The fast-food industry is currently seeing a lot of promotions as companies try to attract customers during tough economic times. Big chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s are offering deals like cheap breakfasts and lunch specials to appeal to people who are watching their spending. A report shows that promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increased by one-third from April to June compared to last year. This shows that businesses are relying more on discounts to get people to come in, especially since customer traffic has been slow.

One reason for the increase in promotions is the cost-of-living crisis, which has made many people rethink how they spend their money. Prices for fast food have gone up a lot, often more than grocery prices, so many customers are looking for cheaper options or deciding to eat at home. Retail expert Siobhan Gehin mentions that the quick rise in prices has made it hard for both businesses and customers to keep up. Because of this, fast-food chains are using promotions to encourage people to spend money and come back to their restaurants.

Even with all the promotions, fast-food companies still need to make a profit. For example, McDonald’s recently reported its first drop in sales since the pandemic, which made them rethink their pricing. Retail expert Clare Bailey points out that eating at a pub can sometimes cost about the same as a meal deal from a fast-food place, which makes fast food seem less valuable. Rising energy costs, more expensive packaging, and higher wages are also reasons why prices need to change in this industry.

In response to what customers want, fast-food chains are changing their promotions. For instance, McDonald’s has created a breakfast deal to compete with the bakery chain Greggs, while KFC and Domino’s have their own lunch specials. These deals are timed for when families are looking for affordable meals, like during school holidays. However, these promotions are not just about helping customers; they also serve as marketing strategies to boost sales and encourage people to buy more. While these promotions may help customers in the short term, there are worries about health, as multi-buy offers can lead to unhealthy eating habits.

Original news source: Why are there so many fast-food offers on? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out various fast food items or related actions (e.g., eating, cooking, ordering) without speaking, while their classmates guess what they are mimicking. This will help reinforce vocabulary related to the fast-food industry.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask each other questions about their fast food preferences and spending habits, such as “What is your favorite fast food restaurant?” or “Do you think fast food promotions are helpful?” After gathering responses, they will share the most interesting findings with the class.

– ARTICLE TIMELINE
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a timeline of events related to the fast-food industry’s promotions mentioned in the article. They should include key points like the increase in promotions, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and changes in customer behavior over the months.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to create catchy headlines based on the main points of the article. They should aim to summarize the essence of the article in a few words. Afterward, pairs will share their headlines with the class for feedback.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: Students will create a mind map on the board or on paper that connects different ideas from the article, such as promotions, customer spending, health concerns, and economic factors. They can draw connections and branches to illustrate how these concepts relate to one another.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some examples of promotions that fast-food chains are offering to attract customers?

2. How much did promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increase from April to June compared to last year?

3. What is one reason mentioned for the increase in promotions in the fast-food industry?

4. How have rising prices affected customers’ choices regarding fast food and grocery shopping?

5. What challenge did McDonald’s face recently that caused them to rethink their pricing?

6. According to Clare Bailey, how does the cost of eating at a pub compare to a meal deal from a fast-food restaurant?

7. How are fast-food chains adjusting their promotions to meet customer needs during school holidays?

8. What are some concerns related to health that arise from the promotions offered by fast-food companies?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The fast-food industry is currently seeing a lot of promotions as companies try to attract customers during tough economic times. Big chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s are offering deals like (1)______ breakfasts and lunch specials to appeal to people who are watching their spending. A (2)______ shows that promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increased by one-third from April to June compared to last year. This shows that (3)______ are (4)______ more on discounts to get people to come in, especially since customer traffic has been slow.

One reason for the increase in promotions is the cost-of-living crisis, which has made many people (5)______ how they spend their money. Prices for fast food have gone up a lot, often more than (6)______ prices, so many customers are looking for cheaper options or (7)______ to eat at home. Retail expert Siobhan Gehin mentions that the quick rise in prices has made it hard for both businesses and customers to keep up. Because of this, fast-food chains are using promotions to encourage people to spend money and come back to their (8)______.

Even with all the promotions, fast-food companies still need to make a profit. For (9)______, McDonald’s recently reported its first drop in sales since the pandemic, which made them rethink their pricing. Retail expert (10)______ Bailey points out that eating at a pub can sometimes cost about the same as a meal deal from a fast-food place, which makes fast food seem less (11)______. Rising energy costs, more expensive packaging, and higher wages are also reasons why prices need to change in this industry.

