What will companies do without pennies? We asked McDonald's, Kroger and more

4 days ago 8

The penny appears to person tally retired of luck.

The U.S. Mint successful Philadelphia pressed its last circulating penny connected Wednesday, aft President Trump earlier this twelvemonth directed the Treasury Department to halt minting caller one-cent coins, citing the rising outgo of production.

So, what volition companies bash if they're short connected change? Here's what respective large chains and retailers told CBS News.

McDonald's

McDonald's told CBS News that successful immoderate locations, customers paying with currency whitethorn nary longer person nonstop alteration due to the fact that pennies are progressively unavailable. Instead, the concatenation volition circular totals to the nearest 5 cents for currency transactions.

This means that if a lawsuit pays with currency astatine 1 of these locations, and their bid comes retired to $10.22, they volition wage $10.20. However, if an bid comes retired to $10.23, past the cash-paying lawsuit volition beryllium $10.25.

Digital and paper payments stay unaffected, McDonald's said.

Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Jamba, Carvel

GoTo Foods, the Georgia-based genitor institution of Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Jamba and Carvel, among different brands, told CBS News it's "recommending that franchisees circular currency transactions successful the guest's favor."

Wendy's

Wendy's is taking a akin approach, telling CBS News: "We person fixed guidance to our restaurants to circular currency transactions down to the nearest nickel if they are experiencing penny shortages."

The institution besides emphasized that integer orders and paper payments are not impacted.

Kroger

Kroger told CBS News that "we kindly inquire customers to see providing nonstop change" if utilizing cash.

The supermarket concatenation said it would proceed to judge pennies for payment.

Kwik Trip

The Midwestern convenience concatenation has said it volition circular currency transactions down to the nearest nickel to woody with the penny shortage.

Giant Eagle

Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle supermarkets held a one-day lawsuit wherever customers could speech their pennies for acquisition cards worthy treble the worth of the coins, CBS News Pittsburgh reported.

Giant Eagle said the speech programme volition let the institution to cod much pennies to assistance supply nonstop alteration to customers who privation to wage successful currency for their purchases.

"This proactive measurement allows the institution to support accuracy and fairness portion it awaits ceremonial guidance from the U.S. authorities regarding aboriginal rounding practices," Giant Eagle said.

Sheetz

The convenience store concatenation Sheetz has encouraged cashless payments. However, 1 store offered a promotion wherever customers who brought successful a dollar's worthy of pennies received a escaped drink.

Edited by Melissa Gaffney