A TikTok influencer who claims to have been a McDonald’s chef has revealed why fast food chains are bringing back bundled value combo meals.
Mike Haracz, from Illinois, posted a video explaining why the retro trend is making a comeback because it was so cost-effective for chains in an era of white-hot inflation.
His comments come after McDonald’s announced it would introduce a $5 meal deal following customer complaints that the brand had become too expensive. At the same time, it has phased out many individual options on its dollar menu.
Haracz explained that this was intentional, as combination meals are typically cheaper to offer than individual bargains.
“If you think about these bundles, you usually get four items: two that are a little more expensive and two that are a lot cheaper,” he said.
Mike Haracz posted a TikTok video last week explaining why McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants are offering bundled value meals
According to Haracz, the reason behind the bundled value meals “comes down to math.” Items he used to support his answer include small fries and four-piece chicken nuggets
Haracz, who claims to have worked as a chef at McDonald’s for almost five years, explained that the restaurant chain wouldn’t make as much money if they only offered the items individually at bargain prices.
“Smart people like me and you would just buy a bunch of hamburgers,” he said.
“They wouldn’t make that much money, so they bundle them together so you might order things you normally wouldn’t.”
The TikToker said “all the other restaurants” are doing the same as they struggle with rising food costs.
Haracz further explained that its chicken nuggets have historically been McDonald’s main profit driver.
Haracz briefly mentioned premium products such as the McDouble and the McChicken, two popular McDonald’s sandwiches.
TikTok users commenting on the video have also offered reasons why McDonald’s is bundling its value menu items.
Haracz, who worked as a chef at McDonald’s for almost five years, revealed that McDonald’s has seen “more traditional profit on its sales” with its chicken nuggets
Haracz, who worked as a chef at McDonald’s for almost five years, revealed that McDonald’s has seen “more traditional profit on its sales” with its chicken nuggets
One user wrote that they believe McDonald’s is “raising the individual price so it’s cheaper to get the bundle than the one or two things you really want.”
“Bundles are okay, but the quality has gone way down,” one TikToker wrote.
“This is why I just roll my eyes when the franchisees complain that they are “losing so much money,” wrote another TikToker.
A $5 bundle probably has a food cost of just over $1. For example, figure out how to make a profit on $4.