In Hong Kong, it feels like the price of everything is increasing: rent, electricity bills, and postage. Now even McDonald’s is getting into the act.
Today, the fast food giant increased prices of some of its food items in Hong Kong by 60 cents to HK$1.50 (about 8-19 cents), that is about an average 2 percent increase, Ming Pao reports.
The global burger king cited increasing operating costs, rent, and the cost of ingredients as the reason behind the price hike.
Items on the menu that will cost just a bit more now include the Happy Meal, some set menus and a la carte food as well as drinks.
McDonald’s is sweetening the deal a bit by announcing that there will be specially-priced items for HK$10 available from the menu every day from today until the Jan. 19. According to Apple Daily, this includes a portion of nine chicken nuggets, a chicken cutlet and soft drink, and a strawberry-flavoured McFlurry ice cream.
Some netizens were not impressed with the chain’s marketing stunts, with some calling McDonald’s “a garbage company.” Others used the opportunity to call on the fast-food chain to increase the number of its employees at the counter, citing long waiting times of 30 minutes at times because of the restaurant’s self-service machines.
One person said: “You’re adding so much stuff to the menu, it’s better not to increase the prices.” Said another: “I would be OK with a price increase if you increase the number of workers, waiting in line now is painful.”
