traffic, with visits down 3-5% post-launch as value wars intensify across fast-food chains struggling with low-income consumer pullback.

We tried a selection of the fast-food burger chain’s crafted drinks, which are in test at about 500 locations. Here’s what we thought.

The Bottom Line: McDonald’s decision to take on the tip credit, and then say nothing else, has generated heavy criticism and a lot of questions. Why would it take on this topic right now?

A Deeper Dive: A special episode of the restaurant finance podcast explores the tip credit, and why the fast-food giant opted to leave the National Restaurant Association over the issue.

Jack in the Box and Wendy’s are offering new price promotions as they push back against their rival’s Extra Value Meals. Not everybody is biting, however.

Working Lunch: This week's political podcast takes a deeper dive into the parting of ways between the nation's largest restaurant chain and the industry's leading trade association. Is the tip credit in trouble?

  • Page 3