"the app is the brand’s biggest innovation since the drive-thru" - Give me a break ...
.
October 31, 2014
October 30, 2014
Back to the McFuture?
McDonald's Divisions being changed back to Zones? What's a "zone insights person"?
Is this another tactic to deflect attention away from Oak Brook?
This is reminiscent of the days when McDonald's USA Zones were changed to Divisions
to be "closer to our customers" yet four out of the five original Divisional offices were
in Chicagoland.
I pay no attention to 2nd tier McDonald's corporate people so can someone tell me who's
this James Collins? Has he been working somewhere else since 2011? Is this another rehire?
.
Is this another tactic to deflect attention away from Oak Brook?
This is reminiscent of the days when McDonald's USA Zones were changed to Divisions
to be "closer to our customers" yet four out of the five original Divisional offices were
in Chicagoland.
I pay no attention to 2nd tier McDonald's corporate people so can someone tell me who's
this James Collins? Has he been working somewhere else since 2011? Is this another rehire?
.
October 29, 2014
October 28, 2014
Burger King Franchisees And Coaches
"Franchisees have complained that some of the coaches are too young and
inexperienced,
with many of them hired straight out of business school."
Burger King Franchisees And Coaches - Business Insider
.
with many of them hired straight out of business school."
Burger King Franchisees And Coaches - Business Insider
.
McDonald's: Millennials Aren't The Problem
Howard Penny is one of the Wall Street analysts who asks questions corporate
management hates to answer.
MCDONALD’S: MILLENNIALS AREN’T THE PROBLEM — McDonald’s Corp
.
management hates to answer.
MCDONALD’S: MILLENNIALS AREN’T THE PROBLEM — McDonald’s Corp
.
October 27, 2014
More on "Aggressive Change"
In February we discussed Jack Greenberg’s late 1990s attempt to reinvent McDonald’s.
Our previous post is HERE.
This is where Greenberg said:
"Those of us who weren't with you at the beginning of McDonald's are excited to be
with you during the reinvention of McDonald's".
Welcome to the 21st century version of Greenberg's statement.
On last week’s conference call with Wall Street analysts Don Thompson used the phrase “aggressive change” numerous times. This is code for “reinvention” and could be just
as destructive as Greenberg’s attempts to change McDonald’s.
Another key theme of the conference call was “localization” or “A flatter, more nimble organization that ensures key business decisions are made closer to the customer, by
people with local market expertise.”
It’s hard to believe that a bureaucracy run by control freaks that’s been top-down for
30 years is going to turn on a dime and encourage creativity and entrepreneurship in
the field. But, this is a shrewd political move that takes the spotlight off Oak Brook and
puts the onus on McDonald’s Operators and faceless corporate field people.
This buys management time to deflect blame and gets them through the 2015 share -
holders meeting. If things aren’t going better by the spring it will be time for a full
on attack on the Operator community.
Which, McDonald’s veterans will remember, was another Greenberg strategy (one of
his last).
.
Our previous post is HERE.
This is where Greenberg said:
"Those of us who weren't with you at the beginning of McDonald's are excited to be
with you during the reinvention of McDonald's".
Welcome to the 21st century version of Greenberg's statement.
On last week’s conference call with Wall Street analysts Don Thompson used the phrase “aggressive change” numerous times. This is code for “reinvention” and could be just
as destructive as Greenberg’s attempts to change McDonald’s.
Another key theme of the conference call was “localization” or “A flatter, more nimble organization that ensures key business decisions are made closer to the customer, by
people with local market expertise.”
It’s hard to believe that a bureaucracy run by control freaks that’s been top-down for
30 years is going to turn on a dime and encourage creativity and entrepreneurship in
the field. But, this is a shrewd political move that takes the spotlight off Oak Brook and
puts the onus on McDonald’s Operators and faceless corporate field people.
This buys management time to deflect blame and gets them through the 2015 share -
holders meeting. If things aren’t going better by the spring it will be time for a full
on attack on the Operator community.
Which, McDonald’s veterans will remember, was another Greenberg strategy (one of
his last).
.
October 25, 2014
October 24, 2014
October 22, 2014
Why Chipotle Will Never Replace McDonald's
"McDonald's domestic sales last year totaled nearly $36 billion, which was greater
than the entire fast casual industry's sales ($34.5 billion), according to Technomic."
Analysts Discuss
.
than the entire fast casual industry's sales ($34.5 billion), according to Technomic."
Analysts Discuss
.
Is Chipotle Really Healthier Than McDonald’s?
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One Chipotle burrito can be twice the calories of a Big Mac and have nearly a full day’s worth of calories. A burrito with chicken, white rice, black beans, fajita vegetables, tomatillo-green chili salsa, guacamole and cheese with a side order of chips is 1,695 calories A Big Mac has 530 calories.
MarketWatch Reports HERE
.
