1851

The fast food industry’s value meal competition is intensifying as more chains introduce discounted menu items to attract budget-conscious consumers amid rising dining costs. Initially led by&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-mcdonalds-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2720737">McDonald’s</a> $5 Meal Deal and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-wendys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722520#stories">Wendy’s</a> breakfast bundles, the trend has grown to include&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-taco-bell-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2720788">Taco Bell’s</a> Luxe Cravings Box and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-hardees-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2721286">Hardee’s</a> $5.99 Original Bag deal,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/08/19/value-meals-mcdonalds-wendys-taco-bell/74783555007/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs-2727087" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">USA Today reported</a>.&nbsp; Even sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden and Chili’s have joined the fray, with Olive Garden reintroducing its Never Ending Pasta Bowl and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-chilis-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722559">Chili’s</a> expanding its 3 for Me menu.These value offers are mostly advertised as limited-time promotions, but McDonald’s is considering extending its $5 Meal Deal, which has positively impacted customer perception of the brand’s affordability. However, data suggests that these deals might not be enough to drive sustained sales growth. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hellobrigit.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs-2727087" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brigit</a>, a financial app that analyzed millions of transactions, major fast-food chains like McDonald’s,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-burger-king-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2720751">Burger King</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/is-it-possible-to-become-a-starbucks-franchise-owner-2724683#stories">Starbucks</a>, Wendy’s and Taco Bell saw sales declines of over 30% from July 2023 to July 2024. This indicates that while customers are drawn to the deals, their overall spending on fast food has decreased.Industry experts believe that simply offering deals isn’t enough to reverse this trend. Personalization, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), might be the key to success. Retail analytics company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buxtonco.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs-2727087" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buxton</a> used AI to create several different McDonald’s “key customer personas.” The brand found a variety of responses to the $5 Meal Deal’s appeal, CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/swiftyjim/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs-2727087" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Swift</a> told USA Today.“As the Value Wars continue, it’s clear that success will depend not just on offering deals but on understanding who those deals are really for,” Swift said. “In the battle for customer loyalty, a one-size-fits-all strategy is not enough. Instead, the key to victory lies in personalization — crafting offers and experiences that speak directly to the diverse lives and values of … customers.”As the competition heats up, fast food brands must focus on tailoring their deals to meet the varied expectations of their customers, rather than relying solely on broad discounts.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/08/19/value-meals-mcdonalds-wendys-taco-bell/74783555007/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs-2727087" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.For more restaurant news, read these related 1851 Franchise articles:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/why-qsr-giants-like-mcdonalds-and-taco-bell-are-betting-on-nostalgia-menus-2727056#franchise-news">Why QSR Giants like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are Betting on Nostalgia Menus</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/fast-food-industry-faces-inflation-woes-but-hopes-for-rebound-with-value-deals-and-economic-relief-2726997#franchise-news">Fast-Food Industry Faces Inflation Woes but Hopes for Rebound with Value Deals and Economic Relief</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/zeats-what-changed-as-zoup-rebranded-to-cater-to-younger-consumers-2726931#franchise-news">Z!Eats: What Changed as Zoup! Rebranded to Cater to Younger Consumers</a></li></ul>

Fast Food Chains Intensify Value Meal Wars Amid Rising Costs

1851 Franchise

Fast food and restaurant chains are intensifying their value meal offerings, but experts suggest personalization might be the key to winning over increasingly budget-conscious consumers.

USA Today: Fast Food Chains Escalate Value Meal Wars as Consumers Seek Affordability Amid Rising Costs

usa-today-fast-food-chains-escalate-value-meal-wars-as-consumers-seek-affordability-amid-rising-costs

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Announces Franchise Expansion in Port Orange, Florida; Lakeland, Florida; Greenville 

Sola Salons Announces Franchise Expansion in Port Orange, Florida; Lakeland, Florida; Greenville, South Carolina

sola-salons-announces-franchise-expansion-in-port-orange-florida-lakeland-florida-greenville-south-carolina

Griswold

How Bruce McReynolds Built a Thriving Griswold Franchise Through Purpose and Community

how-bruce-mcreynolds-built-a-thriving-griswold-franchise-through-purpose-and-community

Sylvan Learning

Photo of Sylvan Learning teacher and student sitting at table together

How To Prevent Summer Learning Loss: Fun and Simple Ways To Keep Kids Learning

prevent-summer-learning-loss-sylvan-learning

Children's Lighthouse

Why Austin Is a Strategic Growth Market for Children’s Lighthouse

why-austin-is-a-strategic-growth-market-for-childrens-lighthouse

Biscuit Belly Franchising

Biscuit Boom in the Bayou City: Biscuit Belly Signs Three-Unit Deal to Expand in Houston

biscuit-boom-in-the-bayou-city-biscuit-belly-signs-three-unit-deal-to-expand-in-houston

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ed Holmes and Papa Murphy's logo

Thirty Years of Take ‘n’ Bake: Ed Holmes Reflects on a Lifetime With Papa Murphy’s

papa-murphys-franchise-ed-holmes-30-years

Design with outline of three houses and people working on laptops within them

Top 10 Low-Cost Home-Based or Mobile Franchises for 2025

low-cost-home-based-mobile-franchises

From Personal Care to Purpose-Driven Business: Why This Couple Is Bringing Griswold to Houston

from-personal-care-to-purpose-driven-business-why-this-couple-is-bringing-griswold-to-houston

Franchisee Spotlight with Chris & Evelyn Steinacher with Atomic Wings logo

Bringing the Heat: Local Couple Expand Their Franchise Portfolio with Atomic Wings in Illinois

atomic-wings-franchisee-feature-chris-evelyn-steinacher-fairview-heights-il

USA Today: Fast Food Chains Escalate Value Meal Wars as Consumers Seek Affordability Amid Rising Costs

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS