Pizza Giant Now Selling Sandwiches

Papa John's rolls out toasted sandwiches - NRN

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."

ON the Move

 

Click to enlarge

Analyst Kalinowski says KPop Promo Worth $100 Million

 Netflix-McDonald's collaboration should be "Golden" for the Golden Arches.

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.

Everyone needs "due diligence."

Big Arch Provided Modest Traffic Bump

" the Big Arch wasn't meant to be a traffic play" - NRN

California Fast Food Wage Negative Impacts

$20 wage upped prices, cut jobs - Dan Walters

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.

Pie Five cuts ties with Uber Easts after fee hike - RestBus

BK Updates "Reclaim the Flame"

Moving away from creepy king mascot - Nations Restaurant News 

Here's the 90-second commercial BK ran during the Oscars - YouTube

"Fake News" Problems for Restaurants

For restaurants fake news is becoming a real problem - RestBusiness

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.

The problem at McDonald's is that PJB is not content with being in charge of the world's largest restaurant chain. 

He's not satisfied with being one of the wealthiest people in the restaurant industry.

Nope, he's driven by a desire for "celebrity". 

Will he get his way? Who's going to stop him? 

Will the bobbleheads in the corporate office tell him he's not that funny?

Will the advertising people tell the emperor that he's not entertaining?

In a desperate quest for more and more "celebrity," a bureaucrat often puts aside logic and makes emotional decisions that don't belong in the corporate boardroom.

The real lesson behind McDonald's social media backlash - QSR Mag

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Former MCD O/O and Congressman in Race for U.S. Senate

International Franchise Association endorses Kevin Hern for Senate

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. 

Desperately Seeking Celebrity Status

Some PJBs never learn. He made the same blunders in 2024

RFK Jr Targeting High Sugar Drinks

RFK Jr targeting the nation’s 2 biggest coffee chains over high sugar drinks

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

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.