And Now For Some Discounting Ideas

Price Increases at Restaurants?

CNBC says Not So Much
.

NRN Covers McDonald's Investor Call

NRN reports HERE
.

You Can See McDonald's Future From Here

For many years I've encouraged McDonald's franchisees to pay
attention to the quarterly conference calls between McDonald's
executives and Wall Street analysts. I don't think too many
took my advice.

But, today's call is significant because of the drought, foods costs
and competitive pressures. This call contains revealing comments
from management and some really interesting questions from the
analysts.

If McDonald's Operators want a look into the next 18 months you
really should read the transcript of today's call. Or, you can listen
to the playback on the investor section of the McDonald's website.

Seeking Alpha transcript is HERE
.

CNBC - MCD to Go On Offensive on Value

This is an interview with an analyst who explains very succinctly
that McDonald's can win a price war because the franchisees 
spend so much money on advertising.

The McDonald's discussion is about four minutes into this 10
minute video, but it's worth the wait.

Rachael Rothman on McDonald's
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Analysts - More Discounting at McDonald's

Some smart people quoted in this article.
Howard Penney, managing director of investment research firm Hedgeye Risk 
Management says: “McDonald's can't ever go back to the Dollar Menu.
It's permanently gone.”

Kate MacArthur reports for Crain's Chicago Business
.

McDonald's CFO Foresaw Drought

McDonald’s Bought Commodities Before Rally, Cuts Cost Forecast - Bloomberg:

McDonald's Rare Profit Miss Signals Slower Growth Ahead - Forbes

McDonald's Rare Profit Miss Signals Slower Growth Ahead - Forbes:
.

McDonald's of India to Lower Prices 6-15%

The last sentence in this article is profound:
"The move is line with the fast food giant's international positioning of value and affordability, with more stress on volumes than margins."

The Economic Times reports HERE
.

What's the Beef?

Burger Business Reports on Beef Prices
.

Chipotle Down

Friday morning most restaurant shares are under pressure because of poor earnings from Chipotle. Discussing commodities on CNBC an analyst from Raymond James quiped,

"Chicken is just corn with feathers"

News on Chipotle is HERE

It's Going to be a Hard Candy Christmas?

When announcing "disaster" areas due to the drought USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
said: "ranchers were most seriously affected and he expects the prices of beef,
poultry and pork "may go down a bit, but over time they will rise."

In other words, restaurants may get some relief this summer but just about the time
the industry comes up against the tough comps caused by the warm weather of
winter 2011/2012 the corporate folks will be pushing for discounting and coupons to
keep same store sales from going negative.

Yikes!

Dow Jones Reports HERE
.

The Food Cost Maize

This article contains some interesting facts about  where the money goes when we buy groceries.

Growth Chains: Tom & Eddie’s (Ed Rensi that is)

.
Growth Chains: Tom & Eddie’s | Nation's Restaurant News:

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Somebody Likes Being on Camera!

Why would the world's largest restaurant chain post their
proprietary recipes on YouTube ?


Next we'll see Coke reveal their contents and KFC
disclose the Eleven Herbs and Spices. 

>>>  The Oak Brook chef tells all
.

The Former Oak Brook Liberal Who Brought You Obamacare

"While Kindler was tending to politics, he wasn’t tending to Pfizer"

Pfizer’s Political CEO - Betsy Woodruff - National Review Online:
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Don Thompson Faces Tough Year, Analyst Says

McDonald's chief executive Don Thompson faces a tough year, Barclays analyst says | Nation's Restaurant News
.