(Reuters) -McDonald's beat market expectations for quarterly profit and comparable sales on Thursday, as the restaurant chain's relatively cheaper burgers and fries attracted cost-conscious diners in an inflationary environment. While U.S. restaurants such as McDonald's have had to raise prices to offset a hit to profit from higher costs, the company has still managed to keep its prices lower than its competitors. McDonald's has also attracted more diners to its more than 13,000 U.S. outlets with promotional deals such as the Grimace Birthday Meal, a popular limited-time launch featuring purple milkshakes, created in honor of the Grimace character in McDonald's ads.
The public Health Agency (PHA) has reassured McDonald’s punters there should be no worries about their McFlurries following a gonorrhoea outbreak at a local branch.
The revelation that McDonald’s has launched an investigation into the treatment of an Irish worker has marked the end of an explosive week for the fast-food chain following allegations made by staff in the UK.