May 21, 2026
May 20, 2026
Chicago: McDonald's Park to Open in 2028
Given the growing popularity of soccer, this appears to be a good move and should benefit the brand worldwide. Just don't stick the Chicago Owner/Operator with the entire bill.
Chicago soccer club to name McDonald's stadium
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May 15, 2026
The $20 Million Man and MCD Share Price
Anyone who follows or invests in publicly traded stocks has seen situations where the price of the stock takes a hit due to unexpected results or some news that frightens investors. Very often, the price of the stock will rebound, sometimes the next day, and sometimes back to a newer high. This is a sign that investors have confidence that management has the skills and experience to move the company forward. Without this confidence, the stock price will stagnate or drift lower.
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| Source: stockcharts.com |
May 13, 2026
MCD Won't Make 50K Stores on Time - That's a Good Thing
From QSR Magazine:
"However, Borden and Kempczinski emphasized that development decisions will be based on returns rather than hitting a fixed unit target.
“We’re not chasing an absolute growth number,” Kempczinski said, noting that locations that no longer meet return thresholds due to rising construction or supply chain costs will be removed from the pipeline."
Not chasing a number? They've been chasing a number since the announcement of "Accelerating the Arches". It's obvious this inexperienced management team, with little experience building stores, is running into snags they didn't expect.
While it's not a scientific measurement, there have been numerous press articles about cities, towns, and communities giving the corporation a hard time about permitting a location. For an experienced McDonald's person, this is nothing new. It's been happening since the 1970s. There's always a group in the area who think they know better, or one or two grey-haired hippies on the local council or planning board. But PJB wouldn't know that.
Using construction costs as an excuse is silly since they can just pass those costs on to the franchisee. Unless they are building a McOpCo, and it doesn't seem they'll be doing much of that.
So, PJB is laying the groundwork for a future admission that he can't make the previously announced goals.
May 8, 2026
Analysts Worried MCD Owners Will Raise Prices
If one reads the analyst's comments in both the transcript and the press, it's obvious that management will be selling a bunch of McOpCos this summer. A CEO with no restaurant experience can't make money in the restaurant business? Who'da thunk it?
May 7, 2026
May 5, 2026
Is OPNAD Ready For A 60th Birthday?
There have been many comments mentioning OPNAD. While I doubt McDonald's Owners read them, profiles and press releases about McDonald's corporate personnel often mention that the featured person has been involved in "modernizing" McDonald's.
What about modernizing OPNAD?
OPNAD was launched in the late 1960s as an Owner/Operator initiative.
Keep in mind, in the late 1960s:
The Vietnam War was at its peak.
Lyndon Johnson was POTUS.
Seat belts were only an option in new cars.
No one on McDonald's senior management team had been born yet.
Yet, OPNAD keeps marching along as though it is part of the McDonald's franchise. It's really not. It's just that management has worked hard at making it seem so.
If McDonald's Owner/Operators are unhappy with, or don't trust, OPNAD, shouldn't this financial powerhouse be modernized?
April 30, 2026
April 28, 2026
JIB Franchisee Suing JIB Corporate
".....accusing the fast-food chain of a litany of problems, including cannibalizing its stores with new locations, marketing problems and royalties on delivery orders."
“Plaintiffs have suffered millions of dollars in damages and seek all remedies permitted by law.”
April 27, 2026
PJB's Latest Clown Act
Soft serve on a Filet-O-Fish - Something a 13-year-old would do
If this guy had any adult supervision he wouldn't be allowed on the internet
I Asked Grok - "should the same person be corporate ceo and also chair of the board?"
Grok says:
No, the same person should not automatically serve as both corporate CEO and chair of the board. While it's common in the U.S. (especially among larger companies), the balance of governance principles, potential risks, and empirical evidence leans toward separating the roles in most cases—particularly for mature public companies. The decision ultimately depends on the company's size, stage, culture, and specific circumstances, but separation is increasingly viewed as a stronger governance practice.
