money
Discount dining: Cheap meals = exploiting workers
Big Fast Food is at it again, pushing their cheap, unhealthy meals on the masses. Hardee's, Carl's Jr., Jimmy John's, and Taco John's are waging war on our waistlines and our wallets with their so-called "value meals." It's time to fight back against these greedy corporations and their harmful, exploitative practices.
Published August 19, 2024 at 8:01am by Mike Snider
As Inflation Bites, Fast Food Chains Insist on Greed Culture
It's been two months since McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell launched their so-called "value meals." Other fast-food and sit-down restaurants have followed suit, proving that these companies only care about profit. These greedy corporations are exploiting people's financial struggles as an opportunity to maintain their bottom line.
- McDonald's $5 Meal Deal: A paltry attempt at a balanced meal, including a sandwich, nuggets, fries, and a drink.
- Wendy's Breakfast Bundle: A meager offering starting at $3, with a small portion of breakfast items.
- Taco Bell's Luxe Cravings Box: At $7, this is a blatant rip-off, providing a supposed "luxury" option with a drink and a few standard menu items.
- Hardee's Original Bag Deal: Charging almost $6 for a small meal, with a choice of two basic entrées and sides, is an insult to those struggling.
- Chili's 3 for Me Menu: Starting at $10.99, this deal is yet another example of a corporation profiting off people's desperation, with a burger or sandwich, chips, salsa, and a drink.
- Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl: At $13.99, this is a blatant money grab, exploiting people's love of carbs and offering little nutritional value.
These "deals" are a slap in the face to those struggling financially. While these corporations rake in profits, people are forced to choose between their health and their bank accounts.
The Problem with "Value Meals"
The data shows that these value meals are not actually helping. From July 2023 to July 2024, sales declined by over 30% for McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. Brigit, a financial app, found that their users are spending less on fast food, showing that these deals are not enticing people to spend more.
Zuben Mathews, Brigit's co-founder, and CEO hit the nail on the head:
“Restaurants offering 'meal deals' isn't enough to drive up sales and if restaurants want to see their numbers go back up, menu prices need to come down long-term rather than offering a few deals on select menu items. For a lot of the big chains … we’ve seen a dip in overall user spending in July after many of these places rolled out meal deals in June.”
Profiting off Struggles
The fast-food industry is only interested in profiting off people's hardships. While families struggle to put food on the table, these corporations offer so-called "family value meals" that do nothing but line their own pockets.
Conclusion: Boycott Greed, Fight for Fairness
As the costs of dining out increase, don't fall for these disingenuous value meals. Boycott these greedy corporations and fight for a fair and equitable food industry. These fast-food giants need to do better, and we, as consumers, deserve better.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf
https://www.olivegarden.com/home
https://www.olivegarden.com/customer-service/joineclub-step1
https://civicscience.com/value-meal-wars-wendys-biggie-bag-is-big-indeed-mcdonalds-draws-a-crowd/
https://www.hardees.com/menu/meal-deals/hardees-original-bag
https://www.jimmyjohns.com/menu/whats-new/10-total-package-meal
Read more: Value meal wars heat up as more fast food spots, restaurants offer discounted menu items