In the competition to attract inflation-weary consumers, McDonald’s $5 meal deal has significantly boosted foot traffic.
Since introducing the bundle in late June, McDonald’s has noticed a sharp rise in restaurant visits, according to foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai.
The firm reported that on the launch day, Tuesday, June 25, McDonald’s experienced its busiest Tuesday of the year, with visits up by over 8% compared to the year-to-date average. This trend continued, with July 2nd seeing visits surpassing the average, indicating that the bundle was resonating well with customers.
The $5 deal, originally intended for a month-long promotion, will be available for about two more weeks. It includes a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries, and a small drink.
Separately, McDonald’s offers another promotion where customers spending at least $1 on Fridays can get a free order of french fries. This offer runs every Friday through the end of 2024 but requires purchases to be made via the McDonald’s app.
McDonald’s isn’t alone in seeing increased customer visits. Casual dining chains like Buffalo Wild Wings, Starbucks, and Chili’s have also experienced a rise in foot traffic due to similar discount promotions, Placer.ai found.
Other chains are also jumping into bargain territory. Arby’s recently announced a $9 bundle, while Sonic introduced a permanent $1.99 value menu. In June, Taco Bell launched a $7 Luxe Cravings Box, adding to its existing $5 Taco Discovery Box and Cravings Value Menu.
In late May, Burger King announced its $5 “Your Way Meal” bundle would outlast McDonald’s offering. Earlier in that month, Wendy’s unveiled its $3 breakfast bundle and has since introduced a $5 combo called the “Biggie Bag,” which includes a Frosty.