McDonald's Corp. Unveils Gift Card

McDonald's Corp. has introduced a new gift card, a pre-paid card that gives consumers a new gift giving and shopping option.

Consumers can load the cards with funds of $5, $10, $25 and $50. The gift cards can be purchased in-store or through drive-through windows in three markets: Bakersfield, CA, Kansas City, MO, and in Western Washington. The company plans to offer the gift cards in other markets this year.

In addition, consumers can personalize each card and select from four designs featuring images of French fries, a Big Mac, a packaged gift and Ronald McDonald.

"McDonald's gift cards provide our customers with a convenient way to share the McDonald's experience with friends and family and make holiday and special occasion gift shopping easy," said McDonald's USA spokesperson Bill Whitman. "As McDonald's USA continues to innovate product and service offerings to enhance our customers' experience at our restaurants, McDonald's gift cards and cashless payment options are just a couple of examples of providing our valued customers with new conveniences and exciting new choices."

In other news, former McDonald's President and CEO Charlie Bell died Sunday of colorectal cancer in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. Bell, who was diagnosed with cancer last May, was 44 years old. Bell underwent colorectal cancer surgery on May 5, just weeks after replacing CEO James Cantalupo, who died last April of a heart attack while attending a company meeting in Orlando. Jim Skinner, who had been the QSR's vice chairman, has replaced Bell.