Key Arguments For and Against Combining the Roles (CEO Duality)
Arguments in favor of combining CEO and Chair roles (stewardship or "unity of command" perspective):
- Faster, more decisive leadership: One person has clear authority, reducing internal conflict, duplication of effort, or confusion over strategy. This can be especially useful in fast-moving industries, crises, or smaller/younger companies (e.g., startups or founder-led firms) where unified direction helps execution.
- Deeper knowledge and efficiency: The CEO has intimate operational insight, which helps when setting board agendas, facilitating communication between management and directors, and making informed decisions without information gaps.
- Avoids potential power struggles: A separate chair could create rivalry or slow things down. Some studies show that forced separations (due to investor pressure) can lead to negative stock reactions and weaker subsequent performance in certain contexts.
- Works well with strong boards: If independent directors and committees are robust, duality may not harm oversight much.
Arguments against combining the roles (agency theory perspective, emphasizing checks and balances):
- Conflict of interest and weakened oversight: The board's primary job is to monitor and hold management (including the CEO) accountable—hiring, firing, evaluating performance, and setting compensation. When the CEO chairs the board, they influence meeting agendas, discussions, and even their own oversight, potentially leading to entrenchment, higher pay without strong performance links, or suppressed dissent.
- Better independence and governance: A separate, independent chair can run board meetings more objectively, encourage candid input from directors, and serve as a neutral bridge to shareholders. This is seen as reducing risks seen in scandals (e.g., Boeing, WeWork).
- Focus and bandwidth: Being CEO is already a demanding full-time operational role. Adding chair duties (facilitating board dynamics, shareholder relations) can dilute effectiveness.
- Global norms and trends: In the UK, Europe (e.g., Germany often prohibits it), Canada, and Australia, separation is the standard or strongly preferred. The U.S. has been shifting slowly—S&P 500 companies with combined roles dropped from around 50-65% in earlier years to about 40-45% in recent data, with more independent chairs emerging.
Empirical research on performance is mixed and inconclusive overall. Many meta-analyses and studies find no strong, consistent link between duality and better (or worse) firm performance, risk-taking, or compensation. Outcomes often depend on context: duality may suit high-complexity, innovative, or dynamic environments, while separation benefits firms needing stronger monitoring. Forced splits sometimes correlate with poorer results, suggesting boards should choose based on firm-specific needs rather than blanket rules.
Practical Considerations and Best Practices
- Company stage matters: Duality is more defensible in early-stage, founder-led, or high-growth private/venture companies where agility trumps formal checks. For large public firms, separation (or at least a strong lead independent director as a compromise) is preferable.
- Safeguards if combined: Strong independent directors, robust committees (e.g., audit, compensation chaired by independents), regular CEO evaluations, and clear role definitions can mitigate risks.
- If separated: The chair should ideally be independent (not a recent former executive), with a defined, non-overlapping mandate focused on board leadership rather than operations.
- Trends and pressure: Institutional investors, proxy advisors, and activists increasingly push for separation as a governance "best practice." Many companies now disclose their rationale in proxies (required by SEC rules since 2010). Splits often occur during transitions, crises, or succession planning.
In short, while a talented, trustworthy leader can handle both roles effectively in the right setting, separating them generally promotes healthier accountability, reduces conflicts, and aligns better with modern expectations of good corporate governance. Boards should evaluate this thoughtfully rather than defaulting to tradition—ask: What structure best serves shareholders and long-term value here? Many successful companies thrive either way, but the default presumption should favor independence unless there's a compelling reason otherwise.
Written entirely by Grok, I just cut and paste
https://grok.com/
April 24, 2026
McDonald’s USA President Erlinger sells $100,805 in stock
While one shouldn't base too many judgments on corporate insider buying and selling, it is interesting that over the past 24 months, Eringer has been a seller in 25 of the 61 insider transactions, or 41% of all activity. He must have a heck of a retirement advisor.
