Wendy’s Targets McDonald’s Ice Cream Woes with $1 Frosty Offer

Wendy’s has launched a strategic move against its rival, McDonald’s, by offering a $1 Frosty to capitalize on the fast-food giant’s notorious issue with broken McFlurry machines. The promotion, which runs until September 30, offers a small-sized Frosty for just $1 and is part of a collaboration with McBroken, a website dedicated to tracking McDonald’s malfunctioning ice cream machines.

This initiative comes as fast-food sales slow, with customers dining out less frequently and seeking value deals. Wendy’s Frosty has long been a popular dessert option, and the company is now positioning it as a reliable alternative when McDonald’s ice cream machines are down.

In a statement, Wendy’s highlighted the Frosty’s dependability, noting that its frozen treat is always available, while “the other guys’ machines are offline — often for two to three hours at a time.” Though McDonald’s was not directly named, the comparison was clear.

McBroken, which reports real-time data on McDonald’s ice cream machine outages, revealed that about 15% of McFlurry machines were broken as of Thursday. Major cities such as Chicago, New York, Houston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles are among the most affected areas. Wendy’s has now added its locations to the McBroken map, directing users to their restaurants as a “reliable and delicious option.” An ad for the $1 Frosty special is also prominently featured on the McBroken website.

McBroken was created by Rashiq Zahid, a frustrated McDonald’s customer who explained that the system works by monitoring data from McDonald’s app. If an ice cream machine is down, the McFlurry item is automatically removed from the app’s cart, marking the location with a red dot on the McBroken map.

McDonald’s has previously responded to the issue, noting that they appreciate customer-driven solutions like McBroken but have yet to fully resolve the ongoing ice cream machine problem. Meanwhile, Wendy’s has been heating up competition with seasonal Frosty flavors such as pumpkin spice and peppermint, while McDonald’s attempts to keep up by introducing new McFlurry flavors and a smaller portion size aimed at value-conscious customers.