How to Save McDonald's.

[Rakehellion]

Eliminate everything from the menu other than the Big Mac that isn't on the dollar menu.

Use touchscreen menus, reduce kitchen staffing by 50%, increase drive thru capacity.

A better idea: Just let them die.

 

[Rakehellion]

McDonald's needs to become more premium (something like Chipotle). It seems like they're incrementally moving in that direction.

Chipotle is Mexican Starbucks. They really aren't that great.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Chipotle is Mexican Starbucks. They really aren't that great.

Chipotle sucks, /end thread.

 

[Captante]

mcdonalds problems started when they raised every single price on the menu.

ftfy.

I just saw a new burger at the local store, called the sirloin 1/3 pounder. It's like they slightly modded the angus and brought it back. It actually wasn't bad, but overall McDonald's just seems a little tired right now.

I'm sure its good by McDog's standards but I only go there for cheap & greasy crap once in awhile plus its $5 by itself. That's usually more then I spend there out the door!

Also every time I try a new item on the menu and like it, its gone in a freaking month so I don't even bother anymore.

 

[Mixolydian]

Yeah, the food is really the worst you can buy. The only people who like McDonald's are the ones who don't know the difference because they grew up with it.

Not necessarily. I eat it because it's cheap, convenient, and fills me up. I know it's crap but I still eat it because of those reasons.

 

[mmntech]

What's hurting McDonald's? Subway.

Subway's Jared ads back in the early aughts were nothing short of brilliant. It positioned them as being the fresh and healthy option, right when McDick's was being attacked for the obesity epidemic and questionable food quality. Now Subway is the largest restaurant chain in the world.

Plus, McDick's now has a lot more competition in the form of "upscale" fast food chains like Chipotle, Five Guys, and Panera. Where as 30 years ago, their only big competitors were BK and Wendy's.

I think McDonald's biggest problem is they lack an identity. They don't know exactly what kind of restaurant they want to be, or who their target market is. So they're just throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. You just can't do that anymore in today's consumer climate.

A good example of how to do things right is A&W Canada. About 20 years ago, the chain re-branded itself back to its 1950s drive-in roots. The stores are modeled after classic diners. Heavily appeals to Baby Boomers' nostalgia. They also reintroduced the Burger Family. The menu has 10 items in total: seven hamburgers and three chicken burgers, plus the usual fries and drinks. Their breakfast menu is simplified as well. Five items. A smaller menu cuts turnaround time for the kitchen, ensuring fast service without long lineups. Recently, they've been focusing on using fresh, high quality ingredients and toppings for their burgers. They went from a has-been to Canada's second largest burger chain.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

What's hurting McDonald's? Subway.

Subway's Jared ads back in the early aughts were nothing short of brilliant. It positioned them as being the fresh and healthy option, right when McDick's was being attacked for the obesity epidemic and questionable food quality. Now Subway is the largest restaurant chain in the world.

Plus, McDick's now has a lot more competition in the form of "upscale" fast food chains like Chipotle, Five Guys, and Panera. Where as 30 years ago, their only big competitors were BK and Wendy's.

I think McDonald's biggest problem is they lack an identity. They don't know exactly what kind of restaurant they want to be, or who their target market is. So they're just throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. You just can't do that anymore in today's consumer climate.

A good example of how to do things right is A&W Canada. About 20 years ago, the chain re-branded itself back to its 1950s drive-in roots. The stores are modeled after classic diners. Heavily appeals to Baby Boomers' nostalgia. They also reintroduced the Burger Family. The menu has 10 items in total: seven hamburgers and three chicken burgers, plus the usual fries and drinks. Their breakfast menu is simplified as well. Five items. A smaller menu cuts turnaround time for the kitchen, ensuring fast service without long lineups. Recently, they've been focusing on using fresh, high quality ingredients and toppings for their burgers. They went from a has-been to Canada's second largest burger chain.

I just recently saw an article about Subway. They are having trouble also, I cant see to find the link though.

 

[Ken g6]

I just saw a new burger at the local store, called the sirloin 1/3 pounder. It's like they slightly modded the angus and brought it back. It actually wasn't bad, but overall McDonald's just seems a little tired right now.

I recently had one of those. Pretty good. A week or so later I had a Wendy's double cheeseburger with bacon. Way better. ^_^

McD should just stick to cheap basics. They try for premium but they always seem to miss the mark somehow.

I usually walk in, grab some ketchup and relish packets. It's free and its a meal. Can't get cheaper than that. And each packet is a vegetable.

Would that be from a McDonald's in an airport terminal?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Considering how busy McDonald's is at any given time of the day I doubt they are in trouble. Then again when a corporations sees that their profits slightly drop they scream bloody murder and start doing mass layoffs even though it's still in the billions.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Considering how busy McDonald's is at any given time of the day I doubt they are in trouble. Then again when a corporations sees that their profits slightly drop they scream bloody murder and start doing mass layoffs even though it's still in the billions.

They are closing stores.

http://www.infowars.com/mcdonalds-to-close-700-stores/

 

[preCRT]

They need to simplify the menu & reduce prices. Remember their slogan of burger, fries, drink, and change back from your dollar?



Or even earlier?

 

[Ns1]

They need to simplify the menu & reduce prices. Remember their slogan of burger, fries, drink, and change back from your dollar?



Or even earlier?

I wouldn't go to mcd with that menu

 

[Captante]

I just recently saw an article about Subway. They are having trouble also, I cant see to find the link though.

Subway has the same primary issue as McDog's ... price is just too high!

