NEW YORK: Burger King says it will start offering a “French Fry Burger” for a buck, as it looks to fend off McDonald’s aggressive push for its Dollar Menu.
The Miami-based chain says the burger will be available Sept. 1 through the fall.
The burger, with 360 calories and 19 grams of fat, doesn’t require any extra investment from Burger King; it’s basically a standard beef patty topped with four fries.
The offering comes as fast-food chains move to heavily promoting their cheapest eats.
McDonald’s has stepped up advertising for its Dollar Menu, which now features its Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger and a more substantial McDouble, which has two patties and a slice of cheese.
That forced Burger King and Wendy’s to adjust their tactics. Burger King has offered any two sandwiches for $5 and a Whopper Jr. for $1.29.
In the latest quarter, Burger King said sales at North American restaurants open at least a year slipped 0.5 percent.
Wendy’s reported a 0.4 percent rise, and McDonald’s reported a 1 percent increase for U.S. restaurants.
Other chains are faring better. Chipotle reported a 3.4 percent increase and Starbucks said the figure rose 9 percent.