Another Fake Food Chain Bites the Dust

Vegan chain By Chloe declares bankruptcy

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Crain's on McDonald's plan to shift costs

"Chris Kempczinski's plan to shift additional costs to franchisees seems certain to intensify their mistrust of a CEO they viewed skeptically even before the fast-food giant promoted him to the top job a year ago."

McDonald's franchisees won't like Kempczinski's plan to shift costs

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Starbucks expects to have 55K locations within 10 years

More drive-thus won't help with such a complicated menu and such fussy customers

Starbucks expects to have 55K locations within 10 years | Restaurant Dive

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Elon Musk Decries ‘M.B.A.-ization’ of America

Peter Thiel, the venture capitalist who started PayPal Holdings Inc. with Mr. Musk and others two decades ago, once said: “Never ever hire an M.B.A.; they will ruin your company.”

Elon Musk Decries ‘M.B.A.-ization’ of America - WSJ

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Jonathan Maze on the "Partnership"

Franchisees revolt against McDonald’s growing fees

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NRN on McTurmoil

McDonald’s tells franchisees to expect new fee charges in 2021

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Barron's on MCD

“We believe this move by McDonald’s is being received overwhelmingly negatively by franchisees,” analyst James Rutherford wrote.

It's obvious that the person who wrote this headline did not read the article they were posting.

McDonald’s Has Handled the Pandemic Well. Its Stock Shows It. | Barron's

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Education Vs. Experience

Many have commented about the education and experience levels of the new McDonald's corporate management team. This simple schematic explains the difference.

Anonymous Comment

"What's clear, the operators no longer have the true faith and trust of the existing McDonald's leadership and Board of Directors, to honestly, openly, and most important compliantly engage with the franchisees and their signed franchise agreements. This includes the obvious ineffective NFLA and OPNAD, which were conveniently thrown under the bus on the current ongoing McDonald's conference call.

It is evident, the driver in McDonald's Corporation today is the current stock drivers. Not building, maintaining, and nurturing the long-term relationship that built the Golden Arches into a worldwide powerhouse brand. Today, this powerhouse is being steered with leaders that little to no history, bear minimum investment, and having absolutely no skin in the operational gain.

McDonald's has lost ZERO in this national COVID crisis. Operators have taken the brunt of added cost in trying to keep stores open; with plexiglass, sanitizing equipment, and other needs to address BOTH McDonald's and Government COVID-19 concerns. They have done this many times with only 50% of a facility; even when the government allowed 100% of the dining room is open. However, operators paid FULL RENT. They also paid full service fees, when most of McDonald's Corp sat at home, on the beach, or offsite - sending dictates to the restaurants. A $5000 per restaurant technology fee is a drop in the corporate bucket they drenched operators with during this pandemic. The $5000 is a fraction of Operator cost owners paid to keep their businesses open during this pandemic. Where's the partnership? There was none, and the rent and service deferments were a joke (if not in some states illegal) - so I won't even acknowledge them.

Restaurants are buckling down for ANOTHER round of lobby or restaurant closures, lost service areas, and other obstructions - where's our "partners" head in these matters? Sending FOOD SAFETY inspections warning that these will commence in full force on January 1, 2020. Guess it's their way of saying we know your down - here, here's a kick in the teeth while you're there. And we will zap you with these other financial struggles.

Questions will only make it easy to identify the weakly positioned operators. Be leery my friends, there are those in the bushes wanting to reduce the operator number."

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