A QSR CEO Bits the Dust

YUM CEO to retire - Restaurant Business

 US VP Vance has a successful trip to Greenland.

McDonald's and the Economy

McDonald's sales could be a bad sign for the economy - MoneyWise 

McDonald's CEO speaks, plans to "reinvent" McDonald's

Pajama Boy says, "McDonald's has lost its way".

A Busy Day for Getting at the Numbers

McDonald's McValue Menu appeals to the already loyal - RestBus

90% plus were already loyal to McDonald's

McValue platform has mixed results - NRN

The NRN article covers the same Numerator survey with a different spin

Did McDonald's answer the call for Value Customers? - QSR Mag

This extensive QSR Mag piece includes some word salad rhetoric from MCD management, along with comments from BTIG analyst Peter Saleh:

"Some franchisees, he added, indicated food costs ... had not been this high in six or seven years."

Also, the company claims that in 2024 "franchisees still achieved cash flows north of $500,000 per unit."

In-N- Out Gets a Little Political

 

Franchisees Face Rising Tensions Over "Fees"

Discussion of FTC regs, franchise disclosures, and technology fees - QSR

I'd wager that fewer than one in ten McDonald's franchisees have spent any time with their franchise disclosure document.

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https://www.franchisetimes.com/white_papers/pricing-strategies-driving-restaurant-visits-in-2024/article_e4a82c84-90a9-11ef-9c1b-8b64159492fb.html

Review of McHistory

How the Filet-O-Fish came to be

Who's Got a Beef?

Grass-fed beef? Not so great - people who call themselves scientists

Restaurants worried about beef inflation - RestBusiness

In other words, people who don't want us to eat meat have screwed up the entire beef industry.

price fixing comment

 When will the use of Marketing as price fixing stop? We have BU Boards empowered to set up promotional programs, GMA and Delivery deals. This equates to setting the BU Price for long term discounting. That in itself is not marketing it is price fixing. This follows the announcements last year from SLT to get pricing down in McDonald's, while MCOPCO only has 5% of the locations. SLT controlling marketing is again the avenue to control price. Profit Margins and Cashflow are crashing and all we hear is cut your pricing. The results across the country show this is not working. T.Bell with new products is getting results while we just cut pricing. What happened to the Owner/Operator Leadership? Afraid to speak as you will see more inspections and graded visits. The Leadership Teams need to use anonymous voting and polling to protect the Owner/Operators as retribution for speaking out continues to affect the conversation. Interesting there is a process to have our employees give feedback, but the Owner/Operators have no avenue for anonymous feedback to the company. Bad Leadership all around.

Honest Discussion About DEI

Anheuser-Bush has learned their lesson - former AB exec 

grass hopper

 

I've always thought this line from "A Bug's Life" (1998) perfectly describes the franchise business.

Starbucks Unveils New Store Design

 

Starbucks CEO wants everyone to know the “third place” is alive and well.

Just the Beginning

RFK Jr. tells food companies to remove artificial dyes

How Many Times Can He Rearrange the Deck Chairs?

Is this the new pit crew for Accelerating the Arches?

Does Chris K. have to actually appear in his videos?

 https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/taco-bell-spices-up-global-expansion-with-cultural-buzz-and-cravings/?spMailingID=147699&puid=2775161&E=2775161&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=147699

 https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/mcdonalds-viral-social-media-post-sparks-huge-reactions

 https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/wendys-unveils-new-operational-vision-to-boost-margins-and-customer-loyalty/?spMailingID=147502&puid=2775161&E=2775161&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=147502

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/restaurants-warned-white-house-of-tariff-dangers-before-delay/ar-AA1Apk5u

MCD Shares Jump $10 plus to Record High

 

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/restaurants-warned-white-house-of-tariff-dangers-before-delay/ar-AA1Apk5u?ocid=LastSlide&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Krispy Kreme Depending on Glazed

On track to reach about 6.000 McDonald's locations by year end.

Can McDonald's Corporate Handle AI?

 Big Mac AI Revolution Set to Help McDonald’s

This a summary of an article from the Wall Street Journal, March 5. 2025.

Taco Bell Off to a Strong 2025 Start

Q1 SSS expected to be up 8% - RestBus

Taco Bell to speed menu innovation - NRN

Marion Gross Retiring From McDonald's

Supply chain chief has 32 years with the system - NRN

Steak 'n Shake Beefs Up Fries

Steak 'n Shake turns to beef tallow - Maze

The company's fries will be "RFK'd".

Revolt at Subway

Latest Footlong offer draws franchisee ire - RestBus

Is All the Young Talent Leaving McDonald's?

Eugene Lee, International Chief Marketing Officer, leaving McDonald's

Eugene's Linkedin page

Macca's CEO to Spend More Time With Family

 McDonald’s Australia CEO Antoni Martinez resigns