McDonald's Revives Extra Value Meals

Introduction

‘Beginning September 8th 2025, McDonald’s could be offering some Extra Value Meals from the menu and their prices are intended to allow to reclaim fast food lover’s bingo cash was used in gaining reputation for cheap quality dishes. prices are intended to allow them to reclaim bingo cash was used in gaining reputation for cheap quality dishes. Their new prices are aimed at fast food lovers who believe, McDonald’s prices are steep. Their relaunch also includes 2 time limited offers which are, a $5 McDonald’s Sausage Muffin with Egg and a $8 Big Mac!’

The first addition ‘Extra Value Meals’.

The meal was first introduced in 1991 to provide combo offers which in turn boosted sale and customer retention. McDonald’s used to provide combo offers which in turn boosted sale and customer retention. Later in the year 2019, McDonald’s took Extra Value Meals away from their menu. This was a time when the entire market was shifting towards digital pricing and promotions. Even in mid 2025, due to recession McDonald’s was still discriminatorily high. This still stands true as McDonald’s has to fulfill the Value Meals intentions.

What’s new on the menu?

The Extra Value Meals have again been made available for purchase anytime through the day for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Each of the eight core meals includes:

Sausage McMuffin with Egg
Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddles
Egg McMuffin
Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit
Big Mac
10-Piece Chicken McNuggets
Quarter Pounder (any variety: Original, Bacon, or Deluxe)
McCrispy Sandwich (any of: Original, Deluxe, or Spicy Deluxe)

Every meal includes an entrée, a side (e.g. fries or hash browns), and a beverage, with an average savings of 15% on meal packs compared to individual item purchases.

Limited-Time Offers

The addition of Sausage McMuffin with Egg and Big Mac meals help further center the focus of the relaunch and are available for purchase during select periods:

The $5 Sausage McMuffin with Egg Meal which includes hash browns and a small coffee.

The $8 Big Mac Meal, with medium fries and a medium soft drink.

Both of these packs are a shave over 15% and are targeted towards changing customer impressions of McDonald’s value.

Why Now? The Economic Backdrop

Post-Pandemic Pricing Challenges

The pandemic as a whole affected the economy in many ways. Inflation even affected McDonald’s fast food chain. Over a period of 5 years, the records showed that the cost of input for labor, food, and supplies boosted for about 40%. The lower-income portion of McDonald’s customers suffered the most, especially with the increasing prices. During the most recent time period, it showed that customers that belonged to the lower-income class decreased exponentially more than the rest of the customers, thus creating a need to recapture their attention, as stated by the CEO Chris Kempczinski.

Industry-Wide Pressure

Like many other companies, McDonald’s continues to face challenges. Unlike what other people say, McDonald’s does not have a monopoly and faces competition, even from intermediaries. For instance, Applebee’s and Chili’s have provided competing prices that have transformed the fast food phenomenon into a causal dining experience. Extra Value Meals are a way that McDonald’s is trying to separate itself from the competition.

Supporting Franchisees Financially and Collaboratively

Negotiation and Planning Stages

The Extra Value Meals were launched after multiple weeks of negotiations between the corporations and its franchise owners who run over 95% of US restaurants. Franchise owners raised questions about the profitability of the new meals which made the company offer economic support so the franchise owners can operate these meals all over the country. The franchisee and the chair of the National Franchisee Leadership Alliance, Danielle Marasco, insists on “shared commitment” to afford the program.

Pricing In Balance With Costs

The company suggests the prices to be charged, but the owners of the franchises can set the charges according to the costs of their region. In this way, the prices of Extra Value Meals can be different in different areas but still, all the vendors have to charge at least 15% less on the final price.

Nutritional Considerations and Allergen Information

Nutritional needs

The company still in its simplistic way promotes the McDouble. The 990 calorie McDouble Meal Deal comes with small fries, small coke, and 4 chicken nuggets. The company also makes note of the common allergen warning and discusses the cooking equipment which might have been exposed to allergens like eggs, dairy, and wheat.

Transparency Initiatives

Although McDonald’s does not use any certifications such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluton-free, they still choose to publish such information online to help those who may have dietary restrictions.

Digital Integration and the McDelivery Ecosystem

App Only Deals

McDonald’s uses her digital platform to improve perceived value. The McDonald’s app gives access to promotional offers such as Free Fries Friday with any $1+ purchase, while app users can also accumulate reward points for free items. However, third-party delivery orders (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.) may also have additional fees which deliveries done through the app or points are on.

McDelivery Partnerships

The business supports McDelivery with Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, while note to Bookkeeping, they are slightly more expensive than ordering directly for dine-in.

Future Expansions and Long-Term Strategy

Upcoming Promotions

In November 2025, McDonald’s will introduce two new items as part of its value meal expansion. These include the $5 Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles Meal, and the $8 10-Piece Chicken McNuggets Meal. McDonald’s also confirmed that the Snack Wrap will remain priced at $2.99 through the end of the year.

Broader Implications for the Industry

Analysis suggest the discounting techniques McDonald’s plans to use will result in the same effect as the $5 Meal Deal in 2024, thus triggering many other businesses in the industry to lower their prices through a combo meal offer.

Conclusion: Crucial Point of McDonald’s.

The return of the Extra Value Meals is more than a piece of marketing history—it is a matter of counter-strategy for McDonald’s to reclaim the ‘lost’ low- and middle-income consumers. McDonald’s intends to protect its brand and respond proactively to the data-informed discounts by renewing its position as a convenient and cheap meal provider. McDonald’s will need to sustain its promises and keep responding to the economic environments to deliver the brand promise. For the moment, the customers are happy to relish the token McDonald’s items as nostalgic reminders of the historical fast food era.