McDonald’s Corporation’s marketing mix (4Ps) involves approaches that meet business concerns in different markets around the world. The marketing mix defines the strategies and tactics that the fast-food restaurant company uses to reach target customers, in terms of products, place, promotion, and price (the 4Ps). In this business analysis case, McDonald’s has corporate standards that its marketing mix applies globally. For example, the company’s standards for productivity are implemented in the management of each company-owned and franchised location. McDonald’s also applies some variations in its marketing mix to suit the conditions of local or regional markets. For instance, the food service company’s promotion strategies and tactics focus on online media in countries where such media are most popular, and prioritize television in other markets. The specifics of the 4P variables define the strategies and tactics that McDonald’s uses in executing its marketing plan and achieving related strategic goals to grow the multinational restaurant chain business.
McDonald’s Corporation’s effectiveness in implementing its marketing mix contributes to the leading performance of its brand and business in the international fast-food restaurant industry. Strategic management considers how the 4Ps relate with the approaches of competitors like Burger King, Wendy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Subway, as well as other firms in the food and beverage industry, such as Starbucks Coffee Company. McDonald’s marketing mix facilitates effective reach to target customers around the world. This condition supports the company’s leading global industry position, as well as the strength of its brand, despite the strong force of competitive rivalry shown in the Porter’s Five Forces analysis of McDonald’s Corporation.
McDonald’s Products (Product Mix)
As a food service business, McDonald’s has a product mix composed mainly of food and beverage products. This element of the marketing mix covers the organizational outputs (goods and services) that the company provides to its target markets. McDonald’s product mix has the following main product lines:
- Hamburgers and sandwiches
- Chicken and fish
- Salads
- Snacks and sides
- Beverages
- Desserts and shakes
- Breakfast/All-day breakfast
- McCafé
Among the 4Ps, products are a fundamental determinant of McDonald’s brand and corporate image. The company is primarily known for its burgers. However, the business gradually expands its product mix. At present, customers can purchase other products like chicken and fish, desserts, and breakfast meals. McDonald’s generic strategy and intensive growth strategies influence the product lines included in this element of the marketing mix. In diversifying its product lines, the fast-food chain satisfies market demand and improves its revenues. In terms of risk, a more diverse product mix reduces the company’s dependence on just one or a few food service market segments. This element of McDonald’s marketing mix indicates that the firm innovates new products to attract more customers and improve its business stability.
Place/Distribution in McDonald’s Marketing Mix
This element of the marketing mix enumerates the venues or locations where products are offered and where customers can access them. Restaurants are the most prominent places where the company’s products are distributed. However, the fast-food business utilizes various places as part of this 4P variable. The main places through which McDonald’s distributes its products are as follows:
- Restaurants
- Kiosks
- McDonald’s mobile apps
- Postmates website and app, and others
McDonald’s restaurants are where the company generates most of its sales revenues. Some of these restaurants also manage kiosks to sell a limited selection of products, such as sundae and other desserts. Some kiosks are temporary, as in the cases of kiosks used in professional sports competitions and other seasonal events. This element of McDonald’s marketing mix also involves the company’s mobile apps. These virtual places are where customers can access information about the company’s food products and buy these products. For example, the company’s mobile apps for iOS and Android let customers claim special deals, find restaurant locations, place orders, and pay for such orders involving participating McDonald’s restaurants. Furthermore, customers can place their orders through the Postmates website and mobile app. This element of the marketing mix supports McDonald’s corporate vision and mission statements, especially in serving more customers around the world.
McDonald’s Promotion (Promotional Mix)
This element of the marketing mix defines the tactics that the food service business uses to communicate with customers. Among the 4Ps, this variable focuses on marketing communications with target customers. For example, the company provides new information to persuade consumers to purchase its new food products. McDonald’s uses the following tactics in its promotional mix, arranged according to significance in the business:
- Advertising (most significant)
- Sales promotions
- Public relations
- Direct marketing
Advertisements are the most notable among McDonald’s promotion tactics. The corporation uses TV, radio, print media, and online media for its advertisements. On the other hand, sales promotions are used to draw more customers to the company’s restaurants. For example, McDonald’s offers discount coupons and freebies for certain products and product bundles, as a way of attracting more consumers. In addition, the company’s public relations activities promote the fast-food business to the target market through goodwill and brand strengthening. For instance, the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the McDonald’s Global Best of Green environmental program support communities while boosting the value of the corporate brand. Occasionally, the company uses direct marketing, such as for corporate clientele, local governments, or community events and parties. In this element of its marketing mix, McDonald’s Corporation emphasizes advertising as its main approach to promote its products.
McDonald’s Prices and Pricing Strategies
This element of the marketing mix specifies the price points and price ranges of the company’s food and beverage products. The aim is to use prices to maximize profit margins and sales volume. McDonald’s uses a combination of the following pricing strategies:
- Bundle pricing strategy
- Psychological pricing strategy
In the bundle pricing strategy, McDonald’s offers meal sets and other product bundles for prices that are discounted, compared to purchasing each item separately. For example, customers can purchase a Happy Meal or an Extra Value Meal to optimize cost and product value. On the other hand, in psychological pricing, the company uses prices that appear more affordable, such as $__.99 for a meal instead of rounding it off to the nearest dollar. This pricing strategy encourages consumers to purchase the company’s food products based on perceived affordability. Thus, this element of McDonald’s marketing mix highlights the importance of bundle pricing and psychological pricing to encourage customers to buy more products.
References
- Abedian, M., Amindoust, A., Maddahi, R., & Jouzdani, J. (2022). A game theory approach to selecting marketing-mix strategies. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 19(1), 139-158.
- Goi, C. L. (2009). A review of marketing mix: 4Ps or more? International Journal of Marketing Studies, 1(1), 2.
- Hisrich, R. D., & Ramadani, V. (2017). Entrepreneurial Marketing Mix. In Effective Entrepreneurial Management (pp. 75-99). Springer International Publishing.
- McDonald’s Corporation – Form 10-K.
- McDonald’s Corporation – Full Food Menu.
- McDonald’s Corporation – Mobile Ordering.
- Mintz, O., Gilbride, T. J., Lenk, P., & Currim, I. S. (2021). The right metrics for marketing-mix decisions. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 38(1), 32-49.
- Rahmani, K., Emamisaleh, K., & Yadegari, R. (2015). Quality function deployment and new product development with a focus on marketing mix 4P model. Asian Journal of Research in Marketing, 4(2), 98-108.
- Steenkamp, J. B. (2017). Global Marketing Mix Decisions: Global Integration, Not Standardization. In Global Brand Strategy (pp. 75-109). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture – Economic Research Service – Food Service Industry – Market Segments.
- U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration – Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry.
- Van Waterschoot, W., & Van den Bulte, C. (1992). The 4P classification of the marketing mix revisited. The Journal of Marketing, 83-93.
- Yun-sheng, W. (2001). Perfection and innovation of 4P marketing mix – How to evaluate 4P marketing mix. Commercial Research, 5, 6.