Franchising, retail, business
13/04/2015
In the latest evidence of fierce fast-food competition, some McDonald's restaurants are offering free food to Taco Bell customers.
Participating McDonald's locations in northeast Pennsylvania will fork over a free Egg McMuffin sandwich to diners who bring in a Taco Bell breakfast receipt now through April 17. (Tweet this)
The promotion is limited to one per person. It was not clear if the offer was headed to other regions, though there was some evidence it may have been promoted in Texas as well.
The company was not immediately available to comment on the program.
Breakfast has been a key battleground in the industry's fight for customers as chains increase their emphasis on early morning offerings.
Fast food breakfast spending rose 7 percent in the year ended in February, according to The NPD Group/CREST. This is more than double that of lunch and dinner, which each rose 3 percent.
Janney Capital Markets analyst Mark Kalinowski wrote the promotion is an indication that "clearly, at least some McDonald's folks are concerned about the potential competition at breakfast that Taco Bell could provide over time—and maybe is providing right now."