I've heard that the riot
police had to be called to restore order shortly after those pictures were
taken
Peter Wu
In
Attachment
The
queue of shame: Chinese customers hide their faces as they wait to collect free
breakfast at McMuffins.
l McDonald's restaurants in
l The fast food chain launched National Breakfast Day on Monday
l Said the offer had no connection to Chinese state news programme '3.15' that exposes bad practice to mark World Consumer Rights Day
By Becky Evans
PUBLISHED:
They say there is no such thing as a free lunch but apparently that rule does not apply to breakfasts.
Thousands of people spent the morning queuing for free McMuffins at
McDonald's restaurants across
Embarrassed: Hungry people hide their faces as they queue for free
McMuffins at McDonald's in
Eager: One man was so keen to get a free breakfast that he went to McDonald's still wearing his pyjamas
Not everyone was ashamed to claim the free food. One man was so
desperate not to miss out that he did not even bother getting dressed. He was
pictured wearing his pyjamas in the queue at Sham Shui Po,
Restaurants across the country saw huge queues as staff held signs aloft advertising 1,000 free McMuffins.
Although the offer proved remarkably popular, many in
The McDonald's promotion came just days after Chinese state television aired its annual expose on corporate malpractice to mark World Consumer Rights Day.
But the American food giant said the timing of the offer was purely coincidental.
Hidden: Diners shield their faces behind newspapers as they wait to get their free breakfast
We can see you: One man allows his face to be seen while others duck behind their morning papers
Popular: McDonald's gave away more than a million McMuffins across
On Friday, one of the most widely watched television shows in China '3.15' reported on companies that it says violated the trust of consumers.
Last year McDonald's apologised after it was criticised by the news programme for its food safety.
However, this year the programme focussed on Volkswagen, which was criticised for alleged issues with the cars' direct shift gearbox. The company said it will address the concerns. Apple was also criticised. Programme makers accused the company of not giving the same post-sales service as users in other markets. Consumer analysts say criticism on the show can cause significant harm to a brand.
James Roy, senior analyst at China Market Research Group, said: 'The minute there are questions about your practices that appear in any way credible, that can be devastating to consumer trust and extremely difficult to get back.'
Busy: A McDonald's worker holds up a sign that reads '1,000 free McMuffins. Please line up here'
Offer: The promotion came days after Chinese state television aired its annual expose on corporate malpractice to mark World Consumer Rights Day but the fast food chain said the timing was a coincidence
Senior director of communications at McDonald's
Asked if the breakfast promotion was related to Consumer Day, she said: 'There is no connection.'
McDonald's launched National Breakfast Day on Monday where up to
1,000 McMuffins were given away in 5,000 restaurants
across