In a surprising turn of events, McDonald’s Japan has decided to scrap its Happy Meal promotion that included popular Pokemon cards. This decision comes after resellers took to the stores, grabbing the meals—designed for kids—and discarding the food which resulted in unsightly litter outside McDonald’s locations.
Known as Happy Sets in Japan, these meals included different toys, like a miniature Pikachu, along with a Pokemon card. They quickly sold out within just one day, as reported by local media.
Countless instances of wasted food were observed near the restaurants, prompting a statement from McDonald’s. “We have a strong commitment against food waste. The current scenario contradicts our long-standing belief in providing enjoyable dining experiences for families and kids. We recognize that our preparations were inadequate,” they acknowledged.
In response to this breakdown, McDonald’s is now looking into implementing changes to avoid similar issues in the future. Plans include restricting the number of meals a customer can buy and stopping online orders. They may also limit service to patrons who do not comply with these guidelines.
“Our goal is to reconnect with the fundamental purpose of the Happy Set, which is to create joy for families and support the healthy growth of children, who represent our future,” the company emphasized.
Collecting Pokemon cards has become a trendy pastime for both kids and adults, with some rare cards fetching prices in the thousands of dollars.
Spectacular crowds surged to McDonald’s when these special meals launched, and some cards even showed up for resale online at prices reaching tens of thousands of yen.
McDonald’s has successfully been offering Happy Meals for over 40 years. In Japan, the pricing typically hovers around 510 yen ($3.40).
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