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McDonald’s franchisees will lower the price of combo meals to revive the chain’s picture as an inexpensive choice at a time when many shoppers are protecting an in depth eye on their wallets.
After weeks of discussions, McDonald’s and its U.S. franchisees agreed to maintain the price of eight common combo meals 15% decrease than if the gadgets had been purchased individually, in accordance with firm supplies seen by The Wall Road Journal. The corporate promised to supply monetary help if the franchisees agreed to the change, folks accustomed to the matter instructed the Journal.
A $5 breakfast and $8 Huge Mac and McNugget combo meal particular may also run later this yr, with the corporate promoting them as Further Worth Meals.
McDonald’s and its U.S. franchisees agreed to maintain the price of eight common combo meals 15% decrease than if the gadgets had been purchased individually. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
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A lot of the firm’s eating places worldwide are owned and operated by impartial franchisees.
McDonald’s declined to remark.
The corporate has been attempting to spice up its worth proposition and rejuvenate site visitors amongst its budget-conscious shoppers.
In January, the corporate started rolling out a brand new “McValue” menu class, a part of the fast-food firm’s comeback technique, providing prospects a “Purchase One, Add One for $1” choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The corporate concurrently launched app-specific offers to drive prospects to the platform, comparable to free medium fries with a $1 buy each Friday in 2025 and a free McCrispy hen sandwich for brand new app customers.
The corporate additionally mentioned its native franchisees had been launching their very own particular offers on gadgets such because the McGriddle and app-exclusive gives like 20% off $10 or extra.
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A lot of the firm’s eating places worldwide are owned and operated by impartial franchisees. (Kevin Carter/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
In 2024, the corporate was working to dismantle rumors that the corporate had considerably pumped up costs past inflationary charges as reviews surfaced that $18 Huge Mac meals had been being offered.
In a observe to prospects in Could 2024, McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger blamed “poorly sourced reviews” for contributing to the narrative that the corporate “raised costs considerably past inflationary charges.”
“That is inaccurate,” Erlinger mentioned, noting that whereas high-priced burgers exist, he mentioned that that is an exception, not the norm.
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“I can let you know that it frustrates and worries me, and lots of of our franchisees, after I hear about an $18 Huge Mac meal being offered – even when it was at one location within the U.S. out of greater than 13,700,” he mentioned.

The corporate has been attempting to spice up its worth proposition and rejuvenate site visitors amongst its budget-conscious shoppers. (Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg through Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
Erlinger mentioned he is extra involved “when folks imagine that that is the rule and never the exception, or when people begin to recommend that the costs of a Huge Mac have risen 100% since 2019.”
Ticker | Safety | Final | Change | Change % |
---|---|---|---|---|
MCD | MCDONALD’S CORP. | 314.61 | +3.84 | +1.24% |
The common worth of a Huge Mac within the U.S. in 2019 was $4.39, in accordance with Erlinger. Final yr, the common price was $5.29, a rise of 21% with all of the inflationary pressures factored in from the previous few years, he mentioned.