However, while these chains say they are seeking to offer value for money to their customers, Katherine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, is cynical and worries about the health impact.
“Multi-buy offers are not designed to save people money – companies are not doing them to be nice,” she says.
“They are a marketing tactic designed to get people to buy things they weren’t otherwise going to.”
Ms Jenner says the portion sizes in fast-food places are much larger than you would make at home. There is also more sugar, salt and fat, she says.
“You can’t even make informed decisions about what you’re buying as the information isn’t easily available.”
So how long can we expect this proliferation of promotions to last?
“Once consumers come to expect discounts and vouchers and so on, it’s hard to take it away because a lot of shoppers will come to rely on it,” says Ms Bailey.
“They may never have gone there for full price.”
Siobhan Gehin isn’t so sure, though.
“I would expect discounting to continue for at least the rest of this year, but to gradually ease off as consumer sentiment continues to improve and as interest rates ease.”
But one trend that looks like it is here to stay is that of offering deals via apps.
McDonald’s Mondays and Burger King’s Whopper Wednesdays are both examples of app-based promotions. KFC and Subway also offer new deals every few weeks for their app customers.
“More and more companies are approaching their loyal clients and offering them deals to keep them loyal,” says Meaningful Vision’s Maria Vanifatova.
They will be hoping that their loyal customers repay them in kind.
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