McDonald’s in Japan halts Pokémon card sale, food waste follows

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 13. 11:12

Unopened burgers and spilled fries were left behind after McDonald’s in Japan launched a promotion over the weekend, featuring limited-edition Pokémon cards hidden in its Happy Meal menu, sparking a huge rush at the restaurants – but the food was secondary for many customers, the goal was clearly to get the cards – writes CNN.

Eightfold profit on the cards

The customer logic is understandable based on the numbers: the menu costs 510 yen (about 1300 HUF), while a promotional Pokémon card changes hands on online marketplaces for up to eight times that. Many bought not only in the hope of a quick profit, but also in the hope of finding a rarity like the PSA 9-rated Pikachu Illustrator, which is worth nearly $5 million.

Promotion canceled in a few hours

McDonald’s planned the promotion to last three days, but due to much greater interest than expected, several restaurants sold out in a few hours. In an official statement, the company admitted that the food waste accompanying the promotion had cast a bad light on the brand and emphasized that it rejects all such practices.

The Pokémon world started in Japan

The Pokémon brand started in Japan in 1996 and has since become a global success through games, films, trading cards and mobile applications. The current case has proven once again that the market for Pokémon cards is still huge, and fans – and speculators – are willing to go to great lengths to get rare pieces, even if it means paying for food that ends up in the trash.