At least SOME franchises are selling for sky-high prices!
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January 31, 2013
Credit Card Rule Changes
"Few restaurant guests know that card fees are one of the five fastest-growing
expenses for restaurants, even as technology brings down the costs of processing"
More to surcharging than meets the eye | National Restaurant Association:
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expenses for restaurants, even as technology brings down the costs of processing"
More to surcharging than meets the eye | National Restaurant Association:
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January 30, 2013
January 29, 2013
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January 28, 2013
Starbucks Targets Drive Thrus
"More than half of the 1,500 new coffeehouse locations Starbucks Corp. plans to
open in the United States over the next five years will be drive-thrus,"
NRN Reports:
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open in the United States over the next five years will be drive-thrus,"
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January 26, 2013
January 25, 2013
January 24, 2013
January 23, 2013
McDonald's CEO Discusses Q4 2012 Results
There was a lot of discussion about new McDonald's stores on today's conference call.
The thought of new stores thrills some McDonald's Operators and terrifies others
because of cannibalization.
These transcripts are an easy read and very informative.
McDonald's CEO Discusses Q4 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha:
.
The thought of new stores thrills some McDonald's Operators and terrifies others
because of cannibalization.
These transcripts are an easy read and very informative.
McDonald's CEO Discusses Q4 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha:
.
MCD in Q4
McDonald's released mixed results for the fourth quarter of 2012.
Here are two different takes on the news:
Zack's - McDonald's Beats on Both Lines
Forbes - McDonald's: Stale Growth Means A Future That You Won't Love
.
Here are two different takes on the news:
Zack's - McDonald's Beats on Both Lines
Forbes - McDonald's: Stale Growth Means A Future That You Won't Love
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January 22, 2013
MCD’s Thompson Dealt a Bad Hand.
"Jim Skinner saw how this movie was unfolding and decided to exit prior to the chain’s troubles tarnishing his tremendously successful 8-year track record as CEO of the company."
Retail Geeks» Blog Archive » MCD’s Thompson Dealt a Bad Hand. EPS Expectations for FY 2013 Too High.:
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Retail Geeks» Blog Archive » MCD’s Thompson Dealt a Bad Hand. EPS Expectations for FY 2013 Too High.:
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January 18, 2013
January 17, 2013
January 16, 2013
January 15, 2013
Blame it on "Made For You"
I would never tell a McDonald's Operator how to run their stores. But I
can be a pretty objective customer who has opinions backed up by 30 years
of operations experience.
When McDonald's USA installed the Made For You kitchens I quickly got
frustrated (as a customer) with the tripling or quadrupling of service times
at McDonald's. Like millions of McDonald's customers I gravitated to the
drive-thru because it seemed faster and I didn't have to stand around with
my arms folded waiting for my food. Hence the increases in McDonald's
Drive-thru business over these years. For more than a decade I've avoided
the inside of a McDonald's unless checking out a new dining room or other
change. If I wanted to eat I'd get in my car and go through the drive-thru.
But during the past six weeks, for various reasons, I've been going inside a
number of McDonald's stores to order and eat. In my humble opinion, the
service times are worse than when Made For You was first installed. My
guess is that's because the menu has doubled in size over those years (why
is the Angus still cluttering up the menu?).
So, as a customer, and an operations veteran, I have a few recommendations
for McDonald's Operators that might help break the bottleneck at the front
counter and build sales in 2013.
* Reduce the menu by 25% - I know, management will never have the
self-discipline necessary but I had to put it out there.
* Put in "Dual-Point" ASAP. While it might not actually speed up service it
will be comforting for the customer. As well as I know McDonald's I still
wondered if I'd been forgotten on about half my visits.
* Keep a manager on the front counter. During my visits the management
people rarely looked a customer in the eye and paid all of their attention
to drive-thru. I know how they feel since I remember how my managers hid
in the grill area when we messed up a breakfast/lunch changeover on a
busy Saturday.
* Lock the cell phones in the safe - there is nothing more irritating than
watching the person who is obviously in charge wandering the floor talking
or texting on a cell phone. I don't care if they are talking to their boss, they
should be fixing the operation and delivering my food.
There, I said it. The first McDonald's training films told new crew people,
"hungry people aren't always patient". Those were slower paced times so
today it's even more true. There are a limited number of people out
there who will wait so long for their food.
.
can be a pretty objective customer who has opinions backed up by 30 years
of operations experience.
