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McDonald’s reportedly plans to lower combo prices and roll out new deals

Alexandra Blake
Alexandra Blake
12 minutes read
Blog
December 16, 2025

A McDonald's a hírek szerint tervezi a kombók árainak csökkentését és új akciók bevezetését

Launch targeted value bundles now and run an august pilot to quantify impact. In times of inflation and increases in costs, this approach protects diners’ wallets while preserving financial margins. An analyst jankovskis expects a measurable lift in visits if price gaps are clear and predictable. This plan should start with a three-week pilot and a following two-week extension, with clear KPIs on visits, average ticket, and sales lift.

Roll out two to three value combos centered on chicken and sides, with price points that keep the basket under a familiar threshold for diners. Tie redemptions to specific SKUs to track performance and avoid cannibalizing higher-margin items. If the august pilot delivers a 3-5% lift in diners and a 2-4% increase in average ticket, McDonald’s could add millions in annual sales while preserving labor efficiency. This approach could deliver more stability than broad discounts across the chain. Use a real-time dashboard to monitor labor, inventory, and margins so managers can adjust promotions quickly.

As analyst jankovskis notes, price-focused incentives can convert cautious diners into repeat visitors if the messaging feels like a crisp movie trailer for a good deal, not a broad sweep. The pricing system should keep core items on the menu while testing smaller chicken-focused bundles. With transparent reporting and system tracking, the team can adjust promotions without eroding labor efficiency or quality. Build a reliable supply plan to ensure chicken and sides stay fresh during peak times, including a black-box risk review to flag stockouts.

To execute, leadership should lock in august price points for two value combos, train crews to execute quickly, and cap daily redemptions to protect margins, then roll out a real-time dashboard to monitor diners, labor, and sales. If the metrics show a 2-3% lift in visits in the first two weeks, scale the program to additional regions in times of peak demand and adjust chicken-focused bundles accordingly. Analyst jankovskis projects incremental revenue could reach the million-dollar level as the system stabilizes.

McDonald’s Pricing Strategy, Inflation Outlook, and Web-Site Navigation: A Practical Information Plan

Recommend wrapping the pricing update into a three-panel hub on the site: Deals now, Prices, and Inflation forecast. After the August move, display current prices, a history log that shows rose and fell movements, and comments from an analyst about near-term inflation trends. Seeing price increases, some items feel expensive, so the plan emphasizes value bundles and transparent terms. When users browse, present a movie-like timeline of price changes to help customers understand the path without clutter, and guide them toward stay-on-site sections for details.

Pricing strategy details: Set a base price for core items and offer two bundles: a mid-price wrap that includes drink and fries, and a high-value family option. This structure absorbs increases while keeping prices attractive for frequent buyers. The forecast from an analyst shows inflation rising in the west after a March peak, with a warning that some guests may push back on any sharp rise; through August, run targeted offers to balance demand and margin.

Site navigation plan: Create a dedicated pricing hub with three sections: Deals, History, and Forecast. Include a european-friendly view and regional filters to help visitors locate items quickly, including the most popular combos. The Prices page should show a timeline with rose and fell prices and a simple glossary of terms; add a warning badge if any price moves exceed a threshold. Keep the path from home to deals short so visitors stay on site longer and easily compare options across markets.

Execution and metrics: The plan targets millions of impressions and transactions, with sales data guiding adjustments. Monitor inflation signals and adjust promotions in march and august as needed, passing savings through to customers when feasible to prevent a problem with affordability. Use comments from customers and analysts to refine terms, alert users to when prices may rose again, and ensure the site communicates clearly that higher prices are linked to input cost trends and macro forecasts.

Lower combo prices, new deals, and rollout timelines for customers and franchisees

Join the loyalty program now to access the lower combo prices as the August rollout begins.

Here is a practical plan for customers and franchisees to navigate terms, support, and timing without friction.

  1. Customers: look for the movie-night meal deal options, especially where a main plus sides and a beverage are bundled. These deals lower the cost of a complete meal and will roll out first into the west, then expand into united and european markets. Review the terms in the app, ask staff if needed, and please remember to compare the value against your previous orders. This deal option makes it very easy to switch without sacrificing convenience.

  2. Franchisees: align with the new plans and ensure support from the system for price points, promotional copy, and staff training. Stock up on the most popular items to avoid shortages when demand rises after the rollout. If raising costs occur in some locations, use the lowering pricing in bundles to pass savings to customers while protecting margins. Franchisees face a hard balance though margins remain a priority, and these steps require clear guidance from the head office. This also helps those operators adapt quickly.

