McDonald’s is giving people the chance to win free food for life

New York
CNN Business
—

For the holidays, McDonald’s is offering free meals for life. Well, sort of.

Starting Dec. 5, every order made in the McDonald’s app for at least $1 will enter customers into a contest to win a McGold Card. Three winners will receive a special card that will bring them a free McDonald’s for life. Additionally, each winner will receive three additional cards to give away for a total of 12 cards to be won.

The McGold card has been around for years, and some heavy hitters have it, including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and actor Rob Lowe. In 2018, McDonald’s issued a few gold cards in a contest, but the winner was eligible to get « only » two free meals a week for 50 years. This rule also applies to this year’s promotion, which ends on December 25.

« Our fans have been fascinated by the lore of the McGold Card and whether it really exists. And now we’re going to make this McDonald’s legend a reality for our fans by giving them the ultimate holiday gift: a chance to win a card. and then share access with up to three family members or friends,” Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing Officer, said in a statement.

McDonald’s is enticing people to come in with three weeks of food deals and merchandise, including Chicken McNugget socks and an AM Wrapper hoodie in Egg McMuffin or cheeseburger prints.

The deals, which vary by day, include Big Mac sandwiches to buy one for free, free six-piece nuggets with a $1 purchase and a 50-cent double cheeseburger. this is the third year that McDonald’s has launched a promotion in December, with last year’s being promoted by Mariah Carey.

The annual promotion uses existing ingredients or menu items, creating buzz without adding a lot of extra work for employees. It also entices people to come in and probably spend more than the dollar required to get the free food.

McDonald’s (MCD) recently reported strong earnings, partly buoyed by deals like these. In the third quarter, sales at US McDonald’s (MCD) stores that had been open for at least 13 months increased by 6.1%.

The chain is « positioned as the leading brand in terms of value for money and affordability », its chief financial officer Ian Borden said on a call with analysts last month. He noted that some cash-strapped customers are switching from buying meals to buying valuable items.