By Daniel Kline | The Street
Perception is not reality and McDonald’s (MCD) has faced some of the same narrative problems (perhaps without the political overtones) that the gasoline industry has. Addressing the issue, McDonald’s President Joe Erlinger wrote an open letter to the chain’s customers.
McDonald’s has faced a situation similar to that of gasoline prices, after a picture of an $18 Big Mac meal went viral. That image was real — but it’s also an outlier.
“Recently, we have seen viral social posts and poorly sourced reports that McDonald’s has raised prices significantly beyond inflationary rates. This is inaccurate,” Erlinger wrote.
“And for a brand that proudly serves nearly 90% of the U.S. population every year, we feel a responsibility to make sure the real facts are available.”