Last time my daughter & I went to Subway (for some reason she loves the tuna subs) the tab was nearly $20 for two smallish subs' chips & drinks ... for that price I can do a lot better.

Wth happened to the $5 foot-long ?!? :'(

 

[Ns1]

Subway has the same primary issue as McDog's ... price is just too high!

Last time my daughter & I went to Subway (for some reason she loves the tuna subs) the tab was nearly $20 for two smallish subs' chips & drinks ... for that price I can do a lot better.

Wth happened to the $5 foot-long ?!? :'(

Pretty sure he was referring to this article.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-rise-and-fall-of-subway-the-worlds-biggest-food-chain/2015/05/29/0ca0a84a-fa7a-11e4-a13c-193b1241d51a_story.html

 

[lxskllr]

Subway has the same primary issue as McDog's ... price is just too high!

Last time my daughter & I went to Subway (for some reason she loves the tuna subs) the tab was nearly $20 for two smallish subs' chips & drinks ... for that price I can do a lot better.

Wth happened to the $5 foot-long ?!? :'(

They still have them here. Even the "better" subs are only ~$7 if I remember right. Not a big fan of Subway though.

I like McDonalds cheapo menu. Their "premium" burgers are always lacking. For the same amount or a little more, you can get a much better burger somewhere else.

 

[Captante]

They still have them here. Even the "better" subs are only ~$7 if I remember right. Not a big fan of Subway though.

I like McDonalds cheapo menu. Their "premium" burgers are always lacking. For the same amount or a little more, you can get a much better burger somewhere else.

Yeah I used to be able to stuff my face with copious amounts of greasy fatty disgust-o-liscious Mcfood for about $5 including a drink & fries. Lately it seems all I get for that is the drink & fries!

And yeah Subway has like 1 $5 sandwich a month now and unfortunately if its not the one you want your SOL. Either way with a drink & chips its close to $10 pp total around here.

 

[BUTCH1]

They still have them here. Even the "better" subs are only ~$7 if I remember right. Not a big fan of Subway though.

I like McDonalds cheapo menu. Their "premium" burgers are always lacking. For the same amount or a little more, you can get a much better burger somewhere else.

I just had the 1/3lb sirloin with Swiss+mushrooms, not bad actually but it was $5 just or the sandwich, $14 for enough food for me and wife, they took the cheap out of FF and people are protesting by not stopping these very often.

 

[BUTCH1]

Yeah I used to be able to stuff my face with copious amounts of greasy fatty disgust-o-liscious Mcfood for about $5 including a drink & fries. Lately it seems all I get for that is the drink & fries!

And yeah Subway has like 1 $5 sandwich a month now and unfortunately if its not the one you want your SOL. Either way with a drink & chips its close to $10 pp total around here.

And Subway uses the cheapest cold cuts they can find, almost everything is turkey-based stuff except roast beef, chicken subs, Philly subs but these get close to $7.50-8.00 for one friggin sandwich, another greedy Co. that's on the road to pricing themselves out of the business.

 

[MongGrel]

I honestly grew eating a big mac almost every day for lunch back in that 70's for a buck. But I also weighed about 145 lb those days and worked it off.

Mickie D's not going anywhere.

 

[Ruptga]

I used to be all about Subway, but each year they raise their prices. First everything was five bucks, then premiums were 6 or 7, then some stuff got moved between the premiums and $5, then there were only 3 things for $5, then we got monthly five dollar specials, and now I think it's $6 for half a sub plus chips and a drink. They've lost me now, there's no value in half a sub plus some shit I don't want for six dollars.

 

[Nograts]

Subway used to be a good deal, but now they charge what? Like 7-9$ for a fuckin footlong? Are you serious? I could buy fresher ingredients and make my own sammich for half that.

I overheard a fatty in Subway last time I went saying how she loved Subway and it was the 'only place she could eat out' because everywhere else serves crappy nutrition food. She proceeded to order a footlong loaded with cheese and mayo and two bags of Dorito's. Her drink was diet though.

 

[Howard]

I used to be all about Subway, but each year they raise their prices. First everything was five bucks, then premiums were 6 or 7, then some stuff got moved between the premiums and $5, then there were only 3 things for $5, then we got monthly five dollar specials, and now I think it's $6 for half a sub plus chips and a drink. They've lost me now, there's no value in half a sub plus some shit I don't want for six dollars.

We (Subway up here) used to have $5 footlongs, offered based on what day of the week it was. Now there's shit like 3 footlongs for $20. Why even bother?

Plus the restaurants always have this weird distinctive Subway smell. Is it the crappy bread?

God, I want me an Earl of Sandwich around the corner.

 

[Phokus]

I usually walk in, grab some ketchup and relish packets. It's free and its a meal. Can't get cheaper than that. And each packet is a vegetable.

I once saw a guy use an empty large size cup and pump it full of ketchup to go LOL

 

[Phokus]

I'm thinking McDonalds is a countercyclical company, when the economy does badly, i bet the 'fast casuals' will see a downtick in business while mcdonalds will see an uptick.

 

[rockyct]

I'm thinking McDonalds is a countercyclical company, when the economy does badly, i bet the 'fast casuals' will see a downtick in business while mcdonalds will see an uptick.

The problem right now with McDonalds is that it's not really that cheap anymore and I think that's a big reason why it's hurting. They've tried to expand into the premium market to reach "fast casuals" but they raised the prices on everything as well. They have the taint of shitty food on them but are asking premium prices for it. I'm sure part of it is that the cost of beef has gone up enough that you can't really have a super cheap burger anymore. You can serve cheap, shitty food that people will love, but you have to charge less for it.