October 21, 2014
McDonald's CEO Don Thompson on Q3 2014 Results
If there was ever an important communication between McDonald's Corp. and
their shareholders that impacts franchisees today's conference call is it.
Management is intending to turn the brand inside out and upside down to grow
sales. Do they know what they're doing? ... Study this call and decide.
Listen to the replay here
Or read the transcript:
McDonald's Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Hint - Listening to the call is more insightful.
.
their shareholders that impacts franchisees today's conference call is it.
Management is intending to turn the brand inside out and upside down to grow
sales. Do they know what they're doing? ... Study this call and decide.
Listen to the replay here
Or read the transcript:
McDonald's Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Hint - Listening to the call is more insightful.
.
October 20, 2014
October 18, 2014
McDonald's Innovation Center Goal: Better service?
Somehow "innovation" at McDonald's usually slows service.
McDonald's Innovation Center goal: Better service - Chicago Tribune
.
October 17, 2014
October 15, 2014
October 14, 2014
Karen King
For any McDonald's Operators looking for a place to comment or gossip about the
return of Karen King this website is a good place to start.
Karen King TV Commercial
.
return of Karen King this website is a good place to start.
Karen King TV Commercial
.
October 13, 2014
October 11, 2014
October 9, 2014
Nordstrom's Business Strategy
Nordstrom has figured out how to serve upscale customers and also those looking
for "value", they just don't try to do it in the same building.
Nordstrom's Business Strategy - Business Insider
.
for "value", they just don't try to do it in the same building.
Nordstrom's Business Strategy - Business Insider
.
October 8, 2014
October 7, 2014
QSR Magazine Fast Food Drive Thru Study
Industry execs admit slower service and increased order mistakes caused by menu
complexity - plan to solve it with "training".
McDonald's says “It’s about going slow to go fast.” Is that Oak Brook Speak?
Fast Food Drive Thru Study Reports Speed and Performance in Industry - QSR magazine
.
Qdoba Mexican Grill Reworks Menu / Pricing
“They also felt the menu was overly complex and that the ordering
process itself was more complex than it needed to be,” Qdoba pres.
Tim Casey said.
.
Qdoba Mexican Grill reworks menu pricing in brand revitalization effort - NRN
.
process itself was more complex than it needed to be,” Qdoba pres.
Tim Casey said.
.
Qdoba Mexican Grill reworks menu pricing in brand revitalization effort - NRN
.
October 6, 2014
Minimum Wage, Maximum Politics
Who's the smartest guy in QSR? It just could be the CEO of Carl's Jr.
At least he's the most outspoken.
Andy Puzder: Minimum Wage, Maximum Politics - WSJ
.
What's the Fastest Food to Order at the Drive-Thru?
In describing QSR mag's timing method this article states,"Time spent waiting to order
doesn't count". That time matters a lot. That's when I pull out of line go elsewhere.
Businessweek Reports
.
doesn't count". That time matters a lot. That's when I pull out of line go elsewhere.
Businessweek Reports
.
October 4, 2014
October 3, 2014
Build-A-Burger Going Global
No matter what the test results show, Australia is taking Build-A-Burger nationwide.
USA operators should just order the equipment now, this isn't a test, it's a reinvention.
Aussie TV reports
.
October 1, 2014
Dual-Point: You're Doing It Wrong
I recently had the opportunity to visit 10 McDonald’s stores owned by the
same Operator. Seven of the stores had dual-point ordering, three did not.
As stated before, I’m a big fan of Dual-Point even if all it does is to make
the customer feel better about the process.
Applying my decades of operations experience with my recent experience
as a QSR customer I can make no sense out of the change to only giving the
customer their drink cup when the food is available. Who thinks it’s a good
idea to force the customer to waste that 3 or 4 minutes they’ll wait for
their food? And then they have to carry their food over to the drink station
where there’s really no place to the set their tray or bag while drawing
their drinks?
Dual-Point has eliminated some confusion at the front counter but at the same
time created a bottle-neck at the drink station. Unfortunately the customer
bears the inconvenience and no one behind the counter or in Oak Brook is
concerned. Speaking as your customer, I hate waiting for my food and getting
my drink eats up some time. I’ve already paid for that cup and I want it now!
Can anyone offer a reason this makes sense in the kitchen? Because from my
side of the counter it makes no sense at all.
.
Wendy's BBQ
While Wendy's food is usually enjoyable I tried the new BBQ pulled pork
sandwich and was not impressed. Too much BBQ sauce and too much slaw
made the pork invisible to my taste buds. The sandwich comes across as
scrimping on the pork.
Wendy's competitors need not worry, especially at $4.49.
USA Today on Wendy's pulled pork
.
sandwich and was not impressed. Too much BBQ sauce and too much slaw
made the pork invisible to my taste buds. The sandwich comes across as
scrimping on the pork.
Wendy's competitors need not worry, especially at $4.49.
USA Today on Wendy's pulled pork
.