Franchise Equity Group

March 9, 2026

Are "Clicks" Advertising?

 


Conversation

Big Arch - Chris K - CEO Video Love it, hate it, call it cringe, or just scroll past - this thing blew up bigger than the Golden Arches themselves. It went global. Even our competitors had to respond. Probably the most unintentionally viral moment in history, out-meming even the Evil Grimace saga. Yes, most of the hot takes roasting Chris were off-base, but the facts are: we have sold a SERIOUS amount Big Arch Burgers because of it. He’s probably grinning ear to ear with a mouth full of product right now, thanks to the massive free advertising for the burger he actually created. Sometimes the best “marketing” is the kind nobody planned. 🍔 x.com/mcfranchisee/

March 5, 2026

RFK Jr Targeting High Sugar Drinks

RFK Jr targeting the nation’s 2 biggest coffee chains over high sugar drinks

Good for the Brand?

 McDonald's marketing people and advertising "experts" would tell you two things:

* Any number of clicks and comments (no matter how negative) on social media is good for the brand.

* If you're over 40 years old, you're too old to understand this new world.

If a McDonald's franchisee created such headlines, they'd be getting nasty letters from the legal department accusing them of damaging the brand.

MCD CEO roasted after his tiny first bite of Big Arch burger goes viral - Fox

February 22, 2026

The Best at Self-Promotion

When a McDonald's Owner/Operator opens a new store that does under two million in sales and carries a 20% rent factor, they might have this lady to thank. This is a profile of McDonald's SVP Tabassum Zalotrawala, chief development officer for McDonald's USA.

I've seen thousands of executive profiles, but nothing quite like this. If an article is an extensive interview, it's usually about the brand or a new direction for the brand. This article is about her, not much about McDonald's. An executive bio is usually a paragraph or two. This prints to almost nine pages (all about her).

I'm wondering if she commissioned a PR writer to develop a piece about her, and they sent it around, expecting it to get edited and condensed. QSR Mag ran the entire thing.
Casual observers can only conclude that she is already job-shopping and has one foot out the door, maybe before some of her new stores open.

February 15, 2026

A Good Business Requires Good Government

Even the finiest of journalists can be a little short-sighted now and then. This article by Jonathan Maze and Lisa Jennings appears to blame the turmoil in the Minnesota restaurant business on Homeland Security law enforcement activities. 

The problem in Minnesota goes back decades and has been exacerbated by decisions made by the current Minnesota Governor and Minneapolis Mayor. The world seems to have forgotten the riots of 2020 (The Summer of Love). There were riots in many blue cities, but Minneapolis was the hot spot. It was easy for Minnesota elected officials to cause the rabble to rise up again.

It's difficult, if not impossible, to run a small business in a city or state governed by incompetent and corrupt officials. We believe it's best that businesses stay at arm's length from the government. But sometimes, businesspeople have to get involved to ensure the community's survival.

The civil unrest in Minneapolis is the symptom. The disease is the worst state government of the fifty.

For Minnesota's restaurants, another economic nightmare - Restaurant Business


Wendy's Sales Plunged in Fourth Qaurter

The worst quarter in at least 20 years - Maze