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McDonald's fans may be lovin' it even more this summer if the fast-food chain's plan to sell sodas for $1 goes through.
Executives from both McDonald's and the Coca-Cola Co. have been trying to get franchises sweet on the deal at recent regional meetings, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hoping to become the place where people flock to buy beverages, McDonald's wants to offer sodas of any size for only $1.
The low prices will slash soft-drink profits at Golden Arches restaurants, which rely on soda sales as among their biggest moneymakers.
Though McDonald's has tried summer dollar-drink promotions in the past, it's pushing harder for the idea to stick this time around, two franchises told the Journal.
The company is hoping the deal will last 150 days, beginning on Memorial Day.
Last year, most of the chain's franchises rejected the suggestion to offer all sodas for a dollar and instead only sold large sweet tea at that price, the paper reported.
The proposal is the latest example of how McDonald's is trying to stay far ahead of its competition.
Its strategies are working. The company's earnings are up 4 percent over last month, and its shares have spiked by more than 20 percent in the last two years, according to the 24/7 Wall St. blog. Burger King's shares, in contrast, have dipped by 25 percent.
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3-18-2010 @3:51PM Gary said... Yep, just what fat America needs!
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3-21-2010 @2:13PM rogger said... Hahaha...exactly what I thought after reading this!
3-18-2010 @5:25PM kevjohn said... And the dentists shall rejoice!
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3-18-2010 @5:43PM Diana said... That's a great deal, really. Seriously folks, nobody is forcing you to go if you don't want to. So, why so negative?
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3-21-2010 @2:09PM Larry said... Amen Diana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-18-2010 @7:17PM captain underpants and the bringdown gang said... they already have this at all michigan mcdonalds
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3-21-2010 @4:52PM carol said... they already have it at all Indiana Mc Donalds also and have had it ever since the sweet tea came out a couple of years ago
3-19-2010 @12:06AM newsy1 said... I used to own a bar. Their are huge profits from soft drinks because the CO2 tank and syrup they use costs about 5 cents per cup. They will still be making a bundle. what whiners. http://newsy1.wordpress.com
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3-21-2010 @5:52PM mike hulgin said... My Cousin Owned a Sport's Bar, the Help whined about people buyin Soda's insted of drinks. They didn't make much but he told me he made more on a soda than he did from a beer. He had it around 7 cents, close enough. 93 cents on a pop, keep movin e'm.
3-19-2010 @7:22AM Slikyrik said... The McDonald's in our area (North-Central Pa) did this last summer and had huge success with it so I'm sure that they will bring it back again this summer if corporate is suggesting it!! What's the difference with this in the summer compared to $1 any size coffee that the McDonald's in Central Pennsylvania did in the winter? It takes more energy to deal with brewing the coffee as well as putting in the cream & sugar that the customer wants then pouring it into the cup than it does to hand them a large cold cup and let them dispense it themselves at the beverage bar!!
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3-19-2010 @8:23AM david e said... this isn't a new concept, nor will it cut into their profits; in fact, if you read "hidden order: the economics of everyday life" by david friedman you'll find that business who rely on the high soda mark-ups (fast food, theatres, sports arenas) actually come out ahead when they do this as it convinces consumers they're getting such a great deal that they end up spending more per visit than otherwise. plus it brings in new customers seeking bargains, which also increases sales.
since the numbers are there, the thing i don't get is why more places don't do this.
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3-21-2010 @2:19PM Larry said... These companies need to realize that it is their Greed is what's bringing them down. I would rather sell 100 units @ $10.00 each than 10 units @ $50.00 each. Greed kills business. I have a feeling that it is also impatience accompanied with greed that is ruining our economy. The attitude: "I want it now".
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3-22-2010 @2:09PM Rob said... So if I pay $9 per unit and sell 100 of them at $10 per unit, that is better than selling 10 of them at $50 per unit? Well, let's do the math: 100 units at $1 profit per unit equals $100. 10 units at $41 per unit profit equals $410. A $310 difference in profit, with only one-tenth the work on my part. Hmmmm....
I think I'd be going for the high profit margin. Guess that makes me greedy like MickeyD's, huh?
3-21-2010 @2:33PM Renee said... I pretty much enjoy $1 tea and pop all year long. I love it. Brillant idea McDonalds!
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3-21-2010 @2:26PM Larry said... I know my numbers were way streched out but I did that intentionally to make a point.
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3-21-2010 @2:43PM Robert said... I am all for business making profits. But to advertise a sugar based water drink that may or may not be full of caffeine toward overweight kids is just pushing the limits of responsible advertising. As some say, no one makes you buy this stuff, but when you leave a bowl of candy in the room with a 2 year old, and he/she eats all of it, no one made him do it. And this comes on the heels that Congress and President Obama believes we have an unhealthy and overweight population problem and we need the government to make sure we have Health Insurance? I am more for McDonalds selling sugar as a business than I am for the federal government competing with private business. Instead of getting into the health insurance, why don't the folks in Congress open a fresh fruit/vegable restaurant next door to McDonalds. Let's see who uses it. Oh, make the fruits free by making the Tax payer pay for them. Hmmm, great idea.
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3-21-2010 @3:06PM Not Not said... I went to Mc Donalds friday, the price of most of the other food has been pushed up. Across the menu most were 29, 39 or 49 cents more. If you order a small soda at a dollar, you get free refills so for inhouse diners this is no big savings. If you are taking out it makes a difference. But they still bumped the rest of the menu. Big Mac was $1.49 NOW $2.69 do the math it adds up to higher cost of fast food. The menu is all about selling a meal deal... by the numbers, if you try to order ala carte it is less than friendly, so it pushes you back to order a MEAL DEAL.
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3-21-2010 @3:13PM michael said... I`d much rather see the price of their fat burgers come down since I dont drink, so called, soft drinks anyway. I used to like their tea, but now I am a diabetic so ca`nt drink that either, drag.
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3-21-2010 @5:19PM nana7 said... They do have unsweet tea and artifical sweeteners, plus the FAT burgers are not good for diabetics.. Salads would be better for you..
3-21-2010 @3:35PM Jess said... I will eat what I want, when I want, Thank you very much. I don't think it's anyones business if I eat something that could make me fat. People should know that if you eat fast food or drink soda you have a risk of being fat and having diabetes.
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