It would certainly raise eyebrows if the CEO of a major restaurant chain didn’t enjoy the food his company serves. That’s not the case for McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski.
In a recent Instagram post, Kempczinski revealed he’s frequently a customer at the Golden Arches.
“I get asked how often I eat McDonald’s,” he wrote. “I’d say quite a bit—probably three or four times a week. Sometimes it’s breakfast, sometimes lunch. One of the perks of the job is getting to enjoy McDonald’s often.”
He’s not alone among restaurant leaders who regularly sample their own menus.
Before becoming CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol—formerly the head of Chipotle—shared his go-to order: a chicken burrito bowl with white rice, fajita vegetables, pico de gallo, and “a little” cheese, along with a barbacoa quesadilla and chips with guacamole.
“It’s probably a little too much food for my age,” Niccol told Fortune last year. “But it’s hard to resist.”
Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun has also spoken about his menu favorites. Once a fan of snow crab, he said his new preference is Bairdi crab—a meatier, sweeter variation sourced from the icy waters of the Bering Sea.
As for Kempczinski, he’s navigating a complex environment for McDonald’s as inflation continues to pressure consumers seeking affordable meals.
Earlier this year, McDonald’s reduced prices on select combo meals following customer complaints that menu items had become too expensive.
Kempczinski acknowledged the concern, noting on an earnings call that “combo meals priced over $10 are absolutely shaping negative value perceptions.”
He also pointed out a growing divide among consumers. Lower-income customers are visiting less frequently and treating fast food as an occasional indulgence rather than a daily convenience.
“Particularly with middle- and lower-income consumers, they’re under a lot of pressure right now,” he told CNBC last month. “We’re really seeing a two-tier economy. For those earning over $100,000, things are going well. But for middle- and lower-income consumers, it’s a very different story.”