The food industry is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate as consumer spending slows, operating costs rise, and competition intensifies.
In response, many fast-food chains are leaning heavily on menu innovation, rolling out limited-time items and collaborations to attract consumers.
This December 2nd, both McDonald’s and Burger King partnered with legacy franchises to debut limited-time themed meals and menu items.
However, demand was so strong that some locations reportedly ran out of several limited-time offers within days of their release, resulting in widespread shortages and nationwide customer disappointment.
McDonald’s (MCD), Dr. In partnership with Seuss Enterprises, The Grinch Meal, the classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” A festive bundle inspired by, launched in the US. movie
Although this marked a first for the US, it was introduced in select international markets last year, including Canada, Ireland, Australia and the UK.
New Dill Pickle McShaker Fries
A choice of a Big Mac or 10 Piece Chicken McNugges
A moderate drink
a pair Holiday-themed Grinch socks In one of the four designs
Grinch-themed Happy Meal packaging
To celebrate the upcoming film “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” Burger King unveiled its classic collaboration with Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, called The SpongeBob Movie Menu.
The promotion consists of a themed menu and two bundled meals.
SpongeBob’s Krabby Whopper
mr. Krabs’ Cheesy Bacon Tots
Patrick’s Star-Berry Shortcake Pie
Pirate’s Frozen Pineapple Float
Bikini Bottom Bundle: All four new menu items are packaged in a pineapple shape under a Sea Box
King Jr. Food: A pineapple-shaped Muni C box with special-edition baby food, six collectible SpongeBob toys and a limited-edition crown
McDonald’s and Burger King have faced backlash after their limited-time promotions quickly sold out.Shutterstock” loading=”eager” height=”540″ width=”960″ class=”yf-1gfnohs loader”/>
McDonald’s and Burger King face backlash after their limited-time promotions sell out quickly.Shutterstock
As excitement grew for the new releases, many locations of both chains ran out of food items and promotional items much earlier than customers expected, leading to growing frustration online.
A Reddit user posted a thread claiming that their local McDonald’s continued to sell The Grinch Meal even after they ran out of socks, only informing them after the order had been handed in and already paid for, offering no discount.
One commenter shared a similar experience, explaining that they demanded a refund of the price difference.
“It wasn’t much, but it was the principle of the matter,” the commenter wrote.
A self-identified McDonald’s employee also weighed in, commenting: “My store ran out and we were unable to buy food. It seems like someone on duty didn’t know what they were doing.”
Another McDonald’s worker commented: “Corporate has clearly told all restaurants that if we run out of boxes or shaker bags, we can continue to eat the Grinch. But if we run out of condiments or socks, we have to stop selling them and put them on immediate outage.”
McDonald’s responded in a statement to The Street.
“The Grinch promised a holiday gift, and our fans jumped to their feet… The Grinch meal is selling left and right. We’re thrilled that his meals are a big hit, and customers are making new memories by stocking up on their kits.”
The company also noted that The Grinch Meal was intended to be available for a limited time, while supplies last. Although restaurants have started to sell out, food is still being served in some restaurants across the country, but it is expected that many locations will run out in the next few days.
Even Burger King was not immune to supply disruptions. A Reddit user posted a thread claiming that several Los Angeles locations had sold out of the SpongeBob Movie menu just two days after the launch.
A user from New York City reporting the same issue commented: “I’m in NYC and every Burger King is sold out. They removed support from their site and online ordering. Now I have to wait and see if it comes back.”
A self-identified Burger King employee blamed the warehouse for underestimating demand and customers overbuying, commenting: “The fact that customers were buying 4 or more didn’t help. The place I worked ran out of pineapple floats in a day and a half, ran out of pies and bacon tots yesterday. It depends on how your orders handle it. The warehouse is out, there’s nothing they can do.”
Burger King responded in a statement to The Street:
“Additional supplies are on their way to restaurants early next week, and our team members are hard at work behind the grill to continue the Bikini Bottom fun. This is a limited-time collaboration and items are only available while supplies last, so availability may vary by location.”
Fast-food chains typically rely on demand forecasting and inventory management to estimate supply and reduce waste. Because both collaborations were limited-time releases, McDonald’s and Burger King likely based their estimates on historical data from similar promotions.
The shortage is actually a positive indicator that demand exceeded expectations, suggesting that new offers are resonating with consumers.
This is not the first time McDonald’s has faced this problem. Earlier this year, the relaunch of the snack wrap led to a salad shortage at some locations.
More food business news:
The chain quickly fixed the problem, but in the meantime, it instructed affected franchisees to prefer the salad over the wrap and temporarily reduce its use in other menu items, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Despite the hiccups, McDonald’s comparable U.S. sales rose 2.4% year-over-year in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, crediting efforts to offer customers everyday value, menu innovation, and compelling marketing.
Restaurant Brands International’s ( QSR ) Burger King also saw positive results from past investments in menu innovation, with comparable U.S. sales growing 3.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025.
Related: Hershey Creates Wild New Holiday Candy Lineup
This story was originally published by TheStreet on December 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Restaurants section. Add TheStreet as a preferred source by clicking here.
