McDonald’s is offering customers a free small coffee for another two weeks as the world’s largest restaurant chain tries to perk up its U.S. sales.
The offer is good Tuesday through Sept. 29 at all participating McDonald’s across the country.
The two-week coffee giveaway comes as McDonald’s continues to deal with sales declines at its long-standing restaurants. This is the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company’s second free coffee event.
McDonald’s said it gave away millions of cups of free coffee during its first two-week free coffee event, March 31 through April 13.
McDonald’s U.S. same-store sales – or sales at locations open 13 months or longer – have fallen in nine of the past 10 months. Such sales were flat in April, aided by the free coffee promotion, as some people who stopped at McDonald’s for the free coffee bought other breakfast items.
The coffee giveaway could help McDonald’s attract customers who have a wider variety of coffee and breakfast options, including Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Taco Bell, which rolled out its breakfast menu in late March.
McDonald’s launched its McCafe line in U.S. restaurants in 2009, later adding iced coffees, espresso-based drinks such as lattes and mochas, and blended-ice beverages including smoothies and frappes.
Starting early next year, McCafe will be available in stores across the United States through McDonald’s recently expanded distribution deal with Kraft Foods Group Inc.
McDonald’s Corp. is making its McCafe ground coffee available in Canadian grocery stores this month, the fast-food giant said Tuesday, part of its broader campaign to win market share in a country long dominated by rivals like Tim Hortons and Starbucks.
In Canada, McDonald’s also has a McCafe loyalty program, in which customers get a free medium hot McCafe beverage after buying seven hot beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos, mochas or brewed coffee.
Customers can win more free stuff by participating in McDonald’s “sip and tell” promotion, sharing their embarrassing pre-coffee moments on social media with McCafe using the hashtag SipandTell. Select social media fans will be surprised with custom gifts and experiences, the company said.
Shares of McDonald’s rose 4 cents to $93.51 in trading on Tuesday morning.
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