John Cena launches new McValue menu at McDonald's

On January 7, 2025, McDonald's introduced its new McValue menu across the United States, enhancing value for customers with meal deals and everyday savings. In a major campaign, the fast-food chain enlisted actor and retired professional wrestler John Cena as its McValue ambassador. This initiative follows the successful $5 Meal Deal, which has been extended through the first half of 2025 and is now part of the broader value strategy. McDonald's aims to provide customers with more options to mix and match their favorite meals, creating a more personalized dining experience. The McValue menu features promotions like the Buy One, Add One for $1 offer, allowing customers to choose from select items, including Cena’s recommended combo of a sausage McMuffin with hash browns. The fast-food company also announced a significant investment in promotional offers, with over $3 million allocated for local and app-based initiatives throughout the upcoming months. These offers include free medium fries on Fridays for a minimum purchase, as well as incentives for new app users, like a complimentary McCrispy Chicken Sandwich. In addition, McDonald's has partnered with 16 different brands to provide exclusive offers, such as a free month of YouTube TV or enhanced services on airlines. These partnerships aim to attract a broader audience and drive customer engagement through value-driven promotions. The introduction of the McValue menu reflects an ongoing effort by the chain to enhance customer loyalty and adapt to changing consumer demands in the competitive fast-food market. This launch comes amid changes to McDonald's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as the company recently announced a revision of its DEI programs in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action. While McDonald's indicated it would continue to prioritize inclusion initiatives, specific representation targets and external participation surveys have been paused. Despite these adjustments, McDonald's claims to have achieved gender pay equity at all levels of the organization and maintains that 25% of its supplier spending goes to diverse-owned businesses.