LEETON fast food fans are paying less for their burgers and coffees than Griffith residents.
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If you go to Leeton McDonald’s, a large Big Mac meal costs $9.55. If you go to the Maccas in Griffith, the same meal is $9.95.
The average family in Leeton will save $72.80 per year* at McDonalds compared to their Griffith counterparts.
For those needing their morning coffee fix, a standard skim latte from McCafe every year will cost $13 less in Leeton at $4.40 as opposed to $4.45 in Griffith.
It’s common for there to be small variances in prices.
- McDonald's spokeswoman
While the difference may not seem significant at first glance, it reveals something the fast food industry has always known.
According to a former industry insider McDonald’s once conducted some socio-economic profiling, combined it with a study of fast food availability, and developed a tiered pricing structure.
A store in Tier A – the highest price bracket – was usually in an affluent area with fewer fast food options.
A Tier D store, with lower prices, would be in a lower socio-economic area where fast food was plentiful.
A McDonald’s representative confirmed this tiered system had been phased out and that franchise owners now “have the ability to set their own pricing based on individual business factors”.
“Each McDonald’s restaurant has a unique set of characteristics that can impact pricing,” McDonald’s Australia corporate communications manager Chris Grant said.
A McDonalds’ spokeswoman said each franchise set their own pricing.
“It’s common for there to be small variances,” she said.
“For example, trading hours, customer traffic patterns and product demand differ.
“Many restaurants also offer a range of different service options such as drive-thru, McCafé or 24 hour trading.”
There are four McDonald’s stores in Wagga, at Glenfield, Kooringal, Fox Street and Copland Street.
They all share identical pricing on major menu items such as the large Big Mac meal at $9.50, the Cheeseburger Happy Meal at $4.95 and the standard skim latte at $4.25.
This is despite the Glenfield and Kooringal outlets being near lower socio-economic areas.
The differences arise in items less commonly purchased.
Price guide
Leeton
Large Big Mac meal – $9.55
Happy Meal – $4.95
McChicken – $5.40
Small sundae – $3.15
Griffith
Large Big Mac meal – $9.95
Happy Meal – $5.25
McChicken – $5.50
Small sundae – $3.25
Wagga
Large Big Mac meal – $9.50
Happy Meal – $4.95
McChicken – $5.15-$5.35
Small sundae – $3.15-$3.35
*****Calculated price difference of two large Big Mac meals and two Happy Meals per week.
