FAST-FOOD PRICES Combo deals hit center stage

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Another price fight is breaking out among the country’s biggest burger chains, this time with meal combos designed to make people forget about the once ubiquitous dollar menus.

The new “bundled offers” show how hungry McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s are to win over deal-seekers, and how quickly a popular idea gets copied in the fast-food industry. The latest trend on the value front popped up in late 2015 after Wendy’s rolled out a “4 for $4 deal,” which includes a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, small fries and a small drink.

This week, Burger King followed with a similar “5 for $4” deal, and McDonald’s introduced a “McPick 2 for $2” deal to kick off the new year.

Though typically not big profit generators, promotional deals can steer people in the door who might not have stopped in otherwise. And chains do their best to make sure regulars stick to the pricier meals they usually order. At a New York City McDonald’s, an employee said she was told not to suggest the $2-for-2 deal, but wait for people to order it on their own.

The additional food tacked onto those bundled orders helps drive up sales as well.

The new deals come after fast-food chains struggled to raise prices on value menus without scaring off customers, even as commodity costs rise.