  3. Rollout timing and scope: the initial wave lands in the west in August, with raises in demand into new markets as the chain expands. The giant brands will share data on stock and demand to fine-tune the rollout, and the united and european markets will follow as performance meets targets. This approach helps those operators integrate the changes into their local operations with minimal disruption.

Warning: supply or payment-system problems can slow progress. If an issue arises, the team will pause lowering steps and then resume after the problem is resolved. Those pauses are temporary and are designed to protect customers and franchises. Please share comments with your opinions and questions; the brand will collect them and pass relevant insights to partners across the chain.

Important notes for a smooth transition: after August, expect gradual increases in deal variety and sustained support from the corporate side, with clear messaging to avoid confusion. When in doubt about a specific offer, ask for a complete breakdown of the cost, the meal composition, and the expected savings. Already tested pilots show that this approach can increase footfall and strengthen the united states, european, and west region markets alike. The financial impact should be modeled by operators to avoid surprises.

Which combos will be discounted and by what amounts

Recommendation: Discount the Big Mac meal by about 15% and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal by about 12% to lift orders while preserving earnings.

Reuters reports the companys plans to roll out value deals across united markets, with regional variation to reflect labor costs and local demand. The deals will appear on official site pages, aiming for a financial impact without squeezing margins. An analyst notes the plan could boost traffic but compress margins in the near term, and shares could rise as the giant moves to sustain earnings in european markets.

The strategy focuses on high-traffic combos and uses price cuts that incentivize larger baskets. It could drive increases in average ticket size while avoiding a problem for supply chains, thanks to staged rollout across key markets. The timing aligns with the late-summer movie season, when families plan outings and meals together.

  • Big Mac meal – about 15% discount
  • Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal – about 12% discount
  • McNuggets and fries value combo (20-piece) – about 10% discount
  • Cheeseburger value meal – 12% to 15% discount
  • Chicken McNuggets 10-piece with meal – about 5% to 10% discount (market dependent)
  • Happy Meal – around 5% to 8% discount to support family baskets

Across markets, the plan aims to make value evident on the site while supporting a solid earnings path for the companys global footprint. If the approach holds, the company could see stronger traffic in united states and european markets and a steadier share performance after the rollout.

What the new deals include: bundles, app rewards, and rollout schedule

What the new deals include: bundles, app rewards, and rollout schedule

Recommendation: Launch bundles and app rewards first, with a phased rollout that protects margins while driving consumer engagement across high-traffic times.

Bundles compress value into predictable prices: Core Chicken Bundle (chicken sandwich, medium fries, and drink) at a single price that undercuts buying items separately, and a Family Pack for four meals plus two sides. A Build-Your-Own option lets customers mix two chicken items with a side at a fixed price, encouraging larger baskets. Across times of day and channels, these bundles appear in-app and in-store, with prices designed to hold significant margin protection even as volumes rise across busy periods. Those bundles also aim to lift consumer share with simple, repeatable choices, and black box pricing will guide adjustments without eroding loyalty.

App rewards unlock points per dollar and freebies once thresholds are hit, with time-based boosts to shift traffic to off-peak hours. Customers redeem points for drinks, sides, or chicken items, creating incentives that boost loyalty and repeat visits. West and york markets show early uplift in app adoption, and analyst notes indicate the model could scale nationally if results stay positive. For those who prefer quick access, a pass option accelerates checkout and reinforces repeat use, especially during family movie nights or after-school runs.

The rollout follows a phased plan: start in the west and select york markets, then expand across the united states over the next two quarters. App-exclusive promotions lead the way, followed by in-store offers to drive cross-use and momentum across channels. The pace hinges on early results and system capacity; when the pilot proves resilient, management will accelerate broader coverage. The objective remains a frictionless ordering experience and clear value messaging around prices and bundles, so customers feel confident in choosing the new deals.

Analyst commentary expects a significant lift in earnings power if those bundles and app rewards translate into repeat visits. Margins should hold steady as higher basket sizes offset lower unit prices, with monitoring of prices across times and channels to protect share. While headwinds in consumer spending persist, the plan aims to pull earnings higher by boosting loyalty and cross-sell without sacrificing results. Paper-backed forecasts from the team emphasize disciplined rollout, with results guiding the when and where of the next wave across the country.

Please track progress across times, noting how those results align with west and york tests, and adjust the course if needed to keep the rollout on track across the united states.

How price cuts affect restaurant profitability and supplier costs

How price cuts affect restaurant profitability and supplier costs

Start with a targeted price cut on high-volume items and lock in supplier savings to protect margins. Frame it as value for diners, like a measured experiment rather than a blanket discount. Use a clear cap on promotional days and tie the promo to a specific menu item to manage costs.