When McDonald's USA installed the Made For You kitchens I quickly got
frustrated (as a customer) with the tripling or quadrupling of service times
at McDonald's. Like millions of McDonald's customers I gravitated to the
drive-thru because it seemed faster and I didn't have to stand around with
my arms folded waiting for my food. Hence the increases in McDonald's
Drive-thru business over these years. For more than a decade I've avoided
the inside of a McDonald's unless checking out a new dining room or other
change. If I wanted to eat I'd get in my car and go through the drive-thru.
But during the past six weeks, for various reasons, I've been going inside a
number of McDonald's stores to order and eat. In my humble opinion, the
service times are worse than when Made For You was first installed. My
guess is that's because the menu has doubled in size over those years (why
is the Angus still cluttering up the menu?).
So, as a customer, and an operations veteran, I have a few recommendations
for McDonald's Operators that might help break the bottleneck at the front
counter and build sales in 2013.
* Reduce the menu by 25% - I know, management will never have the
self-discipline necessary but I had to put it out there.
* Put in "Dual-Point" ASAP. While it might not actually speed up service it
will be comforting for the customer. As well as I know McDonald's I still
wondered if I'd been forgotten on about half my visits.
* Keep a manager on the front counter. During my visits the management
people rarely looked a customer in the eye and paid all of their attention
to drive-thru. I know how they feel since I remember how my managers hid
in the grill area when we messed up a breakfast/lunch changeover on a
busy Saturday.
* Lock the cell phones in the safe - there is nothing more irritating than
watching the person who is obviously in charge wandering the floor talking
or texting on a cell phone. I don't care if they are talking to their boss, they
should be fixing the operation and delivering my food.
There, I said it. The first McDonald's training films told new crew people,
"hungry people aren't always patient". Those were slower paced times so
today it's even more true. There are a limited number of people out
there who will wait so long for their food.
.
January 14, 2013
New York Health Regulations Impact US Restaurant Industry
“Mayor Bloomberg’s foray into this area is
misguided. I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s anti-American. Every time you increase the power of government, you decrease our individual liberties,”
Puzder says.
QSR Magazine Reports:
.
misguided. I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s anti-American. Every time you increase the power of government, you decrease our individual liberties,” Puzder says.
QSR Magazine Reports:
.
January 12, 2013
Management Is Not Leadership - Harvard Business Review
"all we will try to do when we do need more leadership is work harder to manage.
At a certain point, we end up with over-managed and under-led organizations, which
are increasingly vulnerable in a fast-moving world."
Management Is (Still) Not Leadership - John Kotter - Harvard Business Review:
.
At a certain point, we end up with over-managed and under-led organizations, which
are increasingly vulnerable in a fast-moving world."
Management Is (Still) Not Leadership - John Kotter - Harvard Business Review:
.
January 11, 2013
January 10, 2013
Another Advertising Agency Sells Out McDonald's
Next time you scan over the threatening legal message at the bottom of every memo
from McDonald's management consider the following.
I often get calls from reporters who cover the advertising industry and are looking for
the latest in proprietary marketing information. Since I don't have such information I
can't help them but am always floored by what they already know about McDonald's. It
quickly becomes obvious they are confirming leaks of information from members of
OPNAD, Oak Brook marketing, or one of the ad agencies. In my experience 99.9% of
McDonald's marketing leaks come from the agencies.
McDonald's Will Relaunch The Big Mac - Business Insider:
.
from McDonald's management consider the following.
I often get calls from reporters who cover the advertising industry and are looking for
the latest in proprietary marketing information. Since I don't have such information I
can't help them but am always floored by what they already know about McDonald's. It
quickly becomes obvious they are confirming leaks of information from members of
OPNAD, Oak Brook marketing, or one of the ad agencies. In my experience 99.9% of
McDonald's marketing leaks come from the agencies.
These reporters spend much of their day chatting up the people at major ad agencies.
As we know, agency people are only loyal to their next job offer at their next shop.
One way to advance their careers is to have good connections at the most important publications in their industry.
As we know, agency people are only loyal to their next job offer at their next shop.
One way to advance their careers is to have good connections at the most important publications in their industry.
But the article linked below is not just a leak, it's a press release from the agency! If
McDonald's Operators want to stop marketing leaks they need to clamp down on the ad
agencies, or reduce the number of agencies.
McDonald's Will Relaunch The Big Mac - Business Insider:
.
