Get All Access for $5/mo

McDonald's Is Extending Its $5 Meal Deal in Most of the U.S. — Get the Details Here The $5 deal, created in response to a demand for value from inflation-strapped consumers, was initially planned for a four-week run.

By Carl Stoffers Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • McDonald's announced the launch of its $5 Meal Deal late last month.
  • The deal was scheduled to run for about four weeks, through the end of July.
  • The company will extend the deal to at least the end of August in most locations.

Last month's announcement of the McDonald's $5 Meal Deal deal, which was initially scheduled to last for four weeks, came as stubborn inflation squeezed lower-income consumers, who demanded fast-food brands — especially McDonald's — offer more value.

"We heard our fans loud and clear — they're looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that's exactly what they'll get," Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, said in a statement in June. "Value has always been part of our DNA."

Now, the company will continue to appeal to value-conscious customers and extend the $5 deal, which includes a McDouble or McChicken, small fries, four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a small drink, beyond its initial four-week window in most of its U.S. markets, CNBC reported.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

According to a memo obtained by CNBC, McDonald's executives wrote that 93% of its restaurants voted to extend the promotion past its original end date later this month. The memo said the majority of locations will extend through August, according to the CNBC report.

The $5 Meal Deal followed a May 29 open letter from Erlinger addressing rumors and misconceptions about McDonald's menu price increases.

"I can tell you that it frustrates and worries me, and many of our franchisees, when I hear about an $18 Big Mac meal being sold — even if it was at one location in the U.S. out of more than 13,700," Erlinger wrote. "More worrying, though, is when people believe that this is the rule and not the exception, or when folks start to suggest that the prices of a Big Mac have risen 100% since 2019."

Related: Fast-Food Workers in California Now Earn a $20 Minimum Wage — Here's How This Will Impact Franchising

Meanwhile, several competing fast-food chains, including Burger King, KFC, Sonic, Taco Bell and Wendy's, have recently announced new value deals.

Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal includes a Whopper Jr., Chicken Jr. or Bacon Cheeseburger with four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink.

The KFC $4.99 Meal For One includes two pieces of dark meat chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and a biscuit. Additionally, KFC offers $10 Tuesdays, where customers can get an eight-piece bucket of dark meat chicken for $10 every Tuesday this summer.

Sonic's new $1.99 menu features a variety of items, including two new Bacon Ranch and Southwest Crunch Queso Wraps.

Related: Find Out Which Brands Have Ranked on the Franchise 500 for Longest, Earning a Spot In our New 'Hall of Fame'

Taco Bell's new build-your-own $5 Cravings Box includes a medium fountain drink, a crunchy taco, a Burrito Supreme, Cinnamon Twists and a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito.

And Wendy's customers can get a free small Frosty this summer by purchasing a $5 Biggie Bag through the Wendy's app. The Biggie Bag, available since 2019, includes a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich, four-piece chicken nuggets, Jr. fries and a small soft drink.

Read More: CNBC

Carl Stoffers

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Business Editor

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.