In response to what customers want, fast-food (12)______ are changing their promotions. For instance, McDonald’s has created a (13)______ deal to compete with the bakery chain (14)______, while KFC and Domino’s have their own lunch specials. These deals are timed for when families are looking for affordable meals, like during (15)______ holidays. However, these (16)______ are not just about helping customers; they also serve as marketing strategies to boost sales and encourage people to buy more. While these promotions may help customers in the short term, there are worries about health, as multi-buy offers can lead to unhealthy eating habits.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite fast-food restaurant and why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if your favorite fast-food place stopped offering promotions?
3. Do you think fast food is a good option for families? Why or why not?
4. What is a typical meal you would buy at a fast-food restaurant?
5. How do you feel about the rising prices of fast food? Does it affect how often you eat out?
6. Do you think fast-food promotions are a good way to attract customers? Why or why not?
7. What is your opinion on the health effects of eating fast food regularly?
8. Have you ever tried a fast-food promotion that you really liked? What was it?
9. How would you feel if fast-food restaurants started focusing more on healthy options instead of promotions?
10. Do you think it’s better to eat at home or eat out at fast-food places? Why?
11. What is a common reason people choose to eat fast food?
12. How do you think the cost-of-living crisis has changed people’s eating habits?
13. Do you believe that fast food can ever be considered a healthy choice? Why or why not?
14. How do you feel about the idea of fast-food restaurants using marketing strategies to sell more food?
15. Do you think fast-food promotions are more about helping customers or making profits for the companies? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. promotions
2. attract
3. economic
4. appeal
5. traffic
6. crisis
7. rethink
8. expert
9. profit
10. packaging
11. response
12. compete
13. affordable
14. marketing
15. unhealthy

Meanings:
(A) Special offers or deals to get people interested
(B) Related to money and finance
(C) Activities to promote and sell products
(D) To be interesting or pleasing to someone
(E) Not too expensive; reasonably priced
(F) To think about something again
(G) A difficult or dangerous situation
(H) To try to be better than others
(I) Not good for your health
(J) The movement of people or vehicles
(K) A person with a lot of knowledge in a particular area
(L) A reaction to something
(M) The money made after all expenses are paid
(N) Materials used to wrap or protect goods
(O) To draw or bring someone in
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is currently happening in the fast-food industry?
(a) There are many promotions to attract customers
(b) Companies are closing down
(c) Prices are decreasing significantly
(d) New fast-food chains are opening everywhere

2. Why are fast-food chains offering more deals and discounts?
(a) To increase their prices
(b) To reduce their menu options
(c) Because they have too many customers
(d) Because of the cost-of-living crisis

3. What has happened to customer traffic in fast-food restaurants?
(a) It has increased significantly
(b) It has remained the same
(c) It has been slow
(d) It has become unpredictable

4. What did McDonald’s recently report regarding its sales?
(a) It had record-breaking sales
(b) It stopped selling breakfast items
(c) It opened new locations
(d) It experienced its first drop in sales since the pandemic

5. According to retail expert Clare Bailey, how does the cost of eating at a pub compare to fast food?
(a) It is always cheaper than fast food
(b) It can sometimes cost about the same
(c) It is significantly more expensive
(d) It is only cheaper during promotions

6. What type of deals has McDonald’s created to compete with other chains?
(a) A breakfast deal
(b) A dinner special
(c) A dessert menu
(d) A loyalty program

7. When are fast-food promotions typically timed?
(a) On weekends only
(b) During school holidays
(c) During major holidays
(d) At night after 8 PM

8. What is a concern related to fast-food promotions?
(a) They are too expensive for families
(b) They are not advertised enough
(c) They may lead to unhealthy eating habits
(d) They only attract young customers

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Companies like McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s are offering deals such as cheap breakfasts and lunch specials.
2. The cost-of-living crisis has caused many people to reconsider their spending habits, leading them to seek cheaper food options.
3. While promotions can help customers spend money in the short term, there are concerns that they might encourage unhealthy eating habits.
4. McDonald’s recently experienced its first rise in sales since the pandemic, prompting a reevaluation of their pricing strategies.
5. A report indicates that promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increased by one-fourth from April to June compared to the previous year.
6. Rising costs, including energy, packaging, and wages, are contributing to the need for price changes in the fast-food industry.
7. Fast-food chains are adjusting their promotions to meet customer demands, such as creating breakfast deals to collaborate with other food outlets.
8. Fast-food chains are currently running many promotions to attract customers due to tough economic conditions.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why are fast-food companies increasing their promotions during tough economic times?
2. What are some examples of the deals being offered by fast-food chains like McDonald’s and KFC?
3. How has the cost-of-living crisis affected people’s choices about eating out?
4. What challenges do fast-food companies face even when they have promotions?
5. What are some concerns related to the promotions and deals offered by fast-food restaurants?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some examples of promotions that fast-food chains are offering to attract customers?
Fast-food chains are offering deals like cheap breakfasts and lunch specials.

