# McDonalds is having a day **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 8, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575 "2024-10-08T21:05:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/1 "2024-10-08T21:05:35Z")
Item the first: McDonalds french fry supplier, Lamb Weston, is closing their plant in Washington due to financial losses. People are apparently eating fewer fries, substituting smaller sizes to save money. Item B: McDonald’s is suing Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Company, accusing them of colluding to inflate beef prices. I have no comment. I may have lunch at a McDonalds once a month or so. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/2 "2024-10-08T22:02:26Z")
Let nobody threaten the sanctity of the American hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/3 "2024-10-08T22:04:27Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > People are apparently eating fewer fries, substituting smaller sizes to save money. How do you know that’s the reason? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/4 "2024-10-08T22:06:51Z")
That’s what the article says, or speculates. Fast food prices are too high, so people order smaller fries. They don’t make them at home enough to matter to Lamb Weston’s bottom line. McDonalds represents 13% of their business. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/5 "2024-10-08T22:10:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > McDonalds represents 13% of their business In terms of quantity or profit? If quantity that’s a metric tonnage of fries going elsewhere. Who would that volume be going to? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/6 "2024-10-08T22:13:05Z")
Sales. > **[Lamb Weston sounds alarm on french fry sales, says dropping demand caused...](https://abc7chicago.com/post/lamb-weston-americas-french-fry-king-sounds-alarm-sales-slow-point-prompting-layoffs-production-plant-closes/15405434/)** > > As Americans buy less fast food, french fry sales have cooled to the point where the biggest fries supplier has had to lay off employees and close a production plant. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/7 "2024-10-08T22:17:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That’s what the article says, or speculates. Fast food prices are too high, so people order smaller fries. And, in the news article to which you linked in your last post: > [@](#): > > Fast-food chains like McDonald’s are dangling value menus to try to lure customers back. McDonald’s has launched a $5 meal, which includes a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, 4-piece chicken nuggets and small soft drink. But these deals aren’t helping Lamb Weston because people are buying smaller portions of fries. > > “Many of these promotional meal deals have consumers trading down from a medium fry to a small fry,” Lamb Weston CEO Thomas Werner said last week on an earnings call. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/8 "2024-10-08T22:21:28Z")
I still eat at McDonald’s every so often. Back when I returned from a year overseas in Korea my first meal was at McDonald’s. Big Mac, order of fries, and a chocolate shake. I’d gotten gift cards for Christmas and returned in late March with them burning a hole in my pocket. Korea at the time didn’t have many Western fast food outlets as at that time they weren’t signatory to some of the international copyright laws. The only one I saw was a KFC in Seoul. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/9 "2024-10-08T22:27:01Z")
I think fries are a high margin item for places like McDonalds. By far my favorite fast-food fry and they know it. I buy potatoes at home and know they are dirt cheap and McDonalds are getting them a lot cheaper than I am. If we go somewhere like 5-Guys their fries are STUPID expensive! I think they are finding consumer limits. It’s just too expensive now for what it is. Especially since wages have not kept pace. When I go to McDonalds and a Big Mac and fries costs me $12 that’s too much. I can get much better food for about the same price or only a little more at other places/ ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/10 "2024-10-08T22:29:45Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > People are apparently eating fewer fries, substituting smaller sizes to save money. A large fry costs $4 at McDonald’s these days, for maybe 25 cents worth of potatoes, oil, and salt. Is it any wonder people are ordering smaller sizes? (Order on the app, though, and they’ve got a coupon you can use once every day for a FREE large fry with the purchase of a small soda for $1. Someone with an economics degree please explain this to me.) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/11 "2024-10-08T22:36:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That’s what the article says, or speculates. There was no article posted when I asked that question. It could be people ordering smaller portions or people not getting fries at all because tastes are changing. