I’m trackin’ it: McDonald’s rolls out activity-tracking wearable with Happy Meals

McDonald’s is a company looking to embrace technological developments to entice outlet footfall as it faces tight competition from fast-food rivals, supermarkets and disruptive new restaurant models.

In Canada and the US, the company is giving a kids activity tracker away with its Happy Meals, tracking steps and encouraging children to burn off those calories. It company has launched the wearables to run parallel with the Olympic Games urging users to “Keep up with your friends and your favourite athletes," on its website.

Two types of tracker are on offer, a speed-measuring LED light and a step-tracking device. The new drive into fitness wearables could deflect the obesity accusations targeted at the brand for its Olympics sponsorship.

The company is adopting technological solutions globally. In the UK, it is primed to install Samsung tablets in-store.

Swedish chains earlier this year released the Happy Goggles, Happy Meal boxes that can be converted into virtual reality goggles.