{"id":3988,"date":"2026-03-05T21:24:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=3988"},"modified":"2026-03-05T21:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:24:22","slug":"downturn-diet-the-crunch-on-fast-food-chains-as-consumers-seek-deals-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=3988","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Downturn diet\u2019? The crunch on fast food chains as consumers seek deals – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Canadian fast food chain A&W told its investors on Thursday that sales were up nationally, despite affordability challenges plaguing Canadians\u00a0and causing many to cut back on eating out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The spike in sales was fuelled, in large part, by a consumer focus on value deals, CEO Susan Senecal said in a statement. Experts say it likely reflects a bigger trend of people looking to stretch their dollars as food prices \u2014 including at many fast food chains \u2014 increase.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people are suffering from affordability issues, they start looking for ways to economize. If fast food places can come out and say, \u2018We\u2019ll give you a burger, fries and a drink for five bucks,\u2019 that\u2019s going to catch people\u2019s attention,\u201d Concordia University economist Moshe Lander said.<\/p>\n

Senecal said the chain\u2019s sales rose by $14.6 million for the final quarter of 2025 compared with this time last year. The company pointed to its Value Deals menu, which was introduced last year and has a variety of menu offerings under $4, as being crucial to attracting more customers.<\/p>\n

\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A&W is not alone, as Restaurants Brands International \u2014 the company behind Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs \u2014 posted a $113-million profit for the last quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n

The search for value is also driving people towards discount stores, such as Dollarama, which saw its stock surge last year.<\/p>\n

According to some reports, fast food prices in the U.S. rose by 3.2 per cent year over year in 2025, which was above the increase of inflation, driving low-income consumers away from big chains.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Get\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

Get weekly money news<\/h2>\n

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

While food inflation in Canada was around 4.8 per cent in January, Statistics Canada showed that restaurant inflation was much higher at 12.3 per cent.<\/p>\n

In an earnings call with investors last month, McDonald\u2019s CEO Christopher Kempczinski said they\u2019ve been able to win back their low-income customers with promotions such as their McValue deals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen traffic hold up pretty well with upper-income consumers and traffic has been pressured with lower-income consumers. And of course, lower-income consumers are more value and affordability sensitive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n