# McDonald’s Tests Brand Ads on Digital Menu Boards

> McDonald’s trials selling digital menu ad space to brands after pulling back on digital deals.
- Title: McDonald’s Tests Brand Ads on Digital Menu Boards · Pymnts
- Summary: McDonald’s trials selling digital menu ad space to brands after pulling back on digital deals. McDonald’s tests third-party ads on digital menus to offset…
- Keywords: mcdonalds, digital menu boards, retail media, ad space, brand ads, mcdonalds digital deals, business, finance, McDonald, Tests, Brand, Ads
- Source: Pymnts — https://pymnts.com/restaurant-technology/2026/mcdonalds-tests-selling-digital-menu-board-ad-space-to-other-brands
- Author: PYMNTS
- Published: 2026-09-22T18:16:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mcdonalds, digital menu boards, retail media, ad space, brand ads, mcdonalds digital deals, business, finance
## McDonald’s tests brand ads
McDonald’s shows ads from other brands on digital menu boards after customers order.

> This limited menu board advertising pilot at select company-owned restaurants is exploring ways to share post-purchase content that customers may find helpful, relevant or interesting, while ensuring the McDonald’s experience remains at the center of every visit.
## Digital menu ad pilot
Ads appear after orders and while customers wait for meals.
## McDonald’s digital strategy shift
McDonald’s pulled back on digital deals to fund a new menu promotion.
## CEO on value trade-off
McDonald’s CEO says reducing digital offers hurt customer value perception.

> Digital offers are something that's valued by our most loyal customers. And so that ended up being a bad trade, putting in an app program that didn't deliver and taking away a lot of digital offers and the buy one, add one program.
## Retail media growth
Retailers are evolving into media environments where brands pay to influence decisions.
## Key takeaway

McDonald’s tests third-party ads on digital menus to offset reduced digital offers.