Raptors' run has cost McDonald's millions in free french fries

The Toronto Raptors' success has resulted in a lot of free french fries for fans in Ontario this season.

Throughout the 2018-19 regular season and playoffs, McDonald's restaurants across the province have been giving away medium-sized fries every time the Raptors make at least 12 3-pointers in a game. To date, the company has dished out more than 2 million free orders of fries - nearly three times what was initially projected - according to Jake Edmiston of the Financial Post.

With an average menu price of $2.99, those orders equate to $5.8 million worth of fries.

Chuck Coolen, head of marketing for McDonald's in Eastern Canada, told Edmiston the promotion was finalized with the Raptors 18 days before the blockbuster trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard last summer.

As the season went on, Coolen admitted there was some concern among those at the head office about whether franchisees could handle the fry demand. McDonald's even approached its franchisees ahead of the playoffs to ask if they wanted to continue the promotion.

"Do we want to stop now? No, we don't want to stop now," said Mike Forman, who owns four McDonald's franchises in Whitby, Ontario. "This is good."