McDonald’s tests value bundles at 1,900 U.S. restaurants

McDonald’s has begun an eight-week test of new value bundles at about 1,900 U.S. restaurants, as the company prepares a national value program for early 2027 following a third-quarter decline in comparable sales. Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said the test started in the last week of October. It is examining two formats: mix-and-match combinations that let customers choose items and fixed bundles containing set items. McDonald’s plans to use the results to decide which structure to take national, with the goal of choosing an offer that appeals to customers and works for franchisees. The company reported that comparable sales at U.S. restaurants open at least a year fell 0.2% in the July-to-September quarter. It was the first decline after five consecutive quarters of increases. McDonald’s said global comparable sales rose 1.5% in the quarter, while another report on the results put the increase at 1.3%, a difference not resolved in the accounts of the figures. Kempczinski said a group of franchisees representing about 4,000 restaurants was also moving ahead with similar entry-level bundles before the test results are available. Those restaurants are separate from the...