Over the past few months, McDonald’s has worked to addressconsumer outcryover rising fast-food prices by launching a$5 Meal Dealandhighlighting the myriad of local promotionsavailable throughout the country.
Now, bargain-hungry McDonald’s customers have another reason to get excited: a whole new value menu will soon debut at the fast-food giant.
McDonald’s executives unveiled plans to launch a “holistic value menu” during an Oct. 29 earnings call following the release of theirlatest quarterly results.
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According to McDonald’s CFO Ian Borden, the menu should become available in the first quarter of 2025just a few months away from now.
Company leaders were pretty tight-lipped about what the new menu will entail, though CEO Chris Kempzinski mentioned that it will need to have some sort of meal deal component, incorporate digital offers, and feature prices low enough to entice customers into restaurants.
He also said that the new American value menu might look something like the value platforms at McDonald’s restaurants around the world, such as Australia’sMcSmart Menuor Great Britain’sSaver Menu.
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(The Saver Menu features a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, sides, and desserts, though prices for these items are not listed online).
When contacted byEat This, Not That!, McDonald’s declined to share additional details about the new American value menu and how it will differ fromthe $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menualready available at its restaurants.
The $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu, whichreplaced McDonald’s classic Dollar Menu, originally featured a variety of meal and side items that ranged from $1 to $3 in price, perCNN.
However, customers havebeen complaining recentlythat the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menus at their local McDonald’s lack anything that’s just $1 (The cheapest $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu item at my local McDonald’s in central New Jersey is a $1.89 Sausage Biscuit, while everything else is above $2).
As it crafts the new value menu set to roll out in 2025, McDonald’s may have the opportunity to address some of these criticisms.
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McDonald’s announced its value menu plans during a tumultuous time for the company.
After seeinga rare declinein its U.S. same-store sales earlier this year, McDonald’s rebounded with a slight 0.3% increase last quarter.
However,a major E. coli outbreaklinked to the slivered onions in Quarter Pounder burgers caused sales and traffic to drop in mid-October.
During the earnings call, Borden said they believe the worst of the outbreak is “behind us” and they’re currently focused on winning back the trust of consumers.According tothe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has so far killed one, hospitalized 22, and sickened 75 people in total.
