McDonald's Focuses On Value to Attract More Customers

The next time you step into a Sioux Falls McDonald's to grab a quick bite, you might notice something besides the smell of fries in the air, a renewed effort to make you a little more… McHappier!

The Golden Arches are leaning hard into value right now, and it’s not just a catchy slogan. McDonald’s recently adjusted prices on several combo meals in an effort to lure folks back through those familiar glass doors. And judging by the numbers, Sioux Falls isn’t the only place loving it!

According to Dakota News Now, data from FactSet shows McDonald’s sales jumped 5.7% between October and December. Wall Street analysts were only expecting a 3.9% bump, which means the burger giant outperformed predictions, kind of like ordering a small fry and finding they accidentally gave you a medium.

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A big driver behind the boost? Extra Value Meal promotions, which proved that Americans still love a bargain almost as much as they love dipping fries in sauces. Marketing schemes also played a role. The return of the classic Monopoly game in October and a Grinch-themed meal in December helped create buzz, and reportedly moved 50 million pairs of Grinch socks in just the first few days. That’s a whole lot of fuzzy green feet.

So what’s next on the menu?

McDonald’s plans to roll out new food items and expand its McCafé lineup with energy drinks, iced coffees, and fruity refreshers later this year. Translation: more options for Sioux Falls folks who need a caffeine boost before work, after work, or during that dreaded mid-afternoon slump.

And don’t think competitors aren’t watching. Other fast-food chains are taking notes and doubling down on value messaging too. So if you’re a bargain-loving burger fan in the Sioux Empire, good news, prices in some cases are starting to head in the right direction again.

In my opinion, if they really want to improve customer satisfaction, just make sure the ice cream machine never goes down!

The 10 Most Redneck Towns in South Dakota

Are you a 'Redneck?' I guess to some people, all of us in South Dakota are rednecks.

If we use the Jeff Foxworthy Scale of Redneckeness, I have, in fact, been too drunk to fish. So by definition, I am a redneck. And so are many people I know.

Not that being from the country is a bad thing, and it can be fun to poke fun at ourselves.

With that in mind, we found that the folks at RoadSnacks put together a list that claims 'These Are The 10 Most Redneck Cities In South Dakota.'

What is a Redneck?

The dictionary says that a redneck is someone "...who lives in a small town or in the country, especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive."

Well, a few things. First, South Dakota isn't THAT kind of 'south.' We're to the south of North Dakota, but to the north of 'The South.'

Plus that definition sounds awful mean and serious. I thought we were having fun here.

RoadSnacks leaned into the funny, Jeff Foxworthy-based version of a redneck. Then they rounded up select data on places in SD to determine their rankings. RoadSnacks Redneck Criteria: