WLWT tests fast-food combo value

WLWT tested eight fast-food chains in the Cincinnati area and published the results on May 20, as inflation-weary diners keep looking for cheaper lunch and dinner options. The station’s on-air comparison, reported by anchor Chris Jacobs, focused on what customers actually receive in current “value meal” and combo offers rather than on menu marketing alone. (wlwt.com) Jacobs visited Arby’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Wendy’s, KFC and Popeyes, according to WLWT’s report. The test was local and practical. Prices reflected what Jacobs was charged at the restaurants he visited, and the segment repeatedly showed that advertised national deals can shift by location, add-ons and recent price increases. (wlwt.com) That made the exercise less about a universal winner than about how much checking a menu board still matters. ### Which chains did WLWT actually test? Chris Jacobs said WLWT went to eight fast-food chains offering deals or value menus: Arby’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Wendy’s, KFC and Popeyes. The station framed the comparison around stretching household food budgets, especially for families. (wlwt.com) Arby’s was presented as a straightforward $8 meal. Jacobs said that package included a chicken or ham-and-swiss sandwich, small fries, cheese sticks, dessert and a small drink. (wlwt.com) ### What did WLWT find at McDonald’s and Burger King? McDonald’s offered several entry points in WLWT’s test. Jacobs said $4 could buy a breakfast deal, while $5 could buy a lunch or dinner meal with a burger, nuggets, fries and a drink; he also noted menu items priced under $3 for customers seeking a smaller order. (wlwt.com) Burger King’s value setup was more mix-and-match. Jacobs ordered the chain’s $7 Trio and $5 Duo, which he described as offers built around choosing three items or two items, respectively. (wlwt.com) ### Why did Burger King become a cautionary example? Burger King illustrated how an upsell can erase part of a bargain. Jacobs said he ordered a Whopper as part of the $5 Duo and agreed to add cheese and bacon, which raised the price by $1. “Always be mindful when you are going after these value meals,” he said in the segment after describing the extra charge. (wlwt.com) That detail mattered because WLWT’s test was not just about sticker prices. The segment showed that a combo can stop being a strict value play once customers start customizing. (wlwt.com) ### What stood out most at Taco Bell? Taco Bell produced the clearest mismatch between advertised and observed pricing. Jacobs said the chain promoted $5, $7 and $9 deals, but at the drive-thru he was told those meals were actually $6, $8 and $10 at that location. WLWT identified those offers as Taco Bell’s Luxe boxes. (wlwt.com) Jacobs said the boxes had “recently went up in price, at least at this location,” while still including combinations of familiar Taco Bell items. ### What did the other chains offer? (wlwt.com) Dairy Queen’s offer in the WLWT test was a $7 meal deal built around choosing two items from a list that included a cheeseburger, fries, chicken strips, soda, pretzel sticks or a sundae. Wendy’s was described as having Biggie Bag-style deals ranging from $4 to $8. (wlwt.com) KFC and Popeyes were the last stops in the segment. WLWT said KFC offered $7 and $11 box meals, though the retrieved transcript available through WLWT cuts off before the full Popeyes breakdown appears. The station’s full article and video were published May 20 and remain posted on WLWT’s site and YouTube channel. (wlwt.com)