Things do not sound too good for McDonald's - from Business Insider:
McDonald's franchisees say the brand is in a 'deep depression' and 'facing its final days'
McDonald's franchisees believe the brand is in a "deep depression" and could be facing its "final days," according to a new survey.
"We are in the throes of a deep depression, and nothing is changing," one franchisee wrote in response to the survey by Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski. "Probably 30% of operators are insolvent."
Another wrote, "The CEO is sowing the seeds of our demise. We are a quick-serve fast-food restaurant, not a fast casual like Five Guys or Chipotle. The system may be facing its final days."
More than a dozen franchisees expressed frustration with McDonald's management, saying that CEO Steve Easterbrook's turnaround plan — which includes initiatives like all-day breakfast and a shift to digital ordering kiosks — is a distraction from the core issues of McDonald's, like food quality and customer service.
"The lack of consistent leadership from Oak Brook is frightening, we continue to jump from one failed initiative to another," one franchisee wrote.
A second wrote, "I have been in this business since the early 1970s but have not seen us this leaderless in all my time."
The company's reaction to their frustration, one franchisee claimed, is for operators to "get out of the system" and quit the business.
Holy crap - for the CEO to be that out of touch with his clientèle is grounds for him being replaced quickly with someone who gives a shit. As if all-day breakfasts and digital kiosks will change the publics opinion of the brand.
I like their fries and will occasionally pop in and get a bag of them. The McDonald's I go to has gotten seedier and seedier - if this is any indication of corporate health, they are in deep trouble and the rot starts at the top.
They used to have a strong corporate culture - time to rebuild that.
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