McDonald's $MCD and Wendy's $WEN are offering free french fries on Friday, July 10, in celebration of National French Fry Day.
App users at McDonald's can claim a free medium fries when they spend at least $1 on any item. Redemption requires both the McDonald's mobile app and an active MyMcDonald's Rewards membership; the offer appears within the app and is limited to participating restaurants. McDonald's said it serves 3.6 billion servings of its french fries each year, according to Yahoo.
At Wendy's, a $5 in-app order unlocks a complimentary fries upgrade to whatever size the customer prefers. Customers must have a Wendy's app account, and availability is limited to select locations.
Both deals are available only today. Neither offer is available through third-party delivery services or without the respective app accounts.
Several other chains are also running promotions for the holiday, according to Today. Rewards members at Whataburger can walk away with a free medium fry without having to buy anything else. Smashburger requires only a $1 purchase to trigger a free regular fry via its app or website; the promo code FRYDAY26 must be entered at checkout. Shake Shack is extending its promotion into the weekend: through July 13, entering FRYDAY26 at checkout pairs any sandwich order with a free side of classic fries. Through July 12, every purchase of Checkers and Rally's seasoned fries comes with a second order of equal size at no charge.
The holiday's Friday timing is deliberate: Checkers and Rally's ran an online petition in 2022 that successfully convinced the National Day Calendar to anchor the date to the second Friday of July each year. YouGov polling puts french fries at the top of America's most-loved foods, with 87% of respondents expressing a favorable view — a margin that places them above cheeseburgers and hamburgers, according to Yahoo.
McDonald's has been working to strengthen its value proposition with lower-income customers after years of higher menu prices. The chain announced a new global growth strategy in June called McDonald's > NEXT, built around menu innovation, improved efficiency, and a reimagined approach to customer service. Wendy's, meanwhile, launched a series of free merchandise drops for loyalty members in May as part of an effort to deepen engagement with its rewards program.