McDonalds Japan cancels Pokémon card Happy Set after waste and resale

McDonalds Japan has canceled a short-lived Happy Set promotion that paired children’s meals with Pokémon trading cards after widespread reselling and disappointing levels of food waste prompted the company to intervene. The campaign, which featured a Pikachu-themed toy and a Pokémon card, drew unusually large crowds and quickly sold out, but reports soon followed of stacks of discarded meals and bags left outside outlets as some buyers sought only the cards.

In a formal statement issued after the promotion’s abrupt end, the company apologized for what it described as insufficient preparation. “We do not believe in abandoning and discarding food. This situation goes against our longtime philosophy that we have cherished as a restaurant to offer a fun dining experience for children and families,” it said, adding that it would examine what went wrong and take corrective steps. The retailer signaled it would tighten access to the promotion in the future, including limiting the number of meals per person and potentially ending online orders. It warned that service could be denied to customers who violated rules designed to curb bulk purchases and resale.