After facing rising costs and tough economic conditions since 2022, restaurants are scrambling for customers. To entice these guests, brands from McDonald’s to Chili’s and Applebee’s rolled out value meals, combos and buy-one-get-one offers to draw people in the door over the past few months.
Even independent restaurants have participated in the value promotions, adding 3,250 combo menu items during the summer, with new combo additions peaking between July 28 through Aug. 10, according to SpotOn data emailed to Restaurant Dive. Independents also added 210 BOGO items, with additions increasing by 90% from the week of Aug. 4 to the week of Aug. 11. Bottomless menu items and All You Can Eat offers were both up 30% from the week of Aug. 4 to the week of Aug. 11.
“When the economy is good or the economy is bad, you’re seeing some version of a combo meal from chains, maybe seasonal or value-based,” said Kevin Bryla, CMO and head of consumer experience at SpotOn.
