Where Are They Now ?

Russ Smyth, formerly President of McDonald's Europe spent a year at

H&R Block and is now CEO of the HAVI Group, owner of Perseco and

several other McDonald's suppliers. HAVI is also one of the owners of

the underground real estate empire (SCC).

Here's Smyth's profile

Former McDonald's execs Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi are preparing to

open their third Tom & Eddie's.

Their website is HERE

Former McDonald's guys Mike Roberts and Mike Donahue are preparing

to open health food restaurant, Lyfe Kitchen.

Here's their Facebook page

Former McDonald's Executive VPs Pat Flynn and John Charlesworth

still sit on the Chipotle Board:

Chipotle's BOD is listed HERE

And you can help with our research. The owner of much of McDonald's

real estate, System Capital Corporation, is headed by a "Don Horwitz"

Is this the former McDonald's top attorney?

His corporate connections are charted HERE

This chart links a director of SCC to the HAVI Group

SCC and the HAVI Group are both based in Downers Grove, Illinois,

across the freeway from each other, five minutes from Oak Brook.

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Save a Tree - Ruin Your Company

Environmentalism is not about the Earth - it's about controlling the lives of other

human beings - and here's proof. The World Wildlife Fund has developed a file

format that prevents computer users from printing E-mails and other documents.

Supposedly this will save trees. Meanwhile growing, harvesting, and using trees

is a vital part of our economy.

The WWF is the same group of wackos who dictate policy to companies

like McDonald's. And, people like second generation hippie Bob Langert build

their careers by climbing in bed with the WWF and Greenpeace and selling out

their employers.

Here's a great Op/Ed in the Wall Street Journal

(Please don't confuse the World Wildlife Fund with the far

more intellectual and sensible World Wresting Federation)

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Wendy's Fries a Success - According to Execs

For Wendy's, Fancy-Fries Launch Declared a Success | News - Advertising Age

What a shock, QSR corporate guys claiming a new product is working great!

We've seen this before.

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BK’s Path to Destruction

Constant changes in ownership and management a real advantage to McDonald's and Wendy's.

BK’s Chidsey to resign in April | Nation's Restaurant News

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Corporate Giant GE Pays No Taxes

GE Pays No Taxes - Taxes - Fox Nation

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Big McDonald's Franchisee Files for IPO

Big McDonald's franchisee files for IPO | Restaurants | Crain's Chicago Business

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Restaurant Ad Spending Tops $5.6 Billion in 2010

Restaurant Ad Spending Tops $5.6 Billion in 2010 | βurgerβusiness

Adage estimates McDonald's spent $1.2 Billion

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CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. Dollar Debauchery

CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. Dollar Debauchery = The Inflation

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Big Macstake

The new CEO of McDonald's in Australia has created a problem for herself

and possibly McDonald's worldwide. She publicly discusses the idea of a "Big

Mac Lite" on the McDonald's menu. This kind of fanciful speculation will come

back to bite everyone in a year or two. She and the company will be hounded

about the progress of this idea. If such a sandwich is developed there is no

reason to think it will sell.

If the "Big Mac Lite" sells three of four a day the food police would then push to

remove the classic Big Mac from the menu so customers don't have a choice. Then

they'll go to work on the rest of the menu. The problem is the food police can never

be satisfied as their real goal is to put companies like McDonald's out of business,

if that's what it takes to force people to eat a politically correct diet.

Catriona Noble messes up her career HERE

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How to Create a Harmonious Franchise System

Interesting and highly theoretical article about franchisor - franchisee

communication.

"He said sharing useful information about ingredient prices,

operational procedures and marketing ideas is always valuable,

even if it’s overstated."

If only it were so!

Fast Casual reports HERE:

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In the Words of Howard Schultz...

"the awareness that McDonald's created,

through hundreds of millions of dollars

of advertising, benefited Starbucks.

My respect for McDonald's as a company

is at the highest regard, but in terms of the

impact they've had on Starbucks with coffee,

it's de minimis if not at all."

WSJ interviews Starbucks' CEO

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What Rising Gas Prices Mean For Restaurants

What rising gas prices mean for restaurants | Nation's Restaurant News

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Tomatoes in Short Supply

Tomatoes in short supply | timesfreepress.com

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Wendy’s Franchisees Asked to Invest $$$ in Coffee - Good News for McDonald's Franchisees

Wendy’s Invests in Dave’s Hot ‘n Juicy Burger, Breakfast | βurgerβusiness

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Skinner Only Makes $9.7 Mill in 2010

McDonald's CEO Skinner's salary up, other pay fell - Yahoo! Finance

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McDonald’s in Talks Over its Greek Operations

McDonald’s in Talks Over its Greek Operations, Euro2day Says - Bloomberg

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Court Rules Holiday Inn Commits ‘Reprehensible’ Fraud

Court Rules Holiday Inn Commits ‘Reprehensible’ Fraud | BlueMauMau

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