McDonald’s tests ads on drive-thru menu boards

McDonald’s is testing advertisements from other brands on digital drive-thru menu boards at a limited group of company-owned restaurants, according to a Bloomberg report.

At locations included in the pilot, ads appear after customers place their orders and while they wait for their meals. A McDonald’s spokesperson told Bloomberg that the test is intended to explore “ways to share post-purchase content that customers may find helpful, relevant, or interesting.”

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment. Bloomberg reported that selling advertising on menu boards could create another revenue stream for the company as it faces falling sales in the US.

The test comes alongside McDonald’s plans to move forward with ArchIQ, an AI-powered assistant. The company recently showed ArchIQ identifying repeat customers and “remembering” their orders. The source does not provide further details about the advertising pilot’s duration, participating restaurants, or whether the ads will expand beyond the limited test.