McDonald's Tests Changes In $1 Burger As Costs Rise

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
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Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. is testing modifications to its popular $1 double cheeseburger, and higher prices for the sandwich, as it prepares to change its Dollar Menu by next year.

In an interview, Don Thompson, president of McDonald's U.S. business, said the company has tested ways to make the burger less expensive to make. Some restaurants are selling it with one slice of cheese instead of two, and billing it as a "double hamburger with cheese." Others are offering a double hamburger without cheese. Some are selling the traditional double cheeseburger at prices ranging from $1.09 to $1.19.

Launched in 2003, the Dollar Menu has been a key driver of sales at McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants and has helped it ride out dips in consumer spending. But recently, franchisees have complained that the menu has brought too much unprofitable traffic into their restaurants.

The biggest question for the eight-item menu is what to do with the double cheeseburger, considered its anchor. High dairy prices have pushed up the cost of cheese, and McDonald's predicts more pressure because its beef costs will be higher this year. Mr. Thompson said if McDonald's moves the double cheeseburger off that menu, there would still be some type of $1 burger.

Lower-priced beverages, including $1.89 iced coffee and a $1 fountain-drink and sweet-tea promotion, have pulled some sales away from the espresso drinks, which range from about $2 to $3. That was something the company hadn't anticipated, he said.

McDonald's overall beverage expansion, adding espresso drinks, smoothies, cold tea, bottled drinks and ice-blended coffee beverages at U.S. locations, is on track to exceed the company's goal of adding $125,000 a year in sales per restaurant, even though it doesn't yet have national advertising behind it, Mr. Thompson said. He sees McDonald's target of the drinks adding $1 billion a year to the company's sales as "definitely achievable." The rollout will be complete at the end of 2009.

http://online.wsj.com/article/...337.html?mod=yhoofront
 

Beev

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2006
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I read about this yesterday. $1 double cheezburgers are the only reason I go to McD :(
 

mattocs

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2005
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I like Wendy's dollar menu more...but McD double cheese burger isn't so bad...
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
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the only reason i go to McDonalds is for the double cheeseburgers and when they have 2 for $2 quarterpounders (wich is rare). oh and sometimes they will have $.49 cheeseburger!

man that sucks. 2 slices of cheese really make it.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Well this has just about eliminated McD's from my diet entirely.

Feeling like absolute shit after eating there has eliminated it from mine.
 
L

Lola

I can understand why they are doing this and will accept it. I love Mc Donalds and usually get a double cheeseburger and a 4 pcs nugget. It is great to eat for $2, but if I have to pay 20 cents more, I won't mind. I would rather them keep what is on the burger than taking off a slice of cheese, etc.
 

Riverhound777

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2003
3,360
61
91
They had $1 Big Macs on Mondays at my local McD's. But this week I went and they changed it to 2 for $3. Still good deal but damn.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
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Originally posted by: Lola
I can understand why they are doing this and will accept it. I love Mc Donalds and usually get a double cheeseburger and a 4 pcs nugget. It is great to eat for $2, but if I have to pay 20 cents more, I won't mind. I would rather them keep what is on the burger than taking off a slice of cheese, etc.

What I love is the fact that a 10-piece McNugget box is a little over $4, but three 4-piece McNugget boxes are $3. I'm astonished that anyone buys the 10-piece boxes.

ZV
 

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
10,917
0
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Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Well this has just about eliminated McD's from my diet entirely.

Feeling like absolute shit after eating there has eliminated it from mine.

:thumbsup:
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,047
16,454
136
Originally posted by: mattocs
I like Wendy's dollar menu more...but McD double cheese burger isn't so bad...

Yeah, they just rolled out a $1 double cheese at Wendy's around here (don't know about anywhere else) and it's better.
 

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
10,917
0
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Originally posted by: waggy
the only reason i go to McDonalds is for the double cheeseburgers and when they have 2 for $2 quarterpounders (wich is rare). oh and sometimes they will have $.49 cheeseburger!

man that sucks. 2 slices of cheese really make it.

Yeaa, I remember quite a few years ago they had .39 cent hamburgers and 49 cent cheeseburgers every tuesday or something. Was madness.
 

mattocs

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2005
2,246
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When I was in middle school, the Mcdonnalds where I lived had 29 cent hamburgers on sunday and 39 cent cheeseburgers on wednesday. Me and my friends would go tear that shit up. Those were good. This was about ten years ago.

 

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
10,917
0
0
Originally posted by: mattocs
When I was in middle school, the Mcdonnalds where I lived had 29 cent hamburgers on sunday and 39 cent cheeseburgers on wednesday. Me and my friends would go tear that shit up. Those were good. This was about ten years ago.

Yeaaa thats what it was. Check was good back then.