Chick-fil-A Expanding Menu?

Chick-fil-A guy - “We’re excited to spice-up the menu and see what happens in these 
test markets,”

Hey Chick-fil-A guy, I'll tell what's going to happen. Your service is going to slow down.

Chick-fil-A Starts Testing New Spicy Chicken Menu Items - QSR magazine
.

Trump Serves Up Big Macs

With White House chefs furloughed QSRs step up

White House offers Clemson Tigers fast food feast in championship celebration

One-minute video is HERE

Jonathan Maze Recaps the Creation of NOA

"The best thing for the relationship, therefore, would be stronger sales and traffic growth. 
That makes the first two quarters of 2019 so important for McDonald’s management and 
its franchisees." 

Explaining McDonald’s franchise dispute, and why it’s important - Restaurant Business
.

I Have a Customer Complaint About McDonald's Customers

It's going to be difficult to grow sales at McDonald's with all of this customization and constantly changing product lines. With all the different value platforms McDonald's is attracting fussy customers looking for customized food at the lowest price.

Example: Last week I visited a McDonald's about 3:30 in the afternoon. As I walked into
the restaurant a couple were at the front counter getting ready to order food. I stood 
behind them. I didn't hear every word but they were having a long conversation about 
what they wanted to order. They kept asking the crew person questions. Turns out they
wanted sesame seed buns on their Filet-O-Fish.

The crew person couldn't figure out how to enter such a product so he ran to the manager working drive-thru. The manager leaves drive-thru to assist. Much discussion ensues. The manager then heads for the grill area, I assume to coordinate this special order.

It took these people nearly three minutes to order and pay. And all they bought were four customized Filets for $10.00. More and more bottom feeders expecting customization and variety, all for $2.50 a sandwich.

How does an Operator make money attracting such customers? And what about the other customers? If I were a normal person I might have walked out and gone elsewhere. 

Now, the restaurant did a fine job. They handled these difficult customers properly and 
had their order to them very quickly.

It seems the drive-thru percentage will continue to climb.

Chicago Tribune reports:

'People love bacon': McDonald's to serve Big Mac Bacon, Quarter Pounder Bacon
.

Or did McDonald’s Operators "Take" More Media Control?

"The local media review is the latest sign that McDonald’s is taking steps to address 
franchisee concerns amid mounting tension with the company’s operator community."

McDonald’s to give markets more media control
.

Old Stomping Grounds to be Demolished

McDonald's Plaza proposal includes retail, restaurants, residential, office
.

Dismantling BBV2020

McDonald's U.S. regions to get agency choices after OMD-only approach

Advertising Age reports
.

NRN On McDonald's Remodels

Tension escalates between McDonald’s and franchisees over remodels
.

Operator Comment...

 Anonymous said...

In case anyone missed it....the latest email that just came out tonight regarding the transition to new NFLA and officer elections. The company has now added certain “self evaluation” requirements to be eligible to run for the new offices. Everyone please take a look at these requirements. From a legal perspective it seems very vague and puts the upper hand with Stock Price Steve and Crooked Chris to eliminate the possibility of anyone they don’t want in a leadership position. Please help support anyone that is running for office from the NOA....because they will no doubt send in the storm troopers to make them ineligible anyway they can.....Ops people “hiding in the bushes” to take them down one way or another.

Build That Wall?

Operators call for halt to new remodels - Jonathan Maze

Also by Maze - On the NLC Survey
.
“Cash-strapped franchisees say a lot 
is happening at once, without much return."

Customers Behaving Badly

Customers behaving badly: New hall of fame candidates
.

NRN on NLC Survey

Report: McDonald’s operators feel ‘cash-strapped’ - Nation's Restaurant News
.

Operator Uprisings Shake the Trees for Change

"The manila envelope arrived on my desk just days after the first national owners
meeting of McDonald’s franchisees, unmarked except for a return label from a 
“McDonald’s franchisee in distress.” - Beth Ewen

Operator uprisings shake the trees for change - Franchise Times
.

Operator and Congressman Kevin Hern Donating Salary

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern donating congressional salary during shutdown - tulsaworld
.

McDonald’s Ad Agency News From AgencySpy

Omnicom’s We Are Unlimited Will No Longer Work Exclusively With McDonald’s
.

Kalinowski Equity Research Sees Good Things for McDonald's

"Kalinowski said the creation of the first-ever independent franchisee association in the U.S. could be a move that will strengthen McDonald’s as a whole."

Dine Brands, McDonald's top restaurant stocks in 2019 - CNBC
.

Jonathan Maze on 2019

"Will the McDonald's strategy start paying off?"

7 big restaurant questions heading into 2019
.