Pres of USA most active seller of MCD top execs and directors
April 22, 2026
McDonald's Store Counts - End of 2025
April 17, 2026
April 13, 2026
April 11, 2026
Should PJB Be His Own Boss?
Recent events have shown that he needs adult supervision.
NLPC's explanation of their action is in a press release HERE
Please note that the above press release includes a link to their version of PJB's history. The link is just above his picture.
April 9, 2026
PJB Makes Matters Worse
After embarrassing himself and brand McDonald's with silly social media postings, a competent CEO would lie low for a while and work on long-term image repair. But not PJB. He's obsessed with being a celebrity and calls in the Wall Street Journal to expand his profile.
April 8, 2026
April 6, 2026
April 2, 2026
McDonald's New Director
I missed this one by a month or so, but McDonald's recently added (IMHO) a celebrity director to its board, Ford CEO James Farley. I've noticed Farley on the business channels for his ease in interviews. His responses aren't canned and rehearsed directly out of Ford's PR department.
Plus, he's a real "car-guy."
Plus, he's a cousin of the late Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley. You'll see the resemblance.
He's a far more interesting person than most on the BOD.
James D. Farley Jr. elected to McDonald's board
April 1, 2026
March 28, 2026
Maze on New Whopper
Jonathan Maze on X
@jonathanmaze
"Finally tried the upgraded Whopper. I stopped on my way home from the airport, went through the DT and ate it in the parking lot like a surprising big percentage of fast-food visits.
Exceptional burger. The upgrades are subtle yet very effective, especially the improved bun and the packaging. Still a Whopper. It’s just a better Whopper. Impressive stuff."
March 27, 2026
March 26, 2026
Jonathan Maze on a Few Political and Legal Issues:
Restaurants and Politics:
Midterm elections as seen by the National Restaurant Association
I'd bet that very few McDonald's franchisees have ever touched, paged through, or read their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Especially with the number of next-gen Owner/Operators and former employees in the Operator ranks. Most signed up without reading anything.
March 24, 2026
March 21, 2026
March 18, 2026
Chains Play Hardball on Delivery Fees
A lot gets written about the costs of delivery impacting restaurant operators. Maybe the question should be, why would the average consumer spend the extra money to have your food delivered?
If the industry focus is on "value," why are restaurants promoting the most expensive way to access the product?
My household spent a lot of money on delivery during the pandemic. Then we enjoyed going out and our trips to the grocery store. Lately, for various reasons, we've ordered more from McDonald's (Big Arch) and a few other chains. Gosh, it's expensive! Those fees! The gratuities! At least as compared to jumping in the car and driving a few minutes to my local McDonald's.
It's my impression that some people can afford to have their food delivered. But for those who can't or won't, no amount of advertising will force them to carve out more of their budget for food delivery.
Trying to increase sales with "value" and also trying to increase delivery sales are contradictory messages.
From now on, I'll see you at the drive-thru.
March 16, 2026
March 15, 2026
March 12, 2026
Who's More Famous - the Big Arch or PJB?
This editorial from QSR magazine discusses how a brand's CEO might be a plus or a minus on social media.
March 11, 2026
March 9, 2026
Are "Clicks" Advertising?
From @McFranchisee on X (formerly Twitter)
Mar 2
This video will probably get half a billion views, worth millions in free advertising. It’s like getting a Super Bowl commercial for free. I bet @McDonalds will sell at the high end of the range because of this.
It officially drops tomorrow. BTW, can’t wait to see Chris’s next video.
@McFranchisee Mar 4
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
@McDonalds 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.
March 8, 2026
March 5, 2026
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
March 1, 2026
A Great Face for the Radio
PJB wants to be a TV personality in the worst way -And he did it - Irish Star
Learns it takes two hands to handle a Big Arch.