Adopt a three-track plan: adjust prices selectively, tighten labor deployment, and renegotiate inputs with suppliers. For a chain with about $1,000 million in annual revenue, a 5% price cut paired with a 3% rise in traffic could reduce revenue by around 2% on a same-store basis; the cost savings from lean labor and better supplier terms could offset roughly 1.5%, leaving a net impact near break-even. This shows why ongoing monitoring matters more than big swings.

Scenario Price cut % Mennyiségi növekedés % Bevétel változás Munkaköltség-megtakarítás (fő) Beszállítói költségmegtakarítás (pp) Nettó nyereségre gyakorolt hatás (százalékpont)
A 5 3 -2% 0.5% 1.0% -0.5%
B 10 6 -4% 1.0% 2.0% -1.0%
C 15 8 -8% 1.5% 2.5% -4.0%

Ugyanez a logika vonatkozik azokra a piacokra is, ahol az akciós menük részesedése generálja a forgalmat; az értékre és gyorsaságra helyező tartalom általában növeli a vendégek arányát, különösen akkor, ha más szegmensekben emelkednek az árak. Egy tanulmányban Nicolaus elemző megjegyzi, hogy az árcsökkentések akkor működnek a legjobban, ha wrap ajánlatokkal és az értékre vonatkozó egyértelmű tartalommal párosulnak, nem pedig puszta kedvezményekkel. Ez a megközelítés támogatja a tartalomvezérelt elköteleződést és védi az árréseket, miközben bővíti a forgalmat a lánc megfelelő területein.

A Reuters márciusi jelentése szerint egy hatalmas nyugati parti lánc árcsökkentéseket tesztelt a menü egyszerűsítésével és a logisztika javításával párhuzamosan; az eredmény a bemeneti költségek kisebb növekedése és a nyomon követhetőbb profit volt. Amikor a terv a nagyobb mix-rugalmassággal rendelkező tételekre irányul, a marginra gyakorolt hatás kezelhető, de amikor az árcsökkentések a zsúfolt menüket érintik, a probléma nő, mivel a költségek gyorsabban emelkednek, mint a bevétel. A McDonald's-szerű, ebben a márciusi időszakban alkalmazott gyakorlatok rávilágítanak a fegyelmezett bevezetés, valamint az ellátási költségek, a munkaerő-összehangolás és a franchise-támogatás folyamatos felülvizsgálatának szükségességére.

Zárásként alakíts ki egy fegyelmezett keretrendszert: határozz meg egy felső határt a promóciós intenzitásra, használj egy ár-promóciós rendszert, amely összekapcsolódik a munkaerő-ütemezéssel és a beszállítói szerződésekkel, és támogasd az üzleteket egyértelmű tartalommal, amely kommunikálja az értéket. Kezdd egy kísérleti programmal néhány kiválasztott régióban, mérd a napi bevételt termékenként, ügyfelenként és ledolgozott munkaóránként, majd igazíts. Ez megőrzi a lánc ellenálló képességét, a frontvonaltól a beszállítói oldalig, és elkerüli a magas költségű profitcsökkenést még akkor is, ha az árcsökkentések több vendéget vonzanak, mint egy stabil, jól támogatott terv az egész rendszerben.

Regionális hatás: Európa és más piacok a növekvő infláció hatása alatt

Javaslat: az emelkedő költségek egy részét augusztusban hárítsuk át az árakra, és indítsunk célzott étkezési akciókat a helyszíneken a fogyasztók védelme és a készlet stabilizálása érdekében.

Európa és más piacok is szembesülnek a növekvő inflációból eredő nehézségekkel, a McDonald's és más márkák árai emelkednek Nyugaton, miközben a háztartások szűkítik a költségvetésüket.

Az előrejelzések megmutatják, hogyan alakulhat a pálya: az áremelés támogatni fogja a haszonkulcsokat, ha a kereslet kitart, miközben a promóciós mélységet kezelni kell, hogy elkerüljük az árcsökkenést, ami növeli a fogyasztó költségeit.

York és más regionális piacok különböző modelleket tesztelnek: egyes helyeken lassabban emelik az árakat, mások az olcsó menükre koncentrálnak, a hatalmas lánc pedig mérlegeli, mely ajánlatok hárítják át a leghatékonyabban a költségeket anélkül, hogy elijesztenék a vásárlókat.

Pénzügyi vonzatok: ha a stratégia kitart, a részvény stabilizálódhat és a befektetői hangulat javulhat; ellenkező esetben újabb akadályok nehezítik az előrejelzést, befolyásolva, hogy a márka a nehéz körülmények között mekkora részt hasít ki a pénztárcákból.