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/12 "2024-10-08T22:45:04Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think fries are a high margin item for places like McDonalds. By far my favorite fast-food fry and they know it. I buy potatoes at home and know they are dirt cheap and McDonalds are getting them a lot cheaper than I am. If we go somewhere like 5-Guys their fries are STUPID expensive! We have a local burger chain in the Little Rock area that offers endless fries with their meals. Come to think of it, when I order fries at most sit down restaurants I get an over abundance of them. These days I rarely eat all the fries on my plate, so I can’t help but think you’re right about them being a high profit margin product just like soda pop. I’ve cut back on eating out at fast food places because of the prices. Even Taco Bell, the gold standard for cheap fast food, is pricey these days. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/13 "2024-10-08T22:45:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > (Order on the app, though, and they’ve got a coupon you can use once every day for a FREE large fry with the purchase of a small soda for $1. Someone with an economics degree please explain this to me.) “We’ll make it up with the volume!” ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/14 "2024-10-08T22:46:26Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > (Order on the app, though, and they’ve got a coupon you can use once every day for a FREE large fry with the purchase of a small soda for $1. Someone with an economics degree please explain this to me.) They’re just trying to get people used to using the APP to order. As you said, it cost them .30 cents for the fries and maybe .15 cents for the drink? They’re still making a profit and getting you used to using the APP and buying from them. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/15 "2024-10-08T22:47:37Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > They’re just trying to get people used to using the APP to order. As you said, it cost them .30 cents for the fries and maybe .15 cents for the drink? They’re still making a profit and getting you used to using the APP and buying from them. And, I imagine that very few customers are _only_ going to order the small drink and the free fries; they’re going to also order a sandwich or nuggets or something, and that’ll be at full price (because it’s unbundled from one of their usual combo meals). ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/16 "2024-10-08T22:55:14Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > (Order on the app, though, and they’ve got a coupon you can use once every day for a FREE large fry with the purchase of a small soda for $1. Someone with an economics degree please explain this to me.) > > They’re just trying to get people used to using the APP to order. As you said, it cost them .30 cents for the fries and maybe .15 cents for the drink? They’re still making a profit and getting you used to using the APP and buying from them. And it gets you in EVERY day. 🙂 So you’re still paying, what $2-3 for the soda with the $1 fries, lots of small profit, minimal employee effort and time with no sandwich, and lots of turnover. Not to mention @kenobi_65’s point about you wander in for your “deal” but are hungry for more and order something _else_ which adds up. Lastly, they get all your ordering habits, and tailor their offers to you, as well as endless advertising from the app for those “little” add-ons you could have. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/17 "2024-10-08T23:12:09Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Lastly, they get all your ordering habits, and tailor their offers to you, as well as endless advertising from the app for those “little” add-ons you could have. I recently read (like a day ago) that it is much better to order a double cheeseburger at McDonalds than a Big Mac. You can ask for the Big Mac preparation (no extra cost) for the cheeseburger and the only difference is one less slice of cheese. Apparently that is a fair bit less expensive. I have not tried it though so, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/18 "2024-10-08T23:16:16Z")
As a data point, I don’t think I’ve ordered their fries or meal in at least ten years. For the kids, I’ll get it in the happy meal. But that’s it. It’s just not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/19 "2024-10-08T23:21:18Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > They’re just trying to get people used to using the APP to order Whenever I see those types of promos, I’ve assumed the idea is to get you to download the app, set up an account and save a payment method. That way, next time you want food, you’ve already got their app, on your phone, ready to go. You don’t even have to dig your credit card out of your pocket. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575/20 "2024-10-08T23:27:31Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > You can ask for the Big Mac preparation (no extra cost) for the cheeseburger and the only difference is one less slice of cheese. The Big Mac also has an extra middle piece of bread. It’s like a club sandwich. When I worked at McD’s the three pieces of bread were called (from top to bottom) the crown, the club and the heel. The crown in the Big Mac is bigger and has sesame seeds. It’s the Big Mac that has one slice of cheese, the double cheese burger has two. (It seems like we are disagreeing a lot today for some reason) Here in Santa Barbara. one of the few places that I can get food on the way home from seeing live music and it’s late is a McD’s and I almost always order the same thing and I always use the app. I don’t even pay attention to the specials but apparently I have 33k of their points. I should see what I can get with those. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575.md?page=2)