McDonald's franchise owners are being encouraged to price their large soft drinks at $1 this summer to lure customers who might otherwise get their beverages at convenience stores, the memo obtained by Crain's Chicago Business shows.

"Let's take the C-store drink out of their hands and build our transactions," Steve Plotkin said in the April 2 message to outlets in the western division he heads.

Ohio restaurant consultant Dennis Lombardi told the Chicago business newspaper, "Times are tough, and this could be a beverage war."