New ads coming to a drive-thru near you
If you've noticed your local McDonald's drive-thru menu board looking a bit different lately, you aren't imagining things. The burger chain is officially stepping into the advertising world, testing out a new program that displays ads for other companies directly on its digital order boards.
Following the strategy used by retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, McDonald's is building its own media network. While the program is currently in the pilot phase at 450 company-owned U.S. locations, the company has big ambitions. Executives believe this new venture could eventually become a $1 billion business for the brand.
Why McDonald's wants to be your new billboard
During an investor presentation at the company's Chicago headquarters, Global Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley framed the move as a smart, low-effort win. According to Flatley, the program is designed to generate revenue with "no operational complexity and no disruption to our customer experience."
CFO Ian Borden noted that because the chain serves roughly 85% of the U.S. population every year, its massive physical footprint gives it a unique advantage that other companies just don't have. By leveraging its 14,000 U.S. locations, McDonald's plans to create a steady stream of high-margin revenue. This extra cash could be a major help as the company navigates rising costs for ingredients like beef and prepares to pour billions into restaurant upgrades over the coming decade.
While other retailers have seen huge success with their own ad networks—Amazon reported nearly $69 billion in ad sales in 2025—McDonald's is set to be a pioneer in doing this within the restaurant industry.
Why it matters
As the cost of running a restaurant keeps climbing, McDonald's is looking for ways to boost profits without just hiking menu prices. By turning its drive-thrus into advertising space, the company is betting that it can turn its massive customer reach into a lucrative digital media powerhouse.
