MCDONALD’S will slash the prices on eight of its popular combo meals from next month.
The fast food giant recently caught some heat for raising the price of the Big Mac to $18 in some places.
2
McDonald’s has reached a deal with its franchisees in the US to keep the cost of eight combo meals 15% below the sum of the individual items’ prices, per The Wall Street Journal.
The chain will also be running combo special later this year, specifically for a $5 breakfast and $8 Big Mac and McNugget combo meal.
These are set to be marked as Extra Value Meals.
The pricing on the eight combo meals is set to kick in from early September and will last until at least the start of 2026.
The combo meals set to be slashed include those featuring the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Chicken McNuggets, McCrispy, Egg McMuffin and other breakfast sandwiches.
Joe Erlinger, head of McDonald’s US, claimed that this move would help the chain get back to its reputation for affordable food.
He also said this price-cutting is being done due to feedback from fans.
Erlinger commented: “Customers are telling us they need more of the everyday value and affordability that defines the McDonald’s brand.”
As part of the reduced pricing, a combo meal that you could get for $10 will be cut to $8.50.
McDonald’s will also sell a Sausage Egg McMuffin at $5 and Big Mac meals for $8 from September.
Then, from November, a Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddle meal will be reduced to $5 and a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal to $8.
FRANCHISEE WAR
McDonald’s hasn’t always agreed with its franchisees when it comes to prices.
While the company has urged its operators to limit price increases to the less popular parts of the menu, operators argue that higher costs are forcing their hands.
Operators have also urged McDonald’s to cut back on deals to save on costs.
Combo meals being reduced in price
Those featuring the:
- Big Mac
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- Chicken McNuggets
- McCrisp
- Egg McMuffin
- Other breakfast sandwiches
To get the franchisees to agree to the combo meal cuts, the company has promised to subsidize the money lost on the discounts.
But there is still a divide among consumers that McDonald’s is trying to solve.
Investors were told earlier this month that consumers with a lower income were eating at home more.
At the same time, those with middling and higher incomes are vicisitng McDonlad’s more.
The company expects this divide to continue.
McDonald’s Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said: “The single biggest driver of what shapes a consumer’s overall perception of McDonald’s value is the menu board.”
Executives hope that the price cuts will help even things out when it comes to the financial demographics of its customers.
2
