However, investors demand a new product pipeline and this will keep them satisfied for a while. Very few MCD watchers understand that the system can't sell high-end products while distracting customers with deep discounts.
July 31, 2024
Big Arch Included in the $5.00 Meal?
July 29, 2024
July 28, 2024
No Beef For You!
The topic, particularly on red meat, has resurfaced since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency.
July 26, 2024
July 25, 2024
July 21, 2024
July 18, 2024
July 17, 2024
July 16, 2024
July 15, 2024
FTC Tells Franchisors - No Junk Fees
"The agency also said that franchisors can’t take action against franchisees that take complaints about the business to the government."
July 13, 2024
July 12, 2024
July 11, 2024
Anonymous McGossip on X
@McFranchisee (Twitter - formerly @MCDtruth) claims that the typical
U.S. store will receive one case of 250 Black Garlic packets. Is that worth
while of a promotion? Sounds like a half-day supply.
July 9, 2024
Barbell Strategies
During one of the previous burger wars, a QSR corporate head (I think he was from Burger King) coined the phrase "Barbell Menu." The term was used to describe pricing that brought customers into the restaurant with the hope they'd forego the discount and move up to more profitable menu items.
Today, we have a different "barbell menu" this one is more of a corporate strategy. The only "new" idea the corporate guys can come up with is discounting. But they can't admit to investors that price-off is their only idea, so they'll try to deflect attention to new product promotions. This works well because analysts and reporters are always expecting new product news. And, if there is no new product news, they'll criticize management for not having a "healthy product innovation pipeline".
If the discounting works, management will credit the new products. If sales haven't improved, they’ll blame the American consumer.
And everyone else in the system will be left asking, “How did our menu get so big and complicated?”
July 8, 2024
McDonald's NASCAR Chicago Street Race
Well, it wasn't really a "McDonald's" race, the first Chicago NASCAR race (2023) just looked that way based on photos and videos. I watched most of last year's race live and was surprised at how much visibility the McDonald's logo received. McDonald's banners covered many of the walls and barriers that made up the racecourse. These banners always seemed to be on camera. I couldn't help but wonder how much this cost.
Later, I learned the facts. Because it rained for much of the race, the TV cameras installed on high-up scaffolding or on the sides of buildings were temporarily disabled, leaving the ground-level cameras to cover the race. This meant shooting straight across the course with the racecars in the foreground and the McDonald's banners constantly in the background.
It sure looked like a race entirely sponsored by McDonald's.
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