McDonald's headquarters move to Chicago leaves a gap in Oak Brook - Crain's
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June 25, 2017
June 22, 2017
Making The Big Bucks By Being Anti-Business
Someone here mentioned the contemptible Robert Gibbs and I realized I haven't heard
much about him lately. It looks like he's still working in Oak Brook but I came across a
new name, someone who was hired by McDonald's Corp. in February, one Genevieve
"Genna" Gent.
For the past seven years, she's been working in government affairs for the American
Beverage Association. That would seem to make her a good fit for a McDonald's job.
But wait, prior to the ABA she spent ten years working directly for Jennifer Granholm,
then Democrat Governor of Michigan (2003-2010).
If you're not familiar with Jennifer Granholm you need to understand she was the
Elizabeth Warren of that decade. If you don't follow politics just do a search for
Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Granholm was a Hilary Clinton supporter but with her movie star looks and being 12
years younger, Granholm could have easily stolen the 2016 Democrat nomination from
Clinton. Trouble is, Granholm was born in Canada.
The contemptible Robert Gibbs would have run into Genna Gent while he was working
his way up the liberal ladder. It appears a large part of the Obama administration has
occupied the government relations offices in Oak Brook.
Which brings me back to a question I often ask - why are Operators contributing to the McDonald's national PAC?
McDonald's operators can't do anything about Oak Brook liberals hiring liberals but
they can sure close their checkbooks when those liberals ask for political contributions.
Going back ten years the PAC gave 90% to Republicans and 10% to Democrats. Today
that split is 60/40. Forty percent of Operator contributions are going to people largely supported by organized labor.
McDonald's Operators are contributing to these Democrats to enhance the career paths
of liberals working in Oak Brook. That "seat at the table" is an electric chair.
You are the best judge as to how to spend your political money at a state and local level,
but for the national PAC? Shut it down. You're sleeping with the enemy and paying for it.
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much about him lately. It looks like he's still working in Oak Brook but I came across a
new name, someone who was hired by McDonald's Corp. in February, one Genevieve
"Genna" Gent.
For the past seven years, she's been working in government affairs for the American
Beverage Association. That would seem to make her a good fit for a McDonald's job.
But wait, prior to the ABA she spent ten years working directly for Jennifer Granholm,
then Democrat Governor of Michigan (2003-2010).
If you're not familiar with Jennifer Granholm you need to understand she was the
Elizabeth Warren of that decade. If you don't follow politics just do a search for
Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Granholm was a Hilary Clinton supporter but with her movie star looks and being 12
years younger, Granholm could have easily stolen the 2016 Democrat nomination from
Clinton. Trouble is, Granholm was born in Canada.
The contemptible Robert Gibbs would have run into Genna Gent while he was working
his way up the liberal ladder. It appears a large part of the Obama administration has
occupied the government relations offices in Oak Brook.
Which brings me back to a question I often ask - why are Operators contributing to the McDonald's national PAC?
McDonald's operators can't do anything about Oak Brook liberals hiring liberals but
they can sure close their checkbooks when those liberals ask for political contributions.
Going back ten years the PAC gave 90% to Republicans and 10% to Democrats. Today
that split is 60/40. Forty percent of Operator contributions are going to people largely supported by organized labor.
McDonald's Operators are contributing to these Democrats to enhance the career paths
of liberals working in Oak Brook. That "seat at the table" is an electric chair.
You are the best judge as to how to spend your political money at a state and local level,
but for the national PAC? Shut it down. You're sleeping with the enemy and paying for it.
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June 21, 2017
June 19, 2017
Data Firm Says No Delivery Cannibalization
Beware of research companies that produce results to make big franchise clients happy.
Delivery doesn't stop restaurant visits
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Delivery doesn't stop restaurant visits
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June 17, 2017
June 16, 2017
Good Decision on the Olympics
Trouble is - should have been done in 1985
McDonald's nixes Olympics sponsorship after 41 years
When McDonald's lost big at 1984 Olympic Games? - LA Times
Anheuser-Busch InBev, Citigroup, Hilton, TD Ameritrade, and AT&T have all pulled
out of the Olympic games in the last year.
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McDonald's nixes Olympics sponsorship after 41 years
When McDonald's lost big at 1984 Olympic Games? - LA Times
Anheuser-Busch InBev, Citigroup, Hilton, TD Ameritrade, and AT&T have all pulled
out of the Olympic games in the last year.
June 15, 2017
There's No Need For "Hospitality" in the Drive-Thru
There seems to be an epidemic of time wasting dialogue in QSR drive-thrus. Many crew are greeting customers with their name and other useless information while taking orders.
We should all be pleasant with each other but what does a crew person's name have to do with customer satisfaction in the drive-thru? If everything's running properly the customer will only see the crew person for a few seconds. Especially in a double window drive-thru where the customer may never see the person who took the order.
I wonder if this started in a few chains and crew people brought the practice with them from other jobs? But, it adds nothing to the experience and wastes precious seconds.
If you're operating a drive-thru and your crew are giving out names - Stop it - it's silly.
And I'm not just picking on McDonald's. I usually have high praise for the levels of QSC at Chick-fil-A but I went through one of their drive-thrus last week and the conversation went something like this:
"Hi, welcome to Main Street Chick-fil-A, my name is Christine, thank you for dining with
us. Would you like to try our new Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich? May I take your
order please?"
I quickly place my order (without sharing my name).
Christine repeats my order back to me, "Can I get you anything else?" I say NO. She says, "Thank you, please pull forward to the pickup window".
It was exhausting!
I'm told a free standing drive-thru Chick-fil-A can easily hit $4 million a year. If we assume
a 60% drive-thru factor they're exceeding the total sales of the average McDonald's, just in their drive-thru.
Imagine what they could do if they cut out the useless, time wasting, "hospitality".
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