Overview
- Internal memos obtained by CNBC say McDonald’s will assess franchises to ensure consistent, reliable value across the customer experience.
- Owner-operators keep authority over menu prices as the company strengthens individual accountability for value leadership and provides approved pricing tools and consultants.
- New global franchising standards reinforcing value leadership take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with holistic reviews of pricing decisions and opportunities for operators to share local market data.
- The value push includes lower-priced offers announced this fall, such as $8 Big Mac meals and $5 Egg McMuffin meals.
- Executives forecast above-average inflation in 2026 and cite sharply higher beef costs, while outside analysis shows average McDonald’s prices roughly doubled from 2014 to 2024.