Local food critics were shocked this week when popular fast food restaurant Runza introduced their new “9 for $14 Meal Deal” to customers. The deal, offering significant savings yet a notably ridiculous quantity of food, comes on the heels of similar, yet more reasonable, offers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King.

“It’s a fantastic value,” said Samantha Helms, marketing director for Runza National. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for business growth. We used to be lucky if customers were spending $10 in our stores per visit, but with this irresistible deal, our revenue will surely skyrocket.”

Options to choose from are just as overwhelming as the quantity of food, covering nearly the entire Runza menu. From their signature Runza sandwich, burgers, Frings, drinks, dessert and more, customers can build a meal or three with exactly what they’d like.

Some customers are a little confused by the new deal, though.

“I don’t really get it,” said Julia Haynes, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Like, I get that it’s a good deal, but why would you need that much food? Couldn’t they just design a smaller deal?”

However, senior Seth Johnson is excited for the new offer.

“Yeah, I really like the new protein options on campus,” Johnson said. “My new regime requires 4,500 kcals a day, so it’s a great option for my on-the-go lifestyle.”

Regardless of student opinion, the true test of this deal will rely on some type of large consumption unit to embrace it, a challenge Helms is sure Runza can overcome.

“We’ve seen how many Runzas those Husker fans down on Saturdays during football season. We’re just looking to capitalize on that market during the rest of the year.” 

In the meantime, this new Runza deal looks to be sticking around for the near future, or at least until Runza learns what a meal deal actually is.