It have all the hallmarks that a rise in the price of burgers at McDonald’s didn’t scare away people in the first quarter.
The burger giant said Monday that menu reward increases fueled higher check averages in the U.S., leading to 2.9 percent swelling in same-store sales growth and McDonald’s 11th consecutive quarter of positive improvement in this area.
During the company’s earnings call, Chief Fiscal Officer Kevin Ozan said that sales were helped by customers opting for McDonald’s premium products, its pricier Signature Way Burgers, and an increase in the number of items ordered at one time, particularly from its Dollar Menu.
These sandwiches payment between $5 and $7, on average, depending on your location and are on par with the outlays at other chains in the better-burger category like Shake Shack and Five Youths.
McDonald’s rolled out its $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu in January. At the time, a army of McDonald’s U.S. franchisees said they were worried this and other billboards would drive checks lower and reduce their ability to authority over menu prices. But it appears that wasn’t the case.
According to Ozan, McDonald’s characters use the Dollar Menu in two distinct ways. Some create a meal using contrary items from the three price points while others commitment purchase a regular combo meal and add onto the order with an jotting from the Dollar Menu.
People who use the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu serve to purchase more items than people who do not order from it, McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbook believed on the call Monday.