Traditionally, when you talk about McDonald’s and gas, you’re not referencing filling up at the pump.
The fast-food giant, however, has made a deal to give consumers discounted gas in partnership with Shell. That move is part of the chain’s efforts to deliver broader value to customers without necessarily having the lowest prices.
“We’ve listened to customers and adjusted along the way with a relentless focus on delivering leadership in value and affordability, and our efforts are working. In the U.S., we launched McValue at the start of the year, which drove immediate incrementality, and then we relaunched Extra Value Meals in September,” CEO Christopher Kempczinski said during the chain’s fourth-quarter earnings call.
Now, the chain has decided to leverage its loyalty promotion to offer members a meaningful discount on gas. That partnership could allow the franchise to grow its business without further lowering prices while driving customers to fill up at Shell stations.
How the McDonald’s gas deal works
Shell, which has more than 12,000 U.S. gas stations, according to ScrapeHero, shared the news of the partnership on its LinkedIn page.
“Eligible MyMcDonald’s Rewards members can redeem 1,500 points for 50¢/gal off at participating Shell stations. Running August 12 through September 12, this limited-time national offer is designed to attract new Shell Fuel Rewards members, drive site visits, and generate incremental gallons,” the company shared.
The offer, however, is only available to new Shell loyalty program members who enroll through the company’s app.
“This promotion brings together two iconic brands with a shared goal: delivering more value to customers while fueling growth for our business. We’re excited to welcome new customers to the Shell Fuel Rewards program and drive more members, more visits, and more gallons,” the gas giant added.
C-Store Dive sees this partnership as a smart way for Shell to add new customers.
“With consumer sentiment continuing to fall and plague convenience retailers, this promotion offers Shell a direct connection to McDonald’s nearly 210 million 90-day loyalty members, creating an opportunity for more sign-ups and repeat visits to its fuel pumps and c-stores,” the website reported.
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How the McDonald’s loyalty program works
To use the McDonald’s loyalty program, called MyMcDonald’s Rewards, you need to download the company’s app.
“Earning rewards points is very easy, simply download our app and agree to participate in MyMcDonald’s Rewards. Present the 4-digit code before ordering, or get points automatically when you order in the app,” the company shared on its rewards program FAQ page.
Earning and redeeming points is fairly simple once you do that.
“For every dollar you spend on eligible products, you will receive 100 points. You can start redeeming your MyMcDonald’s Rewards when you have 1500 points,” the company added.
The new gas offer, while it’s only a one-time-use program, could keep customers away from Costco, at least for one fillup.
“When low on gas, consumers choose gas stations based on cheap gas (56%), location (52%), ease of entering and exiting (37%), cleanliness (25%), and high-quality gas (25%),” according to a Bludot survey.
Gas prices top $4 a gallon nationwide
After a week where prices dropped, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is back on the rise.
“Today’s (August 13) national average is back up to $4.07 after dropping to $4 on Monday (August 10). Crude oil prices are once again in the $80 per barrel range amid continued uncertainty along the Strait of Hormuz,” according to AAA.
Slowing sales were not enough to keep prices down.
“While gasoline demand is down, crude oil prices are keeping pump prices higher than normal for this time of year. So far, this is the highest August on record when it comes to the national gasoline average,” added AAA.
National average gas prices:
- August 13 National Average: $4.07
- One Week Ago: $4.06
- One Month Ago: $3.87
- One Year Ago: $3.15
McDonald’s sees loyalty as a key sales driver
“In digital, we’ve built the industry’s largest customer platform with nearly 220 million active loyalty users, and we’re now among the largest loyalty programs in the world,” Kempczinski said during its second-quarter earnings call.
He talked extensively about the loyalty program driving increased visits during the Q2 2025 call.
“In the U.S. alone, on average, the same customer visits 10.5 times in the year before joining the loyalty program and then 26 times in the year after joining,” he said.
The Shell deal is not the first time the chain has offered rewards that go beyond its own menu.
“They are earning points in the app and using them to unlock exclusive deals. And thanks to our recent partnership in the U.S., customers were able to extend rewards to new experiences like the Snapchat+ subscription with premium features,” he added.
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