2. How much did promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increase from April to June compared to last year?
Promotions increased by one-third from April to June compared to last year.

3. What is one reason mentioned for the increase in promotions in the fast-food industry?
One reason for the increase in promotions is the cost-of-living crisis, which has made people rethink their spending.

4. How have rising prices affected customers’ choices regarding fast food and grocery shopping?
Rising prices have led many customers to look for cheaper options or decide to eat at home instead of buying fast food.

5. What challenge did McDonald’s face recently that caused them to rethink their pricing?
McDonald’s recently reported its first drop in sales since the pandemic, prompting them to rethink their pricing.

6. According to Clare Bailey, how does the cost of eating at a pub compare to a meal deal from a fast-food restaurant?
Clare Bailey points out that eating at a pub can sometimes cost about the same as a meal deal from a fast-food place.

7. How are fast-food chains adjusting their promotions to meet customer needs during school holidays?
Fast-food chains are creating specific deals, like breakfast deals and lunch specials, timed for when families are looking for affordable meals during school holidays.

8. What are some concerns related to health that arise from the promotions offered by fast-food companies?
There are worries that multi-buy offers can lead to unhealthy eating habits among customers.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) cheap
(2) report
(3) businesses
(4) relying
(5) rethink
(6) grocery
(7) deciding
(8) restaurants
(9) example
(10) Clare
(11) valuable
(12) chains
(13) breakfast
(14) Greggs
(15) school
(16) promotions
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. promotions
Answer: (A) Special offers or deals to get people interested

2. attract
Answer: (O) To draw or bring someone in

3. economic
Answer: (B) Related to money and finance

4. appeal
Answer: (D) To be interesting or pleasing to someone

5. traffic
Answer: (J) The movement of people or vehicles

6. crisis
Answer: (G) A difficult or dangerous situation

7. rethink
Answer: (F) To think about something again

8. expert
Answer: (K) A person with a lot of knowledge in a particular area

9. profit
Answer: (M) The money made after all expenses are paid

10. packaging
Answer: (N) Materials used to wrap or protect goods

11. response
Answer: (L) A reaction to something

12. compete
Answer: (H) To try to be better than others

13. affordable
Answer: (E) Not too expensive; reasonably priced

14. marketing
Answer: (C) Activities to promote and sell products

15. unhealthy
Answer: (I) Not good for your health
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is currently happening in the fast-food industry?
Answer: (a) There are many promotions to attract customers

2. Why are fast-food chains offering more deals and discounts?
Answer: (d) Because of the cost-of-living crisis

3. What has happened to customer traffic in fast-food restaurants?
Answer: (c) It has been slow

4. What did McDonald’s recently report regarding its sales?
Answer: (d) It experienced its first drop in sales since the pandemic

5. According to retail expert Clare Bailey, how does the cost of eating at a pub compare to fast food?
Answer: (b) It can sometimes cost about the same

6. What type of deals has McDonald’s created to compete with other chains?
Answer: (a) A breakfast deal

7. When are fast-food promotions typically timed?
Answer: (b) During school holidays

8. What is a concern related to fast-food promotions?
Answer: (c) They may lead to unhealthy eating habits
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Companies like McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s are offering deals such as cheap breakfasts and lunch specials. (Answer: True)
2. The cost-of-living crisis has caused many people to reconsider their spending habits, leading them to seek cheaper food options. (Answer: True)
3. While promotions can help customers spend money in the short term, there are concerns that they might encourage unhealthy eating habits. (Answer: False)
4. McDonald’s recently experienced its first rise in sales since the pandemic, prompting a reevaluation of their pricing strategies. (Answer: False)
5. A report indicates that promotions in fast-food restaurants and bakeries increased by one-fourth from April to June compared to the previous year. (Answer: False)
6. Rising costs, including energy, packaging, and wages, are contributing to the need for price changes in the fast-food industry. (Answer: True)
7. Fast-food chains are adjusting their promotions to meet customer demands, such as creating breakfast deals to collaborate with other food outlets. (Answer: False)
8. Fast-food chains are currently running many promotions to attract customers due to tough